Yeah, it was even used on bicycles.

TNT, I kinda think the fingernail polish is a good idea. Seems to me that would work well.

You could also go ahead and scrape all the shiny faux-chrome off and just paint it black. That would most likely require removing the grille from the car though.


Tali

How about clear spray on acrylic paint?

Here's one for you Wolf:

A 2002 Toyota Corolla. 68800 miles and on the second set of tires.
The new set has around 2000 miles on them, installed after all wheel alignment and balancing.

The problem: There has been a vibration practically since the day we drove it off the dealership lot that is most noticeable in the steering wheel but is often felt in the body as well. It doesn't change with braking or acceleration but seems to increase at speeds of 70+ mph.

Thanks,
Prism

Hi plowboy,

I think I'd take it back to whoever installed those new tires and have them rebalance them.

Just as an example, I have seen instances where somebody has put too much soap on the tire to get it over the wheel, and after it's been balanced and put back on the car, the tire slips just enough over the wheel to make it feel awfully out of balance.

I'm sorry plowboy, I haven't been keeping up too well have I. Vibrations are sometimes mean to find. Tires and wheels are a major source of vibrations for sure. Also a bent axle or hub that causes the tire to rotate incorrectly can cause them. Sometimes driveline components will cause vibrations that can be mistaken as tire vibrations.

Some technicians are very good at determining the source of vibrations and others are not. A lot of money has been spent on guessing the cause of a vibration. At the GM dealership I worked at we had an Electronic Vibration Analyzer. We could program in known factors such as tire size and control speed and engine rpm and use this analyzer to measure the frequency of the vibration. Different components will have different frequencies and get us on the right track. If the vibration is persistant you would probably be money ahead to talk to someone who specializes in finding vibrations. It is a difficult and specialized task and guessing can get more expensive than paying someone who knows the science behind pinpointing the problem. I wish I knew a name of someone to point you to. The only thing I could say is that a larger dealership usually has someone who is very good because they have to. When a customer buys a new car and it has a vibration they have to take it seriously to keep the customer satisfied. Good luck, and again I am sorry I was so slow responding.

"We could program in known factors such as tire size and control speed and engine rpm and use this analyzer to measure the frequency of the vibration. Different components will have different frequencies..."

So basically, what you're saying is that it analyzes the sound to pinpoint the problem??? That's pretty high-tech stuff Wolf. Not surprisingly, if you've ever listened to "Car Talk" (on NPR) those two guys are always asking their listeners to mimic the sound their car is making. So the caller will do their best to vocalize the problem sound. That's very low-tech stuff there. Odd huh?

So why couldn't car companies place onboard Electronic Vibration Analyzers as standard equipment? Just push a button and it could talk to you and say >YOUR UNIVERSAL JOINT NEEDS REPLACED< Or, it could be incorporated like the OnStar system and someone could actually call you and say >HEY STUPID... THE SEATBELT IS HANGING OUT THE BACK DOOR<

This way, when the driver takes the car in, the problem is already known.

Talimook

When you look at the changes made from our first cars and see On Star, and some of the other things that have came about, these things may not be far fetched.

Did you ever notice how the darn seat belt and door open dinger are the only things that never seem to quit working on a car? The wheels may fall off without warning, but at least you will have your seatbelt on and won't fall out an open door as you go bouncing through the ditch .

That's funny! Those door open dingers can drive you INSANE when you're trying to vacuum at the car-wash! I bought a whisk broom just to avoid that harassing nuisance. I can sweep the mud out of my truck anywhere too, and it only takes a minute or so. Not only that, but I don't need dollar bills to make it work.

Whisk broom... about a buck-two-ninety-eight at the Dollar General.



Anywaaaaay.... Getting back to plowboy12's problem though, I kinda think it sounds like a U-joint type problem. It's odd that a Toyota would have any kind of problem though, ain't it?

Thanks for your comments, Wolf.

Tali, I don't think it's U-joints since we are talking about a 2002 model with this problem nearly from day one. U-j's would have sold out long ago.

The bent axle, though, could be a cause. The tire place did have to shim to get the alignment back within the tolerance range.

That key-in-the-ignition bell drives me crazy too! I take the keys out.

Hey Plowboy, The shimming of the rear hub assemblies is just a normal procedure and doesn't mean that you have a problem with your hub assembly which the wheel bolts to. This is just done to correct the angle at which the hub sits as it is turning for tire wear purposes. The factor that would cause a vibration would be a bent hub that has side to side movement as the wheel rotates. This is easily measured by any shop (although some don't bother). If the hub is bent causing side to side movement of the wheel and tire, then this is a potentiel cause for your vibration. You are correct in saying the U-joints aren't a possible cause, however the constantant velocity joints in the front wheel drive cars are just as much a concern as the old U-joints in the rear wheel drive. The only problem is that they are harder to diagnose and a missed diagnosis is a little more expensive. Is the vibration at a high frequency or low frequency? Your tires and wheel runout will be at a lower frequency because of the speed they turn at. Is it consistant in all gears with the wheel speed or more with the engine RPM? I hate vibrations almost as much as door dingers

My apologies. I misread your question, plowboy. I was assuming it had happened since you got the new tires, not since you've had the car.

hello Wolf! i have a question on the 97 ford van i am going to have given to me very soon. i took it for a drive yesterday and i really like it....except....
when i accelerated to go up a ramp to the highway, it seemed to screech the tires then lurch into gear before going up. the lady that is giving it to me said i can not accelerate but need to take it slow as normal.humm.not the way i am used to driving! also...she said i need to go slow before it will automatically shift into a higher gear going up hill. i did not notice this being a problem but she says she has to slow down to get it to shift. am i looking at a lot of money in transmission problems??? i sure hope not as i will have none to spend. my girls are very happy we are getting rid of the bomb and getting this van! i will probable get this in the very near future and i already have a kid who wants my old car...(should i say junker) and the kids father can fix it up for her

I thought about putting this post in the product reviews but since it deals with cars I will put it here. Under NO circumstances ever ever ever take your car or truck to Danny Zeck Ford in Lansing for service. I could rant about them until my fingers fell off but I won't bother. In my opinion this is the very worst service department I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with.

Nanny I would try Lucas Transmission Fix it provides the following benefits:
*
Stops automatic transmission slip
*
Cleans and lubricates sticking valves for smoother shifting
*
Stops leakage around seals
*
Extends fluid life up to 3x
*
Extends the life of your transmission substantially
*
Protects your transmission under all severe service applications

You can buy it at Walmart.

http://lucasoil.hodgsoncorp.com/slipping_transmission.htm

thanks for the responce Samie! i will look in to this!

First and foremost, nanny, check the transmission fluid level. It acts funny like that when the fluid level is low. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, because it's been a while since I had to do this, but I think your engine needs to be warm and running while checking the trans fluid level.

Whoops.This is TNT.

havn't got it yet gang but will be soon. it has a smaller engine also so i will have to learn to do the granny driving. wonder if i can! it was hard getting rid of my 5 speed truck! i will have some one drive it soon after getting it so i will know what to do to make it safe for the kids. ha might just be lighten my foot!

Nannymom,
If it makes you feel any better, our van (Windstar) has doing that same thing for about the past 30,000 miles. It's a little annoying, but mostly it just happens in city driving. Out on the highway, of course, it's not really going through the gears, having reached OD speed.


Talimook

PS TNT, you have issues...

Watch Mojo looks at the proper and safe way to check your car’s transmission fluid (ATF).

http://www.howcast.com/videos/12157-How-To-Check-a-Cars-Transmission-Fluid