Excessive Engine vibrations

[nxski]

I just bought my Delica last week with the knowledge that it needed some work. One of the problems that has just arisen in the past couple days is excessive vibrations of the engine. The whole thing rocks back and forth while idling and makes the entire vehicle shake. I've been researching what the causes could be and some of the ones that look possible are; fuel injector pump, distributor cap, misfiring cylinder (for whatever reason) or glow plugs (not sure how that would cause it). Any ideas? It is fine over 1000rpm and sometimes it stops if I put it in neutral. At the moment every time I stop I put it in neutral and hold the choke so the revs are high enough. I'm hoping to not have to do this for very long and I am going to take it in for servicing but I'm trying to figure out what the cause would be and what I can expect to pay in terms of repair.
Thanks

[snelson]

Do a search for motor mounts, or engint mounts, or transmission mounts - pretty common for these needing replacing. You can take a look at the mounts and see if they're cracked or non-existant.

[FalcoColumbarius]

I have moved this topic from general discussion to L300 Technical.

Falco.

[fexlboi]

You could also just adjust the idle speed if it's too low, but check your rubber mounts for sure.

Let me quote Green1 from an old post:

Next, idle control. 800rpm is rather high, most small diesels I have ever seen idle around 666rpm (ok, it's not that exact, it's more like a range of about 650-700 but it's amazing how many sit quite close to or right on that number)

To adjust the idle there are a couple things to look at, first of all by your left knee on pre-1994 L300s there is a throttle control, make sure it is not in use by turning it counter clockwise and releasing it. if it was already that way, then check the throttle-stop adjustment in the engine compartment. To do this open the engine compartment and watch what moves when you press the accelerator, then when you release the accelerator you can see the bolt that the mechanism rests against, adjust that bolt to adjust your idle speed.

[hesser]

Hi nxski,

I have the same thing happening with my deli. Shakes when in drive and really gets going in reverse. However, in neutral or park there is no shaking. I had some work done down at CVI in richmond ( best place for service IMHO ) they mentioned that my shaking was because the timing was off. I am going to take it in to get the timing belt done...... YIKES about $900 bones!! But fairly important. Anyway, not saying that this is the fix for you but something to think about. I will let you know how it is after I get it done. Probably won't be for a month or two. Good luck!

Mike

[yojimbo]

Check the balance belt is in one piece, the tensioners can fail, usually it means the cam belt snaps as the two get tangled, but sometimes they've been know to just fall down and stay there.

[deli-belly]

No kidding- my l300 started doing the exact same thing soon after I bought it last spring. Giving it a little more gas helps, also putting it in neutral when stopped. Reverse is the worst. Particularly bad when engine cold... through that could simply be related to revs. There was a crack in the muffler at the time, which I replaced with a new piece of pipe but that didn't do the trick... it still vibrates like mad. I'll check the mounts when I get back into town. I doubt it's the timing 'cause I just recently bought at 135,000km and the previous owner said he just had that done (and he seemed honest... any quick way to tell?). I'll report back once I've had a closer look... let's get to the bottom of this!

Thanks all

[nxski]

Well the timing belt has been replaced recently and so has the muffler. I'll check the balance belt. The revs are fine, right around 666rpm while idling, slightly lower in Drive. Most of the time putting it in neutral or park will solve the problem but not all of the time (especially when the engine is cold). Agreed, the worst is when the vehicle is in reverse, it almost feels as though it's jumping. I just put in some diesel from a more reputable place and have been revving the hell out of the engine and accelerating faster than normal to try to clear some things up. So far it seems to be better and miraculously has more power but still vibrates a bit too much at stops and still is bad when starting up at the beginning of the day (it coughs like crazy and takes a long time to turn over).

[FalcoColumbarius]

Idle Speed: Standard Value 750 + 100 r/min.

[nxski]

I just realized that when the vibrations are the worst the rev counter takes a dive. I adjusted the throttle control and locked it so that the revs are above 700 and it greatly improves the vibration problem. Not the perfect fix but good enough until I can get it looked at hopefully.

[jessef]

don't drive with the throttle cable locked (in any position) . possibility of having it stuck and wide open throttle is high and then you can be in deep bad stuff.

That's only there for idling.

[nxski]

I've switched to just holding it place while stopped because it seemed to be bad on the brakes anyways, the vehicle was jerking forwards as soon as I let off of them.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Nxski, do you know how to set your idle? When you open your engine compartment, in front of you is a bolt with a slot in the cap; it goes through a locking nut (8mm). Coming off this contraption is a wire ~ you can rev the engine with this. After you have driven your wagon until the engine is warm: Open the engine compartment and loosen off the locking nut; then adjust the idle bolt (while the engine is still running) until your tach is reading 750rpm (what your engine should be idling at). This might solve your problem.

Falco.

[nxski]

Thanks Falco, I've never done it before but I do already have instructions on how to do it, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Hopefully that will solve the majority of the shaking but it still seems to do it at Start-up and in reverse. Hopefully that factor can be solved when I take it in for a check-up.

[nxski]

I just upped the revs and have added some German Injector cleanser into the diesel and hopefully all is smoother in the next week or so. Now to find out what's causing my front passenger floor mat to be constantly soaked even on dry days.