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2000 Chev S-10 Blazer Vibration - Drive Train & Driveline
Question: The vehicle has a vibration which is noticed at 58mph and higher. I have had the vehicle checked by the dealership with no luck in repairing the vehicle.
So far we have replaced the rear bushing and seal in the transmission, replaced with two drive shafts (out of totaled vehicles) new u-joints, two new sets of tires, rotors turned, front alignment, replaced differential with one out of totaled vehicle. Now the dealer wants to pull the rotors and states they might be out of ballance....I give up...Cost so far is $1, 800.00 in trying to get the vibration out. It's really bad at 65mph and feels like its at my feet and traveling to the rear of the vehicle. Please help.
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Technican: Hello, I need some thinking information...
Is this a two wheel drive or four wheel drive? What engine and transmission? Can you effect the vibration by driving in a different gear? Has a second vehicle followed this one and seen this vibration shaking the vehicle? What do they see? Can the vibration be duplicated on a lift? Will shifting to NEUTR stop the vibration?
I'd check all the above, the motor mounts, the engine flywheel, look for mud/dirt stuck to the wheel rims and I still haven't suggested you replace anything! Will this shop ever get the idea that when you find the cure, the first $1800 should come off the bill?
Each time someone wants to "try this" and no repair is the result, they should have to put the vehicle back the way they started unless you agree to pay for their guess and hold them harmless. In the shop I retired from we showed the customer what we found and why we suggested the fix we offered. We gave them the old parts that came off.
Try contacting the Chevrolet Zone Representative for service in your area. He will meet with you, can call other dealers that may give light to your needs and in some cases even participate paying a percentage of the repair costs through a good will account he has control of. It won't cost to meet with him and I believe your service manager should welcome the extra muscle as long as he does not perceive you are filing a "ZONE COMPLAINT" against his dealership.
Your thoughts? Can you get tough? They know they'll never sell you another Chevy product if they don't step up. Get serious, be fair, be firm.
Owner: Thanks for the response. Here's what I know so far. We have placed the vehicle up on the lift and the vibration is not felt at any of the speeds. I have had someone follow to see if they could notice the vehicle shaking, but no luck.
The vehicle is a two wheel drive vehicle and it has the 4.6 engine and the automatic transmission. I'm not sure which one, sorry. Just yesterday I had the vehicle in for a front wheel alignment. While it was in the air, we placed the vehicle in drive and ran it up to speed and nothing happened. I also had them to check the lower ball joints, good shape. While driving the vehicle, the steering wheel does not shake but I can feel the vibration slightly. The dash and doors, seats and center console shake. While driving the vehicle we have ran it up to speed and then take it out of gear, the vibration remains as the speed drops until about 55 mph then becomes less. Also, while driving at 70mph on the interstate, it will be vibrating and will go almost away and then come back.
I have tried to get the dealer to work with me on this from the beginning but they want me to leave the vehicle with them and let them continue to guess the problem, replace parts and me pay for that. I told them I would not do that, so I called Chevy and asked for assistance. I asked that they have the regional person step in to assist but now even the Chevy people want call me back. I purchased the vehicle at 30, 255 miles and have had it for two years. I have placed alot of highway miles on it as it is my work vehicle. I now have 121, 000 miles, but the vehicle still looks new and I have had it serviced regularly. I have my original shop statements of taking it to the dealer for a vibration at 35, 850 miles and they said there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and that it was probably the tires. Well dumb me, I went along with it. I'm not asking them to repair the vehicle for free, all I want is Mr. Goodwrench to find the problem and then I will pay for the repair, but I don't feel it's fair for me to pay for them to guess what the problem is at my expense. Any thoughts or points of contact at Chevy would be apreciated.
Technican: Vibration at speeds above 50mph are common to be coming from the rear of the vehicle. Is there a dynamometer in your area to run this Blazer on?
The Customer Contact telephone number for Chevrolet in the USA is 1-800-222-1020. In Canada the number is 1-800-263-3777 (English)and the Canadian Web site is www.gmcanada.com.
I also find the www.mygmlink.com appealing for an owner to surf for help.
When your vehicle ran on the lift were the wheels allowed to extend the limit of the suspension, or, was it supported by the rear axle housing and front control arms so that drive line inclination could be observed? I wonder if the output shaft on the transmission has wear that the drive shaft gets hung-up on as it telescopes in and out on the splines due to the rear axle suspension up/down travel.
Has the drive shaft been balanced? The inclination angle been compared to specs? Could any fluids be inside a wheel? (Fix-a-flat or similar product)
I would write to Chevrolet and certify the letter with return receipt and delivery confirmation. A paper trail is easier to track and follow up on than a phone call.
And in thirty years I've turned a bunch of brake rotors on a brake lathe but never balanced even one!
One last thought..Have the tires been spin balanced while mounted on the vehicle or just on a tire balancer off the vehicle?
Technican: Hello again, Excuse me but did you intend to release this question so that other technicians can answer? That is what happened and of course I won't be given credit for my input.
If you really meant to accept my answer so that I may be paid, please give it another try and select the button that will close the question and allow me to be paid.
If I see that the question is again released for others to answer, I'll stand aside and wish you well.
Thank you,
Technican: Okay, I see you have again rejected my input and released the question for others to try to help. I'll stand aside. I'm sorry you are not satisfied with my effort.
Thank you,
Technican: There is a technical service bulletin that may apply. Will need your VIN- 17 character vehicle identification number.
Owner: Hi, I have the vehicle number but how and where do I locate the Technical Service Bulletin? If there is one, why dosen't the GM dealership know about it? Any ideas?
Thanks
Technican: It's preliminary information. I assume (or maybe guess is a better word) it's gm's way of saying this is being reviewed and may become a tsb. And for whatever reason they want vin's entered, perhaps to determine if manufacture date, location, engine configuration, etc apply.
#PI01273B Vibration at Highway Speed - Sept 15 2003
You will have to give the dealer this number, title, and date. They will have access to the details.
It is dated sep 15 so maybe it's new enough the dealer hasn't viewed it. Or maybe they have reviewed it and it don't apply or they have already addressed it.
I doubt the information is available anywhere other than gm.
This link has tsb titles for 2000 Blazer-
alldata.com/TSB/11/001141GO.html
This site is not free and as you can see is only updated to april 03.
The NHSTA website also has free tsb titles. But you must pay for details.
If you wish to give your VIN I can check the tsb. I get this error from GM without a VIN
"Preliminary Information can't be displayed by entering
Year Make Model Only
(VIN is required to view PI vehicle content)"
By the way, the GM site is not available to the general public.
Owner: Thanks for the info. Here's my vehicle vin number.
1GNCS13W9Y2390830
If you can check the TSB for this vin and what they have listed on that particular TSB that would be great. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks
Technican: When servicing VIN 1GNCS13W9Y2390830, the following diagnosis may be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the described symptoms.
Symptom-
Vibration that is felt in seat of pants OR a body shake at highway speeds.
Recommendation-
This condition may occur when EVA readings show the tires at 12-14 Hz, OR 60 MPH, and 0.07 Gs. This condition may develope or worsen on rough roads. This vibration is NOT torque sensitive and Can't be felt in steering wheel/column.
This vibration is considered a normal characteristic for these vehicles and no repair attempts should be made.
This diagnostic approach was developed for the VIN you entered and shouldn't be automaticaly used for other vehicles with similar symptoms. (end)
They are admitting the problem exists, but saying it's normal, and there isn't a repair that will remedy it. They may eventually update a part (discover a design flaw) or develope a repair but at this time choose to say it's normal.
Go over [#PI01273B - (09/15/2003)] with anyone else that drives your blazer and the service technician at goodwrench to determine if the symptoms match the bulletin. Here's How To Get Guaranteed Solutions In Minutes
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