Hey guys,

I'm worried for my gf's safety if her car breaks down someday soon on the highway and I can't come get her due to my work schedule so please help me out even though its not a ITR.

I drove it last week and only upon acceleration it would shake pretty darn bad, which led me to believe it it NOT a weight missing off a rim or something like that. My guess is the transmission is completely shot.

She tells me now that it feels like its shaking even without the gas being on.

But when I drove the car, in 1st and 2nd gear it was fine, then in 3rd gear it gets a shake and then in the higher two gears (more load) it gets pretty bad.....

She cannot afford a new car or a used one right now because she's student teaching in her last semester in college and they don't get paid. I could try and help her with another car, but I also have the know-how to do a fair amount of work on her car...its a simple 4 cylinder like our cars.

Any other thoughts besides transmission? Idea that confirm it IS the trans?

My other ideas revolve around motor mounts or inner ball joint on the axles and I need to replace her axles for her. Can anyone firm that the axles on a automatic tranny like a 2000 Galant just pop out like ours?


Thanks all.


Modified by totsie7944 at 8:42 PM 3/10/2008

 

i dont think the trans would make the car shake maybe jerk and what not from slipping or engaging the nest gear too fast but def wont make the car shake. I would check all the lug nuts, check the wheel bearings/balljoints and check the axles(do they click/clunk when making sharp turns?

 

I'll tell you what, you stay home, and tell her to drive it on down here and i'll take a look at "IT"...just messin with ya scott lol

 

Its a DSM. Be thankful that it runs at all.

 

true

 

Start simple:

-Jack each wheel up and check the torque on the lugs
-When was the last alignment?
-You don't think it is a wheel balance issue, but when were the tires last rotated and balanced?

Just off the top of my head.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MattyP &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'll tell you what, you stay home, and tell her to drive it on down here and i'll take a look at "IT"...just messin with ya scott lol</TD></TR></TABLE>

lol I'll be sure to tell her that shes wanted in WV haha.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by coolhandluke &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Start simple:

-Jack each wheel up and check the torque on the lugs
-When was the last alignment?
-You don't think it is a wheel balance issue, but when were the tires last rotated and balanced?

Just off the top of my head.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Bran new tires were put on the car 2 months ago from a guy I know does good work, and to be honest if its only shaking under acceleration it doesn't make sense it would be a balancing issue.

I'll jack it up this weekend and check lugs and look over the motor mounts to be sure they are still intact. Beyond that, it sounds like an axle issue. Which I can fix in like 2 hours if I know how the axles pop in and out...

 

Could be something as easy as a dirty fuel filter, old spark plugs, dieing distributor, etc... Check the basics first.

 

When was the last time you had an alignment job?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MiraiZ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When was the last time you had an alignment job?</TD></TR></TABLE>

probably not in a while....but if its only upon the motor producing power in 3-4-5 gears than it wouldn't be an alignment issue....the car cruises fine in neutral at like 70 mph, then you push the gas and it starts to shake.

Wouldn't be an issue with spark or motor related if the car is fine in 1st and 2nd gear...sorry I forgot to mention it was only in higher gears with more load

 

Ignition issues, maybe...

 

this thread is useless without pics.........of the gf

 

Hmmm well since its just in the higher gears it makes me think its probably an axle because theres the most load then?

 

Any CEL's and whats the mileage. I doubt its transmission, it would be more of a banging or a slipping.Whats everytihng look like, fuel pressure, plugs etc etc?

 

Well last night I saw the car and turned the wheel hard over both ways and drove in a circle and the car seemed fine. For whatever reason its only around 40-50 mph in the higher gears it starts shaking.

Does anyone have any ideas besides the axle or does that sound pretty correct?

My theory is that it cannot be a wheel balancing issue or alignment because if I'm going 70 mph and let off the gas the car is smooth. Correct?

 

Mine would shake a bit only at highway speeds when the tires were about worn out. Happened every time, alignment was good, problem went away when I got a new set of tires. So in reference to above, it could be a wheel balance or tire wear (cupping) problem. I used RE010s on stock wheels and drive it a bit aggressively on the street.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The Dude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Mine would shake a bit only at highway speeds when the tires were about worn out. Happened every time, alignment was good, problem went away when I got a new set of tires. So in reference to above, it could be a wheel balance or tire wear (cupping) problem. I used RE010s on stock wheels and drive it a bit aggressively on the street. </TD></TR></TABLE>

But it only shakes at highway speeds when I try and accelerate. If I stop accelerating at 80 mph and let the car coast, it stops shaking...hence again why I say balance wouldn't make sense because it would shake all the time at higher speeds

 

Bent wheel more than likely, I have that with my daily driver you get used to it.
Jut make sure the front END is tight meaning inner tie rod ends, outer, as well as wheel bearing and sway bar end links, and control arm bushings.
01-02 HONDA CIVIC are known to have shitty control arm bushings as well as front struts

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MugenHonda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Bent wheel more than likely, I have that with my daily driver you get used to it.
Jut make sure the front END is tight meaning inner tie rod ends, outer, as well as wheel bearing and sway bar end links, and control arm bushings.
01-02 HONDA CIVIC are known to have shitty control arm bushings as well as front struts
</TD></TR></TABLE>

If it was a bent wheel, it would shake all the time, not ONLY when under load (acceleration) in higher gears.

 

I'm guessing you have verified it as a shaking and not a hesitation?I know you said you trust the guys work who mounted the tires but it kind of sounds like it is a balancing issue or possible tire. It could very well be a wheel weight fell off or even a bad belt in a tire....A bearing will give you noises as well, axles usually will to but it would be more apparent at lower speeds .. reason for my belief in a tire or balance problem...higher speeds.Ask him to check out, any good tech will help you out

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Yah Its a R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm guessing you have verified it as a shaking and not a hesitation?I know you said you trust the guys work who mounted the tires but it kind of sounds like it is a balancing issue or possible tire. It could very well be a wheel weight fell off or even a bad belt in a tire....A bearing will give you noises as well, axles usually will to but it would be more apparent at lower speeds .. reason for my belief in a tire or balance problem...higher speeds.Ask him to check out, any good tech will help you out </TD></TR></TABLE>


Once again, if it were a balancing issue, the car would shake REGARDLESS of acceleration, neutral, decceleration,.....it ONLY shakes badly once you get to 4th and 5th gear and the most stress is being applied to the drive train.

Example, I'm on the highway and in 5th gear and give it gas to pass another car, the car starts to shake. As soon as I take my foot off the gas the shaking stops. It it were unbalanced, the car would continue to shake. Hence what else could it be besides an axle?

 

Wheel balancers only balance to a specified speed, thats why i suggested that.Good luck man, i hope you can get it fixed for her .

 

Yea thanks man. If it was only at a certain speed I would definately agree that was the problem, but since its as soon as the axles are experiencing greater load and then stops once the pressure is off of them, it seems to fit....

 

Maybe one of the tires is bad. I had an old tire that got a big lump on it that shook the car only at first acceleration.

 

crx