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Vibration is a tire/wheel quality function. Proper balancing on a Hunter Road Force balancer usually quiets it and having tires that are actually round like Michelins helps the most. Another poster has mentioned vibration but they actually talking about a noise in the steering column or something related to the front suspension or front end if I read their description. They took it seven times to the same dealer; perhaps a second, more knowledgeable, dealer would have helped or a visit from the GM technician to decide what to do after they experience the problem.
The alignments are critical on a quality stiff chassis I've found. The tire pressure on the car you test drove is probably too high or uneven. I have carried 2-3 pounds over the door sticker pressure on H-bodies I've owned. That would usually be 33. I sometimes have as high as 35 in them for a tight road feel especially on trips.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Glad to help.
I'd suggest the Harmonys also, which I put on my 98 LeSabre after the X-Ones wore out. I have Symmetrys from the factory on the 03 LeSabre (that's why I wanted the Celebration package). They are not rated as long in tire life (there are two Symmetrys, the GM spec in size 225x60x16 if that's the size you have) but I would go with Harmonys.
I'm debating replacing my two more worn tires on the symmetry-equipped 03 with two Harmonys for winter. The Symmetrys are good in snow, however.
You should have them road force balanced by a knowledgeable technician, preferably a GM dealer who has worked with the stiffness transmission of vibration from tires long enough they know how to use the machine for "fine" adjustments of balance.
Once you get good round-rolling tires on it and you get over looking for the little vibrations that are normal historically, you'll love the tires.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Feathered edges were the first thing my service manager looked at on Symmetrys when initial road force balancing helped greatly but I reported some vibration coming and going based on pull of front wheels up long smoothly-paved hills but not on downhills or level. Turns out the rear wheels were out of toein setting. Fronts were slightly off. Alignment has held through 30K miles.
Also I get the feelng from my 40K miles on the tires now that they become more forgiving as they roll up to about 15K miles. Perhaps the flexing of the belt and sidewalls softens them.
Advice: Two cents worth. Keep rotating tires regularly at 8K or earlier. It keeps them evenly wearing.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I am going with lawyer to get car replaced or get money back.
Very frastrated with Lucerne. Stay away from this car!!!
The procedure is clear: check rims for roundness (haven't hit a curb or giant pothole), check tires and rims for road force variation on Hunter 9700 Road Force balancer, check alignment and reset to middle of settings(even though a setting may be within tolerance but not at optimum). This assumes all other potential causes have been checked.
The 60-75 range sounds exactly like tires/wheels. A vibration analyzer tool can be taken for a ride and used by a knowledgeable technician to determine the source of the vibration by analyzing the rate and harmonics of the vibration.
I've read many comments about vibrations through several different vehicles on Edmunds. They are not unique. The stiffness of the chassis and the lighness of suspension parts that move with the wheels allow these vibrations which are usually from poor tires to transmit to the chassis.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Unfortunatelly Buick has nothing else compatible. I will go to another manufacturer.
The other models have 16/17 wheels with stiffer profile tires on them along with tighter suspension. The feel of the road and the tires is all fixable. But go buy whatever you want of course. There are many vehicles in Edmunds that have some tire/vibration issues and some of those can't be fixed based on what I've read in some discussions. That's a shame.
If I'm buying a specific car I'd want any dealer to fix the wheel balance before I purchased the vehicle.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Pricing aside, I think Bruneau1 has the answer, the Buick is a much heavier car. The fix is obvious GM!!!
First Concern: If I accelerate from a complete stop with just a little more gas than a slow acceleration there is a vibration that can be felt through the floor board fro the 1st second or so of the acceleration. Sort of like a cell phone vibration. It is audible too but not real aloud. My wife noticed it right away while sitting on the passenger side. As I accelerate it feels like I am accelerating through the vibration and within a second or so everything is smooth as can be. This has nothing to do with the tires. It is definitely something under the hood. I have felt this type of vibration in my wife's new model Jetta when turning on her air conditioner.
Second concern: Maybe a little off topic under this discussion but thought I would ask so perhaps I can my answers in one place. This car definitely has "cold engine ping" Once it is warmed up (doesn't take long as I live in Hawaii) the engine is smooth as can be. In fact it will stay that way all day even after being parked for 8 hours at work. Pings only on first start in the morning.
My last two car a used 97 Buick Century and a used 99 Buick Century Custom both had cold engine ping. I bought the 99 with 28,000 miles and it had cold engine ping the whole time I owned it up to 94,500 miles and I had no problems due to the ping. I used 92 octane too... so, I wondering if the cold engine ping is something that can be lived with on the Lucerne too.
Any input would be appreciated.
Fred Schulz
What happen if you use 89 octane (is that the regular octane for your location?) Give it a couple of tank fulls... I wonder if you're using 92 if that's confusing the sensors.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I also get the continous ping ONLY for less than 5 minutes when I first start the car in the morning. ONLY in the morning too. If the car sets 8 continous hours at work when I start it at the end of the workday there is NO continous pinging for a few minutes.
If the car sets over night... in the garage or out of the garage when I start it in the morning there is a pinging for abvout three to five minutes. Once the car is "warmed up" there is absolutley no continous ping for the rest of the day and into the night. The car rides like it is on air for all speeds except for that little cell phone vibration feeling I feel when initially accelerating. It is felt on the floorboard and also on the steering wheel. In no way does it have anything to do with the tires as it lasts only a second and it has more to do with RPM's than speed.
As fop the Pinging for a few minutes after starting, my 97 and 99 Century behaved this way too.
This might sound silly but I have only had the car since Thursday Evening and tomorrow will be the first time I fill it up. It came with a full tank of gas. The posts are just concerns I have noticed over the first few days of owning it and I wanted to find out about these "anomalies" as soon as possible.
Thanks for the response! and please add more, especially about the pinging after starting in the morning for 3 to 5 minutes and that One snapping ping that occurs when the car is started.
Aloha and mahalo!
Fred Schulz
I get a little something like that in the CXS 8 I bought from time to time too. You need to remember as Buick reduced outside noise everything that goes on inside seems much louder. I've had my car fixed for a rattling headliner and a sqeaking in the passasnger seat. I still get a little interior noise from time to time but the car is really quiet and smooth compared to everthing else I've driven even a MB 420 SEL.
As for the pinging it is most likely a fuel mixture issue. Engines run leaner when they are cold and a car tuned on the edge for economy emissions and performance might very well ping when cold. As long as it's not constant then I would not worry about it. Keep in mind the knock sensor "should" retard any pinging as soon as it happens.
I tried to fine another car without this condition to ask GM to trade me but the ones on the dealer lot were worse than mine. my next step is to contact Rick Wagner GM CEO. I would check out lemon law in your state in PA it takes 7 months to get a court date.
..Dick
http://db.theautochannel.com/db/BuickReviews/safety.php
You will have to change the year to 2006 for the 2006 Service Bulletins as it defaults to 2007.
In any case I found these two bulletins on the Lucerne which match my problems exactly. I took it to the dealer and they have had it two weeks now. Hoping ot get it back soon.
Here are the two bulletins I found amongst many others.
The pinging and knocking had three listings and the vibration had one listing.
Bulletin Summary: TICKING OR KNOCKING NOISE, CRACKED OR BROKEN FLEXPLATE. *TT
SERVICE BULLETIN:3692 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10019447
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Bulletin Summary: TICKING OR KNOCKING NOISE, CRACKED OR BROKEN FLEXPLATE. *TT
Date added to datbase: 20060315
SERVICE BULLETIN:3692A NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10019432
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Bulletin Summary: TICKING OR KNOCKING NOISE CRACKED OR BROKEN FLEXPLATE. *TT
Date added to datbase: 20060314
SERVICE BULLETIN:3365A NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10017095
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
Bulletin Summary: TICKING OR KNOCKING NOISE CRACKED OR BROKEN FLEXPLATE. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING OLDSMOBILE BONNEVILLE 2006. *TT
Date added to datbase: 20051024
and
Bulletin Summary: VIBRATION WHEN ACCELERATING. *TT
SERVICE BULLETIN:3806 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10018914
MFG Bulletin Date: 19010101
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Bulletin Summary: VIBRATION WHEN ACCELERATING. *TT
Date added to datbase: 20060124
Hope this helps
Fred Schulz
Joe
Is it like an initial ping. Try a different brand of fuel. OR try the premium grade.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
If it's a low rumble sound after about 30 seconds of switch on (with or witout motor running) it's the air pump checking the automatic leveling system and pumping air into the rear shock absorbers.
if it's as you start moving at about 10 mph or more for the first time after starting the car, it's the ABS doing a self test. You might feel it in the brake pedal if it's depressed slightly.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Joe
Joe
Joe
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,