Annoying vibration from engine

[crasherkid]

Hello
Any idea why something, somewhere in the engine bay is causing a loud(Ish) vibration which can be felt on the steering wheel and also the drivers side door.
I know it's coming from the engine but it's so intense it also vibrates the wheel and door.
You can feel it strongest at idle/stationary but not so much when the car is moving, but obviously it's still there.

What should I be looking for?

 

[hondamad2204]

Worn engine mounts/ mount would be my guess. The drivers side can have a tendency to split, have a look. You can see it clearly when the bonnet is open, ,( its the round black thing bolted to the car to the left hand side of the engine block as you look at it.)

Should have a solid rubber base, if its split or slimey its goosed.

 

[hondamad2204]

Or does it have an aftermarket set of stiff engine mounts in? Also another thought...is there an engine torque damper fitted?

 

[crasherkid]

I'm not sure, the previous owner has said "it has a power flex insert in the front engine mount as I was going to remap the car but never got around to it"

What can I do from here? Replace it?

 

[hondamad2204]

The inserts will firm them up and give small vibrations....they way your description reads is that its quite firm , enough to cause doors etc to vibrate. Sounds like the drivers side mount has failed, and the movement of the engine idling is now transferred to the cabin.

The thing to do is look. Does it look physically split? Google ep3/ dc5 split engine mount and you will see pictures of what i mean.

The only thing to do if it is broken is replacement.

 

[crasherkid]

Seller said if open the mount and remove insert it will stop vibration and go back to stock?
Is this correct?

 

[hondamad2204]

Bud, im offering helpful advice here, only you can see your engine mounts at this particular time. Lol. Removing the insert will resuce vibration yes, but with it in it will not be vibrating bad enough to cause your wheel and door to rattle (unless doors etc are loosely bolted on?)

The way you described it, it sounds to me like a broken engine mount! The inserts go front and back, and if only he front is in it will not cause anything that isn't annoying. With the rear it will be firmer but not really as you have described. Ive Seen so many members buying inserts to put in and then selling them on, as they are finding they have them fitted without even realising! Haha thats how un imposing they are.

The way yours sounds, and the way you described where it was coming from is what would happen if your drivers side engine mount has failed...or if there is a torque damper that has been fitted and it had vibrated loose....these are two things you will need to check first by looking. Literally lift the bonnet, look at the left of the engine, if you see a split engine mount it's buggered...needs replacement. (There will be fluid as described above)

If that looks good, check for the torque damper if one is fitted ...a blue and gold piston located at the back left of the engine bay (next to the brake fluid). These connect the engine to the car and are renowned for vibrations that are annoying.

If it doesn't have anything blue and gold there, and the engine mount on the drivers side is not split then you could try removing the insert at the front (from underneath) and try. You will soon find that there will not be a massive difference. The integra is a fairly firm car so vibration should be expected. If it seems abnormal still then check what i have advised above and see. Speaking to the seller may help, but actually looking will soon identify if there is an issue or not bud. There isn't much else i can suggest.

Failing all of that, take it to a garage and see what can see/ feel.

If its not doing it when moving then my money is on engine mount drivers side.

I don't mean to sound abrupt, but just see if you can see anything. Fire up a picture of you like and ill try and helps from that...without being there to see it, feel it etc.

Good luck.

 

[crasherkid]

Top man Jimmer, really appreciate your help.
I'll take a picture in the morning so you can have a better look.
I hope it won't cost too much as I was budgeting for an exhaust system and some wind deflectors but I guess this gets priority.

 

[hondamad2204]

No worries mate.

You could probably pick up a second hand set easily, (same as the EP3) theres a few sets floating around the £80 mark on the forum Facebook page at the moment.

Yeah pictures paint a thousand words, see what stands out to myself and any others.

Could also check anything that's obviously loose as well, ...just incase

 

[crasherkid]

Why can't I upload a pic I took off my phone. Says Error this file is too big to upload

 

[MilanoChris]

Why can't I upload a pic I took off my phone. Says Error this file is too big to upload

I'm no expert, but I'd say that the pic is too big to upload.

 

[crasherkid]

Can't edit the pic now.
I guess next time I can go Into camera settings and choose a smaller resolution/megapixel

 

[hondamad2204]

Need to use an image hosting website, so photobucket or something like that.

 

[crasherkid]

Did this Dropbox link work?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8ogphqdgc8glnv4/IMG_20161110_111933_010.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zwj3adr89egl8v8/VID_20161110_111957.mp4?dl=0

 

[hondamad2204]

The mounts will love slightly, they absorb engine movements...yours however isn't split as i first thought.

That looks completely fine mate. Must be something else unfortunately, did you check to see if you have an engine damper fitted?

Could try removing the front insert from the front engine mount and see as a last ditch attempt.

Don't know what else to suggest atall bud. For something to cause that much vibration when stationary, and looking at that video....I wouldn't say its as bad as being made out.

Check door cards to see if they are on correctly, poke and prod interior to see if anything is loose etc.

 

[crasherkid]

Just a quick update,
Took the car to a local Honda specialist (private)
He jacked the car up and removed the front engine mount but there was nothing in there.
He also said the mount was fine, in good condition with plenty of life left in it.

Will have to go see him again in a week or so for a full diagnostic because he isn't sure what's causing the vibration but did say it's very intense and Definitely something wrong inside engine bay.

 

[crasherkid]

Another update.
The last garage I went to checked the side engine mount (to the left of the manifold)
The mount in question was at the front under the grill.
Took the engine mount off with the Energy inserts and now the vibration has gone waheyy!!
Thanks for all the support.

 

[MissMyDC2]

Nice to get a fix

I have front and rear inserts and dont find them that bad.

 

[randomjiberish]

Bud, im offering helpful advice here, only you can see your engine mounts at this particular time. Lol. Removing the insert will resuce vibration yes, but with it in it will not be vibrating bad enough to cause your wheel and door to rattle (unless doors etc are loosely bolted on?)

The way you described it, it sounds to me like a broken engine mount! The inserts go front and back, and if only he front is in it will not cause anything that isn't annoying. With the rear it will be firmer but not really as you have described. Ive Seen so many members buying inserts to put in and then selling them on, as they are finding they have them fitted without even realising! Haha thats how un imposing they are.

The way yours sounds, and the way you described where it was coming from is what would happen if your drivers side engine mount has failed...or if there is a torque damper that has been fitted and it had vibrated loose....these are two things you will need to check first by looking. Literally lift the bonnet, look at the left of the engine, if you see a split engine mount it's buggered...needs replacement. (There will be fluid as described above)

If that looks good, check for the torque damper if one is fitted ...a blue and gold piston located at the back left of the engine bay (next to the brake fluid). These connect the engine to the car and are renowned for vibrations that are annoying.

If it doesn't have anything blue and gold there, and the engine mount on the drivers side is not split then you could try removing the insert at the front (from underneath) and try. You will soon find that there will not be a massive difference. The integra is a fairly firm car so vibration should be expected. If it seems abnormal still then check what i have advised above and see. Speaking to the seller may help, but actually looking will soon identify if there is an issue or not bud. There isn't much else i can suggest.

Failing all of that, take it to a garage and see what can see/ feel.

If its not doing it when moving then my money is on engine mount drivers side.

I don't mean to sound abrupt, but just see if you can see anything. Fire up a picture of you like and ill try and helps from that...without being there to see it, feel it etc.

Good luck.

Hi Jimmer

You seam like the guy that may be able to help me with a vibration. Mine comes if you simply blip the revs whilst the car is stationary, with the bonnet up you can see the aux belt tensioner rattle in time with the noise, so I had this replaced, the issue returned almost immediately, I've done all the other usual suspects from the driveshaft metal shroud to the manifold cover and both heat shields and they are all fine. When driving at low revs especially in first and second gear it's there all the time, the only way to stop it is by revving it slightly harder then normal. I've tried some spray on the tensioner etc but it's baffling me and really cheesing me off now lol

Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[hondamad2204]

They aren't amazingly refined these cars, but I know what you mean with some bugging you. could be the ivtec cover over the manifold, (mine rattled) could be an engine torque damper as described above? Trouble is there are so many possibilities of what it could be, if you are anywhere near another teg owner or specialist whose driven many to getbtheir opinion, your only real option is to keep on hunting, and trying to het to the bottom of it.

Does it sound like engine bay area or dashboard area?