redneckguy Posted December 15, 2003 Report Posted December 15, 2003 i have a completely stock 89 cutlass with the 3.1 and the 4 spd auto and when i'm on the highway going about 60 mph in overdrive the car vibrates something fierce. when i downshift to drive (third) the car doesn't vibrate near as bad but still does. at 40 mph in any gear the car doesn't vibrate at all. does anyone know what might be causing this? any help appreciated. Quote
phantomFE3 Posted December 15, 2003 Report Posted December 15, 2003 are you sure its a transmission problem? it may be something more like tires or an alignment problem or something along those lines Quote
Robby1870 Posted December 15, 2003 Report Posted December 15, 2003 Yeah, need more details to diagnose better Quote
Redfox340 Posted December 15, 2003 Report Posted December 15, 2003 If the tranny downshifts to OD, sounds like the torque convertor (electronic overdrive) may be a problem. What maintenance have you done to the tranny? Only @ 60mph? - Erik Quote
redneckguy Posted December 15, 2003 Author Report Posted December 15, 2003 i haven't done any maintenece to because i don't know what it is. it seems to do it between 60 and 70 really badly and its not alignment either had that checked. don't worry too much if you don't know what it is cause the car is just about shot anyways Quote
Robby1870 Posted December 15, 2003 Report Posted December 15, 2003 sounds like a torque converter issue, or possibly and EGR problem. Quote
redneckguy Posted December 15, 2003 Author Report Posted December 15, 2003 could a non functioning egr valve screw the tranny up? Quote
Redfox340 Posted December 15, 2003 Report Posted December 15, 2003 could a non functioning egr valve screw the tranny up? Not directly, if the EGR was bad, you'd feel the engine stall out when you're coasting to a stop. Besides, you are only feeling a high speed shudder... correct? - Erik Quote
Robby1870 Posted December 15, 2003 Report Posted December 15, 2003 could a non functioning egr valve screw the tranny up? Not directly, if the EGR was bad, you'd feel the engine stall out when you're coasting to a stop. Besides, you are only feeling a high speed shudder... correct? - Erik Also, it can make the car shudder while cruising at a constant speed in overdrive. By dumping too much exhaust gas in, it'll make it shudder Quote
redneckguy Posted December 16, 2003 Author Report Posted December 16, 2003 well it was stalling out on me so i disconnected the vaccuum line heading to the the egr valve it solved the problem for a while then the shaking started. when the egr vaccuum line is on and i touch the gas the valve opens right up and stalls the motor. so would that be the problem? Quote
Brian P Posted December 16, 2003 Report Posted December 16, 2003 arcing spark plug wires will cause that because in 4th gear the engine is under heavy load at low rpm's Quote
93CutlassSupreme Posted December 17, 2003 Report Posted December 17, 2003 anyone know what a egr valve costs for the 3.1? i have a similar problem as redneckguy and sure hope it isn't transmission related Quote
Robby1870 Posted December 17, 2003 Report Posted December 17, 2003 anyone know what a egr valve costs for the 3.1? i have a similar problem as redneckguy and sure hope it isn't transmission related They are all over ebay, go for around $40-50, used Quote
redneckguy Posted December 17, 2003 Author Report Posted December 17, 2003 i know its not alignment or tires checked them and i also checked all the wheel bearings for runout. its not either. its in the driveline, i'm almost positive. i had the tranny filter and oil changed about 3 months ago. the engine/tranny has got about 120 000 miles on it. could worn out CV's do that? the tranny acts fine, but the car just vibrates. it shifts fine and there was nothing in the oil when i changed it. And as for the EGR what would cause it to flood the engine with exhaust after pulling away from a stop? would just a new one cure that? Quote
manitcor Posted December 18, 2003 Report Posted December 18, 2003 if you dont have inspection in your state you can always block off the EGR with a plate. Though it may make your car run a bit warmer. Quote
Slade901 Posted December 18, 2003 Report Posted December 18, 2003 I got a question.. When was the tranny's fluid and filter changed? Quote
Brian P Posted December 18, 2003 Report Posted December 18, 2003 I still stand by my advice, especially since I repaired my moms car that way with the same symptoms (but worse) Quote
shipman Posted December 18, 2003 Report Posted December 18, 2003 Not directly, if the EGR was bad, you'd feel the engine stall out when you're coasting to a stop. redfox340 -- I have had this problem before but it cleared up on its own. What exactly causes the engine to stall if the EGR is bad? I periodically get the ses light with an EGR code when accelerating, so I know it is bad. Is there a way to clean or otherwise service it? New ones for the 3.1 are like $200! Thanks! Quote
93CutlassSupreme Posted December 18, 2003 Report Posted December 18, 2003 anyone know what a egr valve costs for the 3.1? i have a similar problem as redneckguy and sure hope it isn't transmission related They are all over ebay, go for around $40-50, used no offense, but why pay $40-50 for one when you arn't sure if it even works? anyone know what a new egr valve costs? Quote
93CutlassSupreme Posted December 18, 2003 Report Posted December 18, 2003 I got a question.. When was the tranny's fluid and filter changed? that didn't work for me.....i changed the trans fluid and filter at 83500 miles and the problem still exists Quote
Robby1870 Posted December 18, 2003 Report Posted December 18, 2003 anyone know what a egr valve costs for the 3.1? i have a similar problem as redneckguy and sure hope it isn't transmission related They are all over ebay, go for around $40-50, used no offense, but why pay $40-50 for one when you arn't sure if it even works? anyone know what a new egr valve costs? B/c a new one is like $300. And, most on ebay say that they were taken off and were working then Quote
Redfox340 Posted December 18, 2003 Report Posted December 18, 2003 redfox340 -- I have had this problem before but it cleared up on its own. What exactly causes the engine to stall if the EGR is bad? I periodically get the ses light with an EGR code when accelerating, so I know it is bad. Is there a way to clean or otherwise service it? New ones for the 3.1 are like $200! When the car coasts to a stop, the EGR should close off and let 'fresh' air into the motor. On old EGR's the valve won't close letting exhaust gas (with no oxygen) into the motor. The engine starves for oxygen for combustion and thats why the engine stalls out. You can pull it off and definitely the EGR and the passage way on the intake. If that doesn't work out after cleaning it, it's just time for another one... a junkyard EGR would work as well. - Erik Quote
DOHCRagtopguy Posted December 18, 2003 Report Posted December 18, 2003 Most of the time it's the EGR passages that get clogged up with carbon and shit. Before you buy a new or used EGR Valve (New-Approx. $190 @ Auto Zone), Take it off and clean the small passagways and the valve itself with Clean-R-Carb or soething like that. You might have to use a narrow brush for the skinny passage. You can clean the valve, just don't screw up any of the electonic stuff on it. Concentrate on the lower part. Good Luck! Quote
Slade901 Posted December 19, 2003 Report Posted December 19, 2003 Tell you what.. I'm also having problems cleaning the gunks on my engine. I'm fixing to use that Sea Foam Motor Treatment to get rid of those stubborn carbon buildup. You put 1/3 pint in the fuel tank, 1/3 pint in the intake manifold, 1/3 pint in the oil crankcase. http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUpTechGas.htm Quote
shipman Posted December 19, 2003 Report Posted December 19, 2003 Thanks for the advice, guys. Slade901 - what exactly is that in your sig pic?? Quote
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