SteelerNation82

I have a '00 V6/Automatic with 117k miles

I've been trying to trace down a vibration I have for some time now and have never been able to resolve it. I have an engine RPM dependent vibration that is felt somewhere around 1200RPM and then again at 1800RPM where it's felt the most. If I hold the throttle at 1800RPM, the vibrations sort of oscillate or cycle in and out which I believe means this is harmonic. This is felt in P and N and basically every gear.

Trying to keep it short here, car has tons of new parts including coilpack/plugs/wires, all filters, fluids serviced, etc. and also replaced the harmonic balancer thinking that would do the trick, it didn't. The stock HB had the counterweight on it, meaning it's externally balanced and the replacement was new from Ford just as the original with the counterweight. I even dropped the car off at a Ford dealer for a few days and the tech wasn't able to find anything wrong. His take though was that it feels like an imbalance somewhere either in the motor or along the flexplate/TC.

I got under the car over the weekend and rechecked all the mounts, which the dealer already said were good. I carefully took a pry bar to the trans mount and thought I saw a bit too much play in it. So I replaced it with a Duralast mount from AZ, big mistake it made the car vibrate worse. I pulled it back off and re-installed the stocker and the vibes subsided. I also messed around with the Y pipe to manifold collectors, loosened them up and re-torqued them. My Y pipe has a vibration damper clamped to it which I ultimately removed this morning to experiment and see if I noticed anything change. Has anyone dealt with this vibration before on their 3.8?

Thanks

SteelerNation82

Also, regarding the stock transmission mount is it supposed to be rather soft and pliable? When I pulled my original out I'm able to wiggle it with my bare hands. There are no breaks or tears in it though. The replacement unit from AZ was stiff as a brick and I was not able to budge it at all, hence all the vibes I felt being transmitted. Wondering if an OEM Ford mount is also soft like the original?

I looked carefully at the motor mounts and they seem good, I can nudge them a bit with the prybar but there is no excess engine movement, even if you power brake the car. This tells me they're still good.

Any thoughts?

User 92421

heat shield?

SteelerNation82

PROBLEM SOLVED

I installed a new OEM Ford transmission mount ordered from the dealer, AND while I was under there I popped off the rubber plate to the torque converter bolts. I checked ea. with a 1/2 rachet and 1 of them was a bit looser than the rest. I snugged it down. Went for a test drive and the car is smooth!

Unbelievable, dealt with this vibration for 2 years and kept overlooking the trans mount.

Just a tip for you V6 guys, avoid the aftermarket chain store mounts and spend the extra coin for the Ford mount. It's got some spring/softness to it but my stock one was a bit softer. The aftermarket mount is super stiff with no give.