Hi!

I've got a problem with a 94 Camaro I'm trying to fix

First, let me say there is no misfire in this motor. It runs great. Other than having 185,000 miles on it and having somewhat low oil pressure it seems to be fine... new plugs, new wires, new battery, new belt, new fuel filter, new PCV valve, rebuilt TB, rebuilt EGR valve....

Here is the problem:

It vibrates badly while idling in gear. The plastic interior resonates along with it.

While idling in park, the vibration is nearly gone.

at 1000 RPM it disappears completely.

So, basically the lower the RPM the more it vibrates.
Any ideas?

So far... I've thought maybe the harmonic balancer has gone bad.
or.. maybe a bad engine mount. Could a bad engine mount cause a vibration to go through the car like this?

 

I have the same problem, only mine is from my headers (I think).

Bad engine mount is as good a guess as I can give.

 

My car is stock, no headers.
What makes you think yours is caused by headers?

 

Simpy because it didn't do it until after I put them on, and people always say there is some interior vibration after header installs (which a tune can supposedly fix/mellow out).

 

Mine does the same thing. When you put it in park it toally goes away. When you are sitting at a red light in drive it rattles. They all do that. My interior rattles. Its not extreme, but it is noticeably. Don't worry about it all F-bodies rattle inside, especially our beaters.

 

They all do that?! You gotta be kidding me! If that is true, this 3.4L motor is the biggest piece of automotive crap I've ever seen!

This severe of a vibration/resonation cannot possibly be normal. If it was, these cars would of never made it off the dealers lots. It definitely feels like there is a problem with it. It's not easily overlooked.

I paid $500 for this car and have spent an additional $175 on parts / fluids to fix it up. It barely ran on 5 cylinders and had no power when I went to pick it up. It runs great now, it just vibrates like hell when idling in gear.

Help!! There has to be an answer to this problem somewhere! Maybe I should just replace the harmonic balancer. Anyone have a good low mile balancer for sale?

 

i also have a 94 3.4 v6. i have found that mine only vibrates when it warms up. i have no vibration when it is cold. do u find that your vibration is more pronounced when warm or cold or the same either way? i also have a vibration when mine goes into overdrive, but i figure that is is the transmission. i am going to pull it out and rebuild it within the next two months.

 

My vibration is the same, warm or cold. It does not vibrate while cruising in OD. It cruises on the highway very nicely, actually. The cruise control works perfectly too.

 

You bought it for 500 dollars.... I wonder why it rattles.... LOL

 

It's actually very nice. I did maintenance on the car for years while a friend of mine owned it. His wife drove it to work. She got a new truck and wanted the spot in the garage cleared. My friend called me and asked me if I wanted it. The catch was, it hadnt been run sinse last July and the battery was dead. It also had a mis when they stopped driving it in July.

I found the #5 plug wire was chewed completely through. A new set of wires fixed that. I also replaced a whole bunch of other tune-up type parts.
The paint is good, the interior is *mint*. It has a Bose CD stereo that sounds awsome. All the speakers work. It has salad shooters, A/C, power windows and locks. Everything works, even the A/C! It has a littel rust around the driver's rear wheel that I will be fixing after I get the vibration fixed.

I intend to make the car look new from 5 feet, drive perfectly and then sell it for $2500. I've been around Camaros my entire life. This is the 7th one I've owned. I am a fairly competant mechanic. I am also very good at detail work. Making this car look new will be pretty easy.

 

How many miles on it?

 

185,000
His wife drove it, never abused it. She is a small gal, so the seats are perfect. No rips, no stains. It was always kept indoors too, so the dash is perfect, no cracks, no fading.

 

I have a 94 3.4 and it only rattles when its cold on start.. other than that no problem...

 

That's what I was thinking. They are not supposed to rattle and vibrate.

Now I just need the solution. I think I'ma go huntin for a balancer first.
Anyone got one?

 

I had a harmonic balancer go out on me. In fact I drove a few miles with it broken didnt cause rattling, just made a metal clanking noise form the outside of the hood. Those bad boys run 200 + install bucks!