Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle

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Fri 5 Mar 2021 07:54
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - Ianbj45

This vibration is also felt in the boot lid and back doors. It's worse in the steering wheel though.

I have a vibration in the steering wheel at idle that is in tune with the rpm. It is there from the moment i start the engine and in park. I think it is there all the time but a lot less noticeable when driving.

It is worse in the morning when cold and really vibrates. If the weather is warmer it's a bit better.

After a good drive you can stop at a roundabout and it will be hardly noticeable but will come back again.

Sometimes it will be better in neutral when stopped but first thing in the morning when starting the car it is the same in park, neutral or drive.

This has grown worse over time from a little vibration to a bigger one.

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Fri 5 Mar 2021 08:08
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - RT

It might be a sticking injector - so run some injection cleaner through the fuel tank.

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Fri 5 Mar 2021 08:53
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - Ianbj45

Thanks for the quick reply.

I put some Redex in a couple of weeks ago and it was better on a couple of mornings. I'm not sure if that was because we were in a warm spell though. I currently have some Wyns in the tank but nothing has changed. Are there any other symptoms of a blocked injector?

I also get a metallic rattle when accelerating quickly (turbo kicking in) in the mornings. It comes from the engine area and sounds like a loose exhaust bracket. Could it be the manifold?

I've booked an exhaust check tomorrow.

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Fri 5 Mar 2021 08:59
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - elekie&a/c doctor
I think your idea of a broken exhaust bracket or flexi pipe is more likely. A fault with an injector would usually cause a misfire and the engine fault light to illuminate .
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Fri 5 Mar 2021 09:56
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - RT
I think your idea of a broken exhaust bracket or flexi pipe is more likely. A fault with an injector would usually cause a misfire and the engine fault light to illuminate .

A sticking injector is less severe, causing the injection timing to open a bit late and doesn't put a fault light on. Some people avoid this, or cure it, by running big brand fuel but with supermarket fuel it may need injection cleaner.

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Fri 5 Mar 2021 10:22
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - Ianbj45

Thanks for replies

I do mainly use decent fuel and try to give the car a good blast at least once a week.

The vibration is like a vibrator and the rpm doesn't move at all when idle.

I had the drivers side engine mount changed but that seems to have made the vibrations even more noticeable.

I had the cambelt and water pump changed last September and, it may be coincidence but it seems to have come on slowly since then. I had the timing belt checked and that is all correct.

However, I do have a pulley scraping noise coming from under the timing belt cover which has been getting worse. Local garage diagnosed this as the cambelt tensioner which is getting replaced under warranty. Could that be anything to do with it?

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Sat 6 Mar 2021 11:33
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - Ianbj45

Exhaust checked out ok. Unless it is at the manifold.

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Sat 6 Mar 2021 11:51
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - elekie&a/c doctor
Not sure if this engine is fitted with a torsional vibration damper as part of the crankshaft pulley.
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Sat 6 Mar 2021 16:55
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - galileo
Not sure if this engine is fitted with a torsional vibration damper as part of the crankshaft pulley.

I worked for many years at a company which made and supplied crankshaft pulley torsional dampers to Vauxhall, British Leyland, Rootes and Jaguar. Ford used Metalastik bonded rubber dampers, ours had a rubber element press fitted between a hub fixed to the crankshaft and an inertia member. Most of these included a v groove for the auxiliary belt. I'd imagine a 2.0 litre diesel would need a damper to protect against crankshaft fatigue and vibration

.

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Sun 7 Mar 2021 13:34
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - Ianbj45

Thanks for your help.

I believe it does have a damper in the crankshaft pulley. Though that wouldn't get better after a run or when warmed up would it?

I will wait to see what happens when the tensioner is replaced.I'm beginning to wonder if the rattle I hear is something to do with that.



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Sun 7 Mar 2021 13:46
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - galileo

Thanks for your help.

I believe it does have a damper in the crankshaft pulley. Though that wouldn't get better after a run or when warmed up would it?

I will wait to see what happens when the tensioner is replaced.I'm beginning to wonder if the rattle I hear is something to do with that.

The damper will be designed to operate effectively from sub zero to normal engine temperature. Can't see how a chain/belt tensioner could affect the steering.

A fault in the power steering system might show as vibration, perhaps?



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Sat 13 Mar 2021 13:33
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - Ianbj45

Thanks again for the replies

Tensioner and new belt made no difference.

I still get vibration in the steering wheel when starting the car. It only goes when you stop and the engine is hot. It can only be the engine causing vibration if the cars not moving?

A metallic fast rattle with acceleration when cold. This will also go when hot. The engine has a constant ticking\rattle at idle.

Also when entering a car park at slow speeds the engine feels like it's going to stall or it has a bad wheel\suspension.

Couple all that with sluggish acceleration at higher speeds.

Would a crankshaft damper cause vibration at slow speeds ?

Could a manifold cause all of that?

Help.

Edited by Ianbj45 on 13/03/2021 at 13:34

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Sat 13 Mar 2021 14:11
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - galileo

Fast rattle when cold which goes when hot suggests one or more hydraulic tappets are sticking, worse when cold and oil is thicker.

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Sat 13 Mar 2021 16:00
Astra J 2.0 Cdti Automatic - Vibration in Steering Wheel at Idle - Ianbj45

Thanks. The fast rattle only happens when the revs reach about 2000+ or the turbo kicks in. Lower gears mainly (car is automatic). It's not a constant rattle iwith acceleration.

Edited by Ianbj45 on 13/03/2021 at 16:00

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