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Home >> Buick >> 2007 >> Lucerne CX >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 235 (Vibration Symptoms Diagnosis And Correction) >> Diagnostic Information and Procedures >> Vibration Analysis - Engine >> Test Description

Test Description

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Pontiac Montana SV6, 2006 Chevrolet Uplander, and 2006 Buick Terraza. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The numbers below refer to the step numbers on the diagnostic table.

  1. 2:  If powertrain related DTCs are present, there may be a powertrain performance condition present which could be a contributing cause to the customer's concern.
  2. 3:  This step is designed to identify engine-speed related disturbances that are NOT torque or load sensitive.
  3. 4:  This step is designed to identify engine-speed related disturbances that ARE torque or load sensitive.
  4. 6:  Making comparisons of the customer's vehicle with an equally equipped, same model year and type, KNOWN GOOD vehicle will help determine if certain disturbances may be characteristic of a vehicle design.
Vibration Analysis - Engine

Step Action Yes No
CAUTION: Refer to WORK STALL TEST CAUTION in Cautions and Notices.
1 Has the Vibration Analysis - Road Testing table been completed? Go to Step 2  Go to Vibration Analysis - Road Testing 
Using a scan tool, determine if any DTCs are set.
Were any DTCs set?
Go to Diagnostic Starting Point - Engine Controls in Engine Controls - 3.5L Go to Step 3 
  1. Block the front wheels.
  2. Apply BOTH the service brakes and the park brake.
  3. With the scan tool and the J 38792-A  , Electronic Vibration Analyzer (EVA) 2, if available, still installed, start the engine. See Special Tools .
  4. Place the transmission in NEUTRAL or PARK.
  5. Slowly increase the engine RPM to the level at which the disturbance is most noticeable.
  6. Record the engine RPM obtained on the scan tool and the most dominant frequency reading if obtained on the J 38792-A  , if available. See Special Tools .
Were you able to duplicate the customer's concern?
Go to Step 5  Go to Step 4 
  1. Block the front wheels.
  2. Apply BOTH the service brakes and the park brake.
  3. With the scan tool and the J 38792-A  , if available, still installed, start the engine. See Special Tools .
  4. Place the transmission in DRIVE.
  5. Slowly increase the engine RPM to the level at which the disturbance is most noticeable.
  6. Record the engine RPM obtained on the scan tool and the most dominant frequency reading if obtained on the J 38792-A  , if available. See Special Tools .
  7. If no frequency data was obtained or if the J 38792-A  , is not available, place the transmission into REVERSE, then repeat steps 5 and 6. See Special Tools . Reverse-loading of the powertrain may increase or change the characteristics of the vibration.
Were you able to duplicate the customer's concern?
Go to Step 5  Go to Vibration Diagnostic Aids 
5 Did the J 38792-A  detect a dominant frequency or was a significant vibration present? See Special Tools . Go to Step 6  Go to Symptoms - Vibration Diagnosis and Correction 
Compare the test results of the customer's vehicle to the results of the same tests run, at the same engine RPM, on an equally-equipped, same model year and type, KNOWN GOOD vehicle. Refer to Vehicle-to-Vehicle Diagnostic Comparison .
  1. Install a scan tool into the known good vehicle.
  2. Install the J 38792-A  , if available, into the known good vehicle; place the sensor in exactly the same location as it was placed in the customer's vehicle. See Special Tools .
  3. Block the front wheels.
  4. Apply BOTH the service brakes and the park brake.
  5. Start the engine.
  6. Place the transmission in NEUTRAL or PARK.
  7. Slowly increase the engine RPM to the level at which the disturbance was most noticeable in the customer's vehicle.
  8. Record the engine RPM obtained on the scan tool and the most dominant frequency reading if obtained on the J 38792-A  , if available. See Special Tools .
  9. Place the transmission in DRIVE.
  10. Slowly increase the engine RPM to the level at which the disturbance was most noticeable in the customer's vehicle.
  11. Record the engine RPM obtained on the scan tool and the most dominant frequency reading if obtained on the J 38792-A  , if available. See Special Tools .
  12. If no frequency data was obtained or if the J 38792-A  , is not available, place the transmission into REVERSE, then repeat steps 10 and 11. See Special Tools . Reverse-loading of the powertrain may increase or change the characteristics of the vibration.

Did both of the vehicles exhibit the same characteristics?
Go to Vibration Diagnostic Aids  Go to Vibration Analysis - Engine/Accessory Isolation