Steering Wheel vibrate at certain RPM between 1200 - 1400

I recently bought an Audi A4 1.8T quattro 2002. It runs good at hight
speed. But I can clearly feel the vibration from steering wheel during
acceleration and deceleration when RPM hits the range from 1200 to
1400. Below or above this range, the vibration is gone. And there is a
not loud but noticeable humming noise coming with the vibration. The
vibration can barely be felt from the seat or clutch, only from
steering wheel.

Sometimes it is really annoying so I went to 2 dealers. The first one
changed my catalytic converter and an oil valve. The other one changed
4 engine mounts for me. But none of this treatment solved the problem.
I have my car checked thoroughly by them both. There is no leak in my
car.

I just wonder could it be some problems with my engine or
transimission? Does it sound like a serious problem? What could it be?
I have doen some internet research. There are 3 major opinions on that:
[1] The timing belt may be loose. I had it checked by dealer. No loose
timing belt is found. But I heard timing belt is really hard to check.
Maybe he didn't check carefully for me. Is there any way that I can
check the timing belt by myself?
[2] Front-end balance, steering balance or motor mounts. I had all 4
engine mounts changed by the second dealer. Nothing improved. Is there
anyway that I can check the balance by myself?
[3] Power steering problem, power steering muffle or something else. I
don't know yet. I got my car checked by the dealer but no specifically
on the steering system. No problem was mentioned by dealer. Could that
really be the problem for my situation?

Every time I went to dealer, I have to take at least half day off. I
don't want to waste my time any more. I am planning to go there one
more time. But this time I would like to bring some knowledge with me.
So I need your help to give me some share of your experience or
technical knowledge. Any share will be warmly appreciated.

Michael Wei

Michael,
I fail to see how a vibration in the steering wheel could be caused by a
"loose timing belt" - vibration from a slipped belt is usually of the
form......"BOOM!" as the pistons hit the valves, break them off and destroy
the engine. The RPM connection could be verified by sitting still and
holding the engine revs in that range - is the steering wheel vibrating when
you're sitting still?
If the vibration is felt only when you're moving, chances are you have a
broken belt on one of your tires, uneven tire wear (possibly caused by/or)
worn suspension links. I would suggest rotating your tires and then take
the car for a drive and see if the vibration has changed. As far as
checking the alignment, I have talked to people that have measured their own
alignment, checking caster, camber, toe out, etc. on all 4 corners - they
made their own alignment rig using a flat floor, protractors, and even used
vinyl floor tiles under the tires to allow the wheel to pivot on the floor.
I prefer the laser rigs that shops use - provided that the kid operating the
rig knows how to use it on an A4 (any piece of high-tech equipment is only
as good as the dummy running it.....which might explain why the strut-top
adjustment was not tightened on my 5ktq, almost causing a wreck....)
There is the ol' "Screwdriver Stethoscope" trick - in which you press the
end of a long screwdriver against something (say, the body of the steering
pump), and then hold the handle end against your temple(head in front of
your ear) to hear any noises or vibrations being transmitted through that
piece of equipment. Of course, "standard disclaimers apply" - be careful of
moving equipment and loose clothing/screwdriver/friend who shifts car in
gear while you're under the hood/etc. , electrical contact with a metal
screwdriver and your head, etc. etc. etc. It's an old mechanics trick -
maybe you should have an old mechanic do it for you.....
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>I recently bought an Audi A4 1.8T quattro 2002. It runs good at hight
> speed. But I can clearly feel the vibration from steering wheel during
> acceleration and deceleration when RPM hits the range from 1200 to
> 1400. Below or above this range, the vibration is gone. And there is a
> not loud but noticeable humming noise coming with the vibration. The
> vibration can barely be felt from the seat or clutch, only from
> steering wheel.
>
> Sometimes it is really annoying so I went to 2 dealers. The first one
> changed my catalytic converter and an oil valve. The other one changed
> 4 engine mounts for me. But none of this treatment solved the problem.
> I have my car checked thoroughly by them both. There is no leak in my
> car.
>
> I just wonder could it be some problems with my engine or
> transimission? Does it sound like a serious problem? What could it be?
> I have doen some internet research. There are 3 major opinions on that:
> [1] The timing belt may be loose. I had it checked by dealer. No loose
> timing belt is found. But I heard timing belt is really hard to check.
> Maybe he didn't check carefully for me. Is there any way that I can
> check the timing belt by myself?
> [2] Front-end balance, steering balance or motor mounts. I had all 4
> engine mounts changed by the second dealer. Nothing improved. Is there
> anyway that I can check the balance by myself?
> [3] Power steering problem, power steering muffle or something else. I
> don't know yet. I got my car checked by the dealer but no specifically
> on the steering system. No problem was mentioned by dealer. Could that
> really be the problem for my situation?
>
> Every time I went to dealer, I have to take at least half day off. I
> don't want to waste my time any more. I am planning to go there one
> more time. But this time I would like to bring some knowledge with me.
> So I need your help to give me some share of your experience or
> technical knowledge. Any share will be warmly appreciated.
>
> Michael Wei
>

Yes, I do feel the same vibration when the gear is in Neutral (sitting
still). So I guess this vibration is nothing with tire or transmission
since transmission system is not involved while gear is in Neutral. I
prefer the opinion on steering system. How do you think?

Michael,
If you're sitting still and you can still feel the vibration, then it
doesn't sound like transmission/wheel problems - it could be the power
steering pump, or even the clutch flywheel. How well do you know the
history of the car - are there any telltale signs of accident damage
(dents/bent mounts, paint overspray, rust, welding)?
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Yes, I do feel the same vibration when the gear is in Neutral (sitting
> still). So I guess this vibration is nothing with tire or transmission
> since transmission system is not involved while gear is in Neutral. I
> prefer the opinion on steering system. How do you think?
>

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your reply.

Actually, I have no idea about the history of this car. I bought from a
dealer. They said there is no title with this car and I trusted them.
If, I mean if, I found any title with this car, can I return the car?

I didn't find any dents or damage of my car. Oppositely, it is very
nice for a 4 yrs old car. A little bit too nice. That's the main reason
that I bought this car. How to check the damage? Is there any easy way
to check other than "checking every part carefully"?

Best Regards,

Michael Wei

Steve Sears wrote:
> Michael,
> If you're sitting still and you can still feel the vibration, then it
> doesn't sound like transmission/wheel problems - it could be the power
> steering pump, or even the clutch flywheel. How well do you know the
> history of the car - are there any telltale signs of accident damage
> (dents/bent mounts, paint overspray, rust, welding)?
> Cheers!
> Steve Sears
> 1987 Audi 5kTQ
> 1980 Audi 5k
> 1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
> (SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)
>
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Yes, I do feel the same vibration when the gear is in Neutral (sitting
> > still). So I guess this vibration is nothing with tire or transmission
> > since transmission system is not involved while gear is in Neutral. I
> > prefer the opinion on steering system. How do you think?
> >

Michael,
Whoa, the (Audi?) "dealer" said there was no title? How do you register it
then? Here in Ontario, Canada (no idea where you are), you need to buy a
Used Vehicle Information Package if you're selling a car - it's the law. The
package includes important information about a vehicle's Ontario
registration, lien record and odometer reading, etc. There's also Carfax -
(if you ask around on the vehicle newsgroups, there may be someone with an
account open that can run the VIN for you). As far as returning the car -
you didn't exactly buy it from Wal-Mart, so the "dealer" may say that they
have no idea who you are.
As far as checking for damage - collision damage and repairs are fairly easy
to spot - bent mounts, scratches on adjacent parts, paint overspray on
trim/windshield, etc. Damage from, say, a broken timing belt will be much
harder to see - you'd have to pull the plugs and check for piston damage,
compression, leakdown, etc. I believe that the clutch is even harder to
check - it may have been replaced and not aligned properly causing a
vibration (although the clutch and engine vibration should be isolated from
the body and steering wheel by the motor and tranny mounts). The
screwdriver stethoscope trick is what I would use to isolate the vibration,
and then go from there.
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi Steve,
>
> Thanks for your reply.
>
> Actually, I have no idea about the history of this car. I bought from a
> dealer. They said there is no title with this car and I trusted them.
> If, I mean if, I found any title with this car, can I return the car?
>
> I didn't find any dents or damage of my car. Oppositely, it is very
> nice for a 4 yrs old car. A little bit too nice. That's the main reason
> that I bought this car. How to check the damage? Is there any easy way
> to check other than "checking every part carefully"?
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Michael Wei