99silverado vibration problem

andrewk

Having the continued, frustrating problems that I do, been to the dealer 3 times, reading the warranty manual for procedures to follow and the Indiana Lemon Law, I have been putting my ducks in a row. The dealer said that they are going to schedule an appointment with the factory rep. When asked if the dealer why the rep was to be involved (did they concur that the problems existed or are they trying to get some additional information from the rep), I could not get a straight answer. Very frustrated, I filed a complaint on the 800 number and got a case number. I was very truthful and informative with the person I spoke with. She said that the rep was the ultimate authority- he could may a buyback happen or get me into another vehicle. She said that I had taken all the proper steps, which included a formal written letter to the service manager. She even asked what it was I seeking.

I am perplexed though. The dealer had initially taken steps to correct some of the problems, then said it was operating to specs, but now they are calling in the rep.

Could anyone with experience dealing with the rep please comment on what they make of this? Thanks.

bezojr

Here it is six months(almost to the day) and my
Silverado lemon is being turned into the dealer
Monday. I will take a $1557.50 hit for miles driven and I'm still on the hook for the GMPP warranty(hoping they will be more reliable than GM) and believe me, I hate that.

Worse however is the way I was treated by GM, with the exception of one or two (at most) people that I have spoken to at GM it seems that their main objective is to get you to accept that your vehicle is "good enough" and they are granting you huge favors just by talking with you.

The ASM was telling me how much GM is "Helping
me out" and losing money with the purchase of a new truck, at the same time he was trying to get me to buy a truck $1187 over invoice. Calling the dealer on the phone gets you $100 over. What a guy.

When the sales manager called me yesterday to
tell me the check had arrived, he wanted to know
why I sounded so bitter. GEE, I don't know, maybe
having to fight with your dealership and GM for 5
months to take care of a problem with your product
and having to pay for that pleasure makes one a
little bitter?

I am persistent and I had trouble wading
through the Bull$h** that they throw in the path, I can't fathom how a anyone that is the least bit timid gets around this B.S. Then again, maybe I am just a little bit too intense and I could have gotten further faster with a little less "Tude"". Nah, nevermind. This is actually a thank you to all the people here who pointed me in the right direction when ineeded help.

Ed

kingfishgus

I just got a new set of Generals and leaf springs and shackles. It noticeably helped but some vibration still there. This makes 14 tires however dealer used a new balancer this time that puts some downward pressure on tire to simulate a road. Still have launch shudder but it is less with the new springs and shackles. Haven't put a load on it yet. So far I have read of tires, wheels, springs and shackles to fix vibration. Some mentioned driveshaft changes/balancing but I'm not sure if anyone is convinced it helped. Am I missing anything else to try?
Looks like we are going to have to solve it for Chevrolet, cause they aren't doing too well for themselves.
Like I said, the new tires setup with the new balancing machine made a noticeable difference, but it ain't close enough yet for me.

cfunk

Have them swap those POS Generals with some nice Michelins.

-Funk

cferguson2

I bought one of the first 99 sierra (9-98) and noticed vibrations in engine almost immediately.Also crunching noise in front end. Dealer was nice but got no help from GM. About time they were to buy my truck back pontiac lost my computer files???. Took me a year but GM bought it back at a cost to me of 2700. My best witness in arbitration was the chief of maintenance at the dealer. No fun trip for me.My engine vibrated at almost any speed.

jayoung1

I meant 376 posts not pages, it comes to 133 pages printed!!!

jayoung1

We too have the vibration, along with many other problems. I'd rather not waste my time typing again. We called the BBB in the back of our owners manual, as per our dealership's advise. Also printed 376 responses from this topic list and gave copies to them with our claim. Hope to hear more soon, so far GM has left 2 messages while we were at work, that they want to talk with us to resolve the problem. We will call them back on Friday, when we are home. The BBB is a go between to help resolve the problem, without lawyers and courts involved. They are a middleman and are non-bias to either party.

If anyone with these problems has access to a laser printer (or other fast printer) can print all 376 pages about vibration out...I think we will all prove a point to them....

jayoung1

We too have the vibration, along with many other problems. I'd rather not waste my time typing again. We called the BBB in the back of our owners manual, as per our dealership's advise. Also printed 376 responses from this topic list and gave copies to them with our claim. Hope to hear more soon, so far GM has left 2 messages while we were at work, that they want to talk with us to resolve the problem. We will call them back on Friday, when we are home. The BBB is a go between to help resolve the problem, without lawyers and courts involved. They are a middleman and are non-bias to either party.

If anyone with these problems has access to a laser printer (or other fast printer) can print all 376 posts about vibration out...I think we will all prove a point to them....

jayoung1

Now go here and read about lemon laws, arbitration and more:
http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/clarkhoward/consumer_help/cars.html

Click on the topics below to find some great tips and ideas from Clark Howard's book "The Consumer Survival Kit"

• Car Accidents
• Car Leasing
• Car Recalls
• Car Repairs
• Lemon Law
• Buying a New Car
• Buying a Used Car
• Arbitration
• Trade-ins & Financing

croct

you know,It`s gotta be that the trucks are a little to stiff. I wonder how they are after
say, 30000 miles of moderate duty.My truck vibrates too , and I`m sick about it.I don`t know wether to turn it in or try to have it fixed. Its a 2000 1/2 ton 2wd long bed 277 miles on it.

bigt9

My new 2000 extended cab 5.3, auto, auto track with 4:10 limited slip has the problem as well.

Dealer has replaced trans, xfer case, rearend, and drive shafts. Problem still there.

mlm_70

I have a 1999 1/2 ton 4x4 Silverado extended cab with the Vortec 5300. I have a strange problem. When the weather outside is cold (25 or below) and the truck is cold, the automatic transmission will not shift from 2 to 3 until I get up to 35 mph, this makes the engine rev up to 2200 rpm. Once the temperature gauge gets to around 180 degrees it starts shifting fine. When the truck is warm is also doesn't do this. Normally is shifts from 2 to 3 at 20 mph. I've been to the dealership once and they reprogrammed the computer which took car of the growl at 40mph, but it didn't do anything about staying in 2nd to long. I think there might be a sensor that keeps it from shifting until the engine gets up to operating temperature, and maybe that sensor isn't set right. Has anyone else had this problem? Any suggestion? Please help. Thanks.

jdcarpenter

I have a 2000 4wd ext cab 1500. My transmission just started doing the same thing the other day. Exactly as you described, the trans 2-3 upshift is late. The 3-OD upshift seems late also but not as late as 2-3. Once the engine/trans warms up a bit, it shifts normally. No abnormal noise or hard shift, just late.
Perhaps these letters should be in a topic list of their own instead of 1999 vibration problems. Anyone else have the same "problem"/condition?

quadrunner500

Part of the cold weather/fast warm-up algorithm in the PCM.

butch23

My dealer made me an offer that I just could not refuse. The factory made an "upgrade offer" from my 1999 two wheel drive to a 2000 Z71. I drove it approx. 40 miles and it did not vibrate and had no "launch shudder". of course the two wheel drive didn't either until about 3000 miles. So far so good. Kudos to my dealer. He really helped me on this. So far, I love this truck!

keith48

I purchased my 1999 2 wheel drive long wheelbase V-6 Silverado in March and have been to the dealer over 10 times for the vibration problems. The shackles, bushings, hubs, and tires have been replaced. The dealer told me leafspring changes only apply to the short wheelbase trucks and the vibration is normal for the model truck I purchased.In April 1999, and numerous other times, I called the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center and notified them of the problems. They have told me resolution of the problem is between me and the dealer. The vibration problem, which is most noticeable over 60 mph,did not show up in the test drive and can not be corrected. The trade offers I received from two different Chevy dealers each amounted to over 20% depreciation for the first year of ownership. My truck is like new and has under 12,000 miles. I am filing a claim with the Better Business Bureau and will see what happens.

lincoln5

I assume by long wheel base you mean a long box or extended cab model. I have a 99 Sierra reg cab long box with Goodyear Wrangler ties and it also had vibrations at 60 to 70 mph. The tires turned out to be part of a "bad batch" of tires and the dealer had them replaced. That took care of a lot of the vibration but he also said because of its build date the instructions from GM were to replace the shackles on the rear springs. Turns out the shackles were the correct ones all along but the springs were wrong and they replaced them. My truck now rides like I would expect a new truck to.

bob259

This is 'normal' (the tech printed it out from the system for me). As mentioned it is part of the warmup package. I don't like it, but there is nothing they can do about it. So much for the not reving your cold engine. Another reason to not by the new GM.

quadrunner500

Just warm it up before driving off. You should be doing this anyway, for cold weather. No big deal!

page3

Just got my truck back from dealer.99 3/4 4x4 x-cab sht.bed.Same problem it seems everybody is having with the steering shaft.They told me its being re-designed and to check back.I did get a new steering shaft and it feels better.Also have had some clunking in the driveline at times.They change the fluid is the transfer case.I only have 6500 miles on it so I hope the vibration isn't next.Thanks to this site it was easier to tell the service dept. what might be the problem.(they loved that)

bob259

They also changed my transfer case fluid yesterday, but it's to soon to tell if it is the total cure. The new steering shaft did fix my steering clunk, now if I can just get this driveline/spring clunk fixed I may fall back in love with my truck again.

ckitchens

These are new trucks - I would be so disappointed. Just hope your dealers are able to rebuild your trucks before the warranty is out - and then if it really is the frame causing this magnitude of problems? Where does it end?

bob259

Not with the big 3....

kevin79

I have a 99' Z71 with 14k miles, sounds like same problem as a lot of other peolpe are having. a knocking or rattle when going into a turn only. What a relief....I felt like I was crazy. I have been back to dealership 6 times! Started with balancing tires, alligning front end, rotating tires, replacing bushings in front end, adjusting sway bar, and now they are replacing steering shaft! I told them everytime it was coming from steering column. I'm not a mechanic but I wish some times they would listen to the customer

vinces2

Maybe this will help. Bought my 1999 Silverado in Feb of 99. Dealer replaced rear tires, then front. When I complained about a sound that something like sounded loose under the truck they found the bolts holding the right rear shock were either gone or loose. They tightened the bolts, no more vibration. Been great since then, no more vibrartion. Check for loose shock bolts.

dubel

Well, after several times to the dealership for numerous EVA testing, Gm finally gave the go ahead to put a new transmission in my 1500 Silverado. From all appearances it seems that it has cured the "launch shudder" that had been noticeable from day one of ownership. Before the new transmission was replaced, I had the spring and shackle replacement as per TSB, lubrication of the spline-shaft and several days in the shop for Electronic Vibration Analysis. I can no longer detect the shudder and this transmission even seems to shift smoother and have better performance on hills. Hope this post helps those of you still frustrated with this same problem. My truck is a 2-wheel drive extended cab, 5.3 engine, automatic transmission, 3.42 axle ratio with locking differential. Changed at 14129 miles. Seal on end of transmission tail-shaft began leaking fluid at 8000 miles.

quadrunner500

Sounds like the right thing. Leaking seal at the tail shaft is an indicator of serious trouble.

bg4dg

After a week with no contact from the dealer or the Area Vehicle Manager that was supposed to consider the repurchase request on my Z71, I called back to Chevy. I was told that they had decided that the vibration was a "characteristic" of the truck, and would not buy it back. I told the lady on the phone that they could stick that B.S. 'cause I've heard of lots of things other dealers have tried that eventually seemed to fix most of them. I told that we were about to go toe to toe unless they tried SOMETHING. When I got home tonight, there was a message telling me that their engineers are working on a "fix" for the vibration problems and it should be available by the end of March. I'm not holding my breath, but you can bet your [non-permissible content removed] I'm keeping this recording. The arbitration people would love to hear that there is a problem, and that they are working on a "fix". Should have kept my T100.

ultra3

I purchased a 99 silverado 3 dr, 5.3, 3.73 LS,Ext cab short bed about 15 months ago. I kept feeling weird steering motions in front end. Finally, was able to get dealer to look closer at it and found that the bolts holding the front crossmember were loose and also the bracket for the sway bar on drivers side had fallen off. The front end had always creaked and groaned in parking lots and over hills. I towed a fifth wheel with it and was also concerned about the paint on the rear-end. It kept burnig off. I felt it was producing too much heat, but the dealer said that it was normal and kept repainting it. I just sold the truck with 21,000 miles for $22,000 and bought a 95 chevy. I liked the 99, but was worried about all these weird problems.

marc

Sorry to change this post a little but how loud should your anti lock brakes be?

We had our first snow here in OK and when I pressed on the brakes hard the pedal went way down and then came up by itself and made a loud clacking noise. Loud enough to hear over the radio. Is this normal?

kingfishgus

Talked to Chevy Customer Service to get a status
of my complaint. I was told Chevy has cancelled the buyback program for trucks because it is not a
safety problem and will cause no abnormal wear on
the trucks. Chevy says their technical assistance
is working on the problem and are working toward a
resolution by the end of March.
I think they've been working on it for about 19
months already, what makes them think they can fix
it in another month or two?
Looks like we're hosed again, because folks were
letting the dealers try to fix because the buyback
was always an option if they failed. No more.

g8tr

That's only because I just received my letter from the BBB Autoline folks and that I won my hearing. The decision of the arbitrator is binding for the manufacturer. I will get my money back plus tax, tag, title, and the interest that I have paid out on the loan. This amount is reduced by the mileage (usage) at the time of the hearing. I have (but not much longer) a '99 Sierra SL reg. cab., auto, 4.8L, 3.42.

Kingfishgus,
Contacting GM Cust. Service is not going to get the job done. It is a necessary step in order to make it seem like you have done everything possible to correct the problem from your end but it does nothing to get your money back. You must contact the BBB number in your owner's manual and follow every step required by your state's Lemon Law. Keep real good records, names of people that you have talked to, etc. and good luck!

NO MORE SHAKES, PINGING ENGINE, HARSH SHIFTS....

soccer10

I am currently looking to purchase a new 2500. I
have read through all the comments and discussion
and am having a hard time determining if the
vibration and other driveline problems are just
1500's or do they also affect the 2500. If I find
the problems are not with the 2500 I will continue
to find my dream truck.

jcet

I just bought a left over 99 4x4 Z71 Short bed in December and have a real bad vibration problem at 70 Miles per hour. Had the Tires Balanced to no avail. Wondering what to tell the service rep. when I take it into the Dealer, I guess alot of people are having this problem. Any Advice would be appreciated. I do love my Truck though! Just can't stand the vibration

g8tr

According to some folks on this thread there is a fix on the horizon. I guess you will have to wait to see if that is a fact or not. It is supposed to come out in March. I personally got tired of going to the service dept. for my vibration problem and had GM buy back my truck. The truck was an SL reg. cab, 4.8l, 3.42, 2wd with General tires. I had several new tires put on the truck, shackles and bushings replaced per TSB. Nothing seemed to work. As you can see from this post and the one dealing w/2000 models, this problem affects a lot of people.

Good luck to you!

force25376

I am the service dir for a gm store. I also on a 2500 2wd that I tow a fifth wheel trailer with. Yes we do have problems with the 1500 but as far as the 2500 we do not have any problems. It is probably the best truck that I have ever owned. Lots of power.

lincoln5

is there a solution to the vibration problems on the way by March? I got my 1999 Sierra the end of June 99 and the solution was on the way by the end of Sept 99. My vibration is now taken care of but what about all those other folks with '99 and '00 that haven't been. Can you give us some straight talk?

paul148

1500 ls,5.3l,extcab,reg bed,15000 mi.Dealer has balanced tires a couple times,and replaced rear spring shackles.Have General tires on alum. wheels.At my last visit to the dealer they told me my tires were out of round.Now unwilling to help with replacement other than refer me to tire dealer.Don't think problem is in tires.If tires do not correct problem, where to go from here?Is it still possible to lemon law truck?Don't want to,LOVE TRUCK-HATE VIBRATION.

shaky

PAUL 148,I had similar problems with 99 Sliverado
LS(lemon shaker)x-cab, reg bed truck too. I had three set of tires replaced(General tires), front hubs replaced, shackles, to no avail. Tires can cause shaking according to an engineer friend of mine. The tires GM is putting on as stock tires
are not even sold retail(see if available in your area), probably not. After my last time at the dealership in which it took 8 weeks to get my truck back, the very next day SSSHHHaaakkkke.
At that point, Service Mgr. recommended buyback.
GM customer service is USELESS. 4 more weeks passed and I decided I had enough GM BS. I hired a Lemon Law(car) lawyer and won my case. Don't let GM shove this bad product down your throat, you have an option.

jcet

I Have my 99 Silverado 4x4 ShortBed in for same vibration problem. Putting new Tires on it! Sound Familiar! Now I have Paint problem on Drivers Side
Did some investigation, Found out that left side had been damaged before delivery. Not Disclosed to me. Dealer wants to Repaint! Truck has only 3000 Miles on it and I have had it only 3 Months. What are my options? Do I have to accept this resolution? Isn't this considered a Failure to Disclose Information? HELP! Advice needed!

team2joe

See topic #615 response #149. Good luck with it.

quadrunner500

I can imagine anything you sign at delivery, is to protect the dealer, not you.

So the disclosure statement probably says you waive your rights, after not finding anything wrong at time of inspection.

The dealer will say, we had nothing to disclose, because we found the damage and repaired it before delivering to you.

I know that's cynical, and I hope I'm wrong about all points. Understand the angle, expect the worst, hope for the best.

kingfishgus

One person in Alabama won about 10 million bucks from BMW for the same thing. Car was damaged and repainted before delivery and not disclosed. Person just asked for the car to be replaced. Jury got mad and stuck it to BMW. I'm sure it was appealed but don't know the final resolution.
No matter what you signed, you can still sue and win, especially if it involved deception by a car dealer or manufac. Juries are sympathetic to those type of problems since either they, or a person they know has been shafted in some way by a dealer or manufacturer, and being on a jury gives them the chance to get revenge.
There are plenty of lawyers that would love to handle your case on a commision basis.

quadrunner500

I rotated my tires, (takes two floor jacks) for the second time, just last weekend.

I realize a tire shop will do this for free. My concern is with the air-impact wrench. It is possible to warp a rotor if they tighten the nuts this way. The proper way is with a torque wrench.

Anyway, I have not re-balanced yet, still no vibration at 23,000 miles. '99 Z71 4x4.

shakinup

GM was forced to repurchase---after 6 months and 9 visits they gave my money back

lincoln5

I am surprised by the comments on torque wrenches on lugs. The two tire dealers I have been going to for the last ten years are very religious about using a torque wrench on the wheel lugs. I always watch to see what they are doing and I have never had to call their hand. The dealers were both Discount Tires of Texas.

jbcoll

I went thru the bbb and my results were the same
as you guys ,i had a arbitrator put down the
same words ,that its a charistic problem with
other trucks and its not a safety issue.isn't it
amazing it was worded exactly the same as the gm
comments its like i never had a arbitrator it come
strait from gm.
looks like i got it this time but it won't happen again.

bezojr

Just stopped by to see how you guys are doing. After the buyback, i bought a Ford F150, have 5000 miles and I have not been near the dealership. I forget the salesmans name.....I gotta tell ya, I loved my Silverado but it cant beat the dependability of my F150.

Ed

g8tr

I also had a Sierra bought back and then bought a Ford F150 XLT Super Cab. It't too new to tell on reliability but it sure is solid. No rattles or squeaks and definitely no vibrations. GM has a pretty good truck in concept except there seems to be something missing. I'm not saying that Ford is the best but it is certainly better than a shaking, rattling Sierra!

jbcoll

I have also been to the ford dealer,took one home for a test ride yesterday,not too bad.
what is a good price to ask for my shaker,and how much on a trade in,its a loaded 1500 silverado
with 10500 miles on it.how much did you guys get on your trucks.

Boy i'll bet that ford & chrysler would like to have a commercial!LIKE



do you want a shaker or do you want a real
truck.

like a rock(it would float good in water).