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Slight vibration at idle

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37K views 31 replies 18 participants last post by  jordan56  
#1 ·
Well after a search, I couldn't find anything relating to this for the 2nd gen trucks.

Recently I've noticed a very slight vibration in the truck when idling at stop lights. I don't notice it at any other times, like start-up. It's usually when I've been driving, come to stop at a light, and then I'll feel a very slight vibration start, and some times a light 'thunk'.

I took it into the dealer, and the service writer suggested it may be the "transmission leaning out the fuel mixture". Not sure how the transmission and the fuel system are directly related though. A mechanical means of leaning the fuel mixture, imo, wouldn't vibrate that much (I'm a pilot, and when I lean the fuel in my plane, I'm literally pulling a knob).

Anyways, they took a look and couldn't find anything wrong, and no faults on the computer. They upgraded the BCM firmware hoping that would help, but the only difference I feel is a slight change in the way the truck accelerates. Still has a slight vibration at idle (and when the truck is warmed up), and I did notice the slight thunk moreso than normal, though, I was looking for it this time since the writer mentioned it.

Everything is working fine, but I'm just curious what it could be, and if anyone else is experiencing it.
 
#2 ·
There are a couple of threads on engine shudder that discuss the same issue. I have the same vibration/shudder that you mention. The dip in RPMs at idle is getting worse, and I suspect that I will soon experience the engine dying while stopped that others have mentioned.

One guy finally had his truck throw a code, said he had the purge canister (if I remember correctly) replaced, and he hasn't had the shudder since.
 
#4 ·
Recently I've noticed a very slight vibration in the truck when idling at stop lights. I don't notice it at any other times, like start-up. It's usually when I've been driving, come to stop at a light
Typically there are two different settings for idle RPM - a "hot" setting once the vehicle has warmed up, and a "cold" setting which is usually a couple hundred RPMs higher. Idle RPM is typically one of the most sensitive areas to vibrations, but it could be possible that having someone with a tuner increase the RPM would get you back out of the range where you can feel the vibrations.
 
#5 ·
Surprised I couldn't find those threads. I had a similar issue in my last car where the idle was too low and the whole thing shook, but it did that for years and never had an issue.

Well I guess I'm in the same boat as you guys and will monitor to see if it gets worse. I'll have to research the purge canister and see if there's a history of that issue with this engine.

Thanks for the info everyone!
 
#6 ·
Any solution?

I have had my 2015 in for service on this issue since Wednesday morning. They have had engine and transmission techs drive the truck but are never able to re-create the shuttering. Like the above post mentions, I feel this when in drive, brake applied, and not moving. So, I most commonly feel the vibration when I'm at stop lights. The vibration lasts anywhere 5-7 seconds and just before the shutter is felt, I feel like there might be a slight decrease in idle rpm.

I'm going in on Monday to drive with the tech so that I can see if I can re-create the issue with someone present.

Thanks.
 
#12 ·
I have had my 2015 in for service on this issue since Wednesday morning. They have had engine and transmission techs drive the truck but are never able to re-create the shuttering. Like the above post mentions, I feel this when in drive, brake applied, and not moving. So, I most commonly feel the vibration when I'm at stop lights. The vibration lasts anywhere 5-7 seconds and just before the shutter is felt, I feel like there might be a slight decrease in idle rpm.

I'm going in on Monday to drive with the tech so that I can see if I can re-create the issue with someone present.

Thanks.


Hi CouchFisher,


We're sorry to hear that you've experiencing this concern with your truck and would be more than happy to reach out to your dealer for an extra layer of support. To proceed, please send us a private message with your full contact information , VIN, current mileage and the involved dealer.

Kindest regards,



Bret B.
GM Customer Care
 
#7 · (Edited)
How many miles on these trucks? Dirty throttle bodies cause LOTS of idle issues. Most of the time it is when the truck is warm. You pull up to a light and it kind of acts like it might die or just vibrates because the rpm is too low. Sometimes ECM sees it to low and it will kick it back up. Anyway, cleaning the throttle body is cheap (2 bucks for a can of cleaner) and worth a shot for sure.
 
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#16 ·
I brought my truck in last week for very same problem, rough idle. There is a TSB that they applied and now it idles 95% better!
As an added bonus It shifts 100% better, downshifts with just a slight press on the gas. No more crazy revving, drives like it should have, from day 1.
Like having a new truck.....
 
#19 ·
I am up to date on all the reprogramming and I still have intermittent rough idle. Dealership ignored the issue because they could not replicate it during my visit. Every time the rough idle occurs it just reminds me never to take my truck back to that dealer if it is something I have to pay for.
 
#21 ·
Update from 6/2618. After about 2 months went on trip, tried to use the trucks wifi. It wasn't working. Onstar couldn't fix over weekend...3 days later they called and said it should be working now. They did fix it, don't know what it was.
A week or two went by, then the engine twitched a bit. Well, the rough idle started to come back. Now its fairly regular, but not as bad as it was.
The really bad news it the smooth shifting is gone! Back to hard down shifting again.....

I'll contact my service adviser who helped me with all this and explain, again.
Since they had to download something to fix, then Onstar had to fix, maybe they're in cahoots!
Maybe I can't have a smooth truck and wifi?
 
#22 ·
I have the same problem and got the same BS answer you get when it is under warranty, "we can't find a problem". Magically 4 months later I get a letter from GM mentioning an issue with the purge solenoid, identifying the exact problem I was complaining about. It has slowly been getting worse.

What is really pathetic is that this site knows more about all the issues with my vehicle more so that the dealership does. Even before GM acknowledged the issue with the purge solenoid valve, this site already has an extensive discussion thread on the subject.
 
#24 ·
Any one have updates on this problem. I have the same vibration, while stopped at a light or stop sign. If I feather the brakes and inch forward the truck will also shudder forward.

Took it in because I thought it was a transmission issue, transmission tech said it almost seems like a missfire, hooked the computer to it and no miss, no CEL. Said unfortunately with no lights and no major drive ability issues Chevrolet won’t do much. Said Chevrolet will release another ecm flash and maybe that will smooth it out.

Kind of BS. I want to delete the truck and tune it, but if this is a real problem I don’t want to shoot my self in the foot.
 
#28 ·
When I took my 2016 (3.6 V6) in for the transmission shutter TSB, I mentioned to the transmission tech how there was a slight engine vibration at idle. He claimed it was normal for these engines and there was nothing that could be done. The guy seemed very knowledgeable, so I took his word.
So, I don't know what to say on the subject. If there is in fact a fix, I'd like to know about it.
Now I'm not talking about the shutter during low acceleration up a slight incline. That was a transmission problem that was fixed by the TSB. This is a very slight engine vibration when idling. You really have to look for it. Surprisingly, it was my wife that pointed it out to me.
 
#30 ·
When I took my 2016 (3.6 V6) in for the transmission shutter TSB, I mentioned to the transmission tech how there was a slight engine vibration at idle. He claimed it was normal for these engines and there was nothing that could be done. The guy seemed very knowledgeable, so I took his word.
So, I don't know what to say on the subject. If there is in fact a fix, I'd like to know about it.
Now I'm not talking about the shutter during low acceleration up a slight incline. That was a transmission problem that was fixed by the TSB. This is a very slight engine vibration when idling. You really have to look for it. Surprisingly, it was my wife that pointed it out to me.
It does not happen all the time really weird if I’m stopped at a red light it’s a chatta vibration does it only when I’m sitting still and foot on the brake pedal if I release brake pedal it goes away press the pedal it comes back