Vibration problem--1999 Saturn SC2

STARRKAT

MEMBER
1999 SATURN SC2
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
49,700 MILES

I have a 1999 Saturn SC2. It vibrates quite noticeably while waiting at stop lights (outside mirrors shake; steering wheel and console vibrate; and now the gearshift is starting to vibrate). This has been gradually getting worse over the past six years or so. I've heard this could be a problem w/ the harmonic balancer--if so, what am I looking at in terms of repair costs? If not, any ideas? Have less than 50K miles on this car; don't really want to have to replace it if I can repair it.

5 Replies

ERNEST CLARK

MECHANIC
1,730 POSTS

A harmonic balancer will not cause a vibration that severe. If it did, it would've probably broken the crankshaft years ago. Also, any check engine light? If so, scan comp and send me the codes. (A faulty balancer would get worse at higher engine speeds, not just sitting idle. That in itself eliminates that possibility)

Check for a misfire by doing a drop test on each cylinder.

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Sunday, February 27th, 2011 AT 3:44 AM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Hey Ernest Clark I wanted to add a little to your answer. If it's just a vibration and not a miss fire then you most likely have a bad engine mount the most common one that colasp's and tear's is the upper one right by your coolant bottle where you would add coolant. Also is the vibration a lot worse in drive compared to park?You could also have a bad lower transmission mount. Those are the two most common cause's for a vibration if that's all you have and not a miss fire.

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Sunday, February 27th, 2011 AT 4:10 AM

ERNEST CLARK

MECHANIC
1,730 POSTS

Thanks for the help saturntech. Most times it's pretty hard diagnosing symptoms that I can't see/test for myself

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Sunday, February 27th, 2011 AT 2:12 PM

STARRKAT

MEMBER
2 POSTS

The engine doesn't misfire at all, and the check engine light never comes on. I don't notice much vibration while driving, and it definately doesn't get worse at higher speeds. The vibration occurs when the car is in drive, but stopped (such as traffic lights). So if it's an engine and/or transmission mount, am I looking at a huge repair cost? Thanks for your help.

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Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 AT 3:28 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

The mount's themselves are pretty cheap the most common one to go bad is the upper one right by your valve cover. That mount is only about 30 and with a floor jack, piece of wood, 15mm socket extension rachet 7mm socket and vise grip's sometimes needed. The first thing is to see if you need the mount. If you could send me a pic of the mount the side of it facing your coolant bottle I can try to see from the pic if it's bad.