Diesel engine vibration at idle - is this normal?

Diesel engine vibration at idle - is this normal?

Author
Discussion

wioifoiee

Original Poster:

148 posts

180 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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https://youtu.be/Mo5mCWiKjNQ

i made the above video.
Its a 2009 laguna coupe, 2.0 Dci 180bhp, second hand - looking to buy it.
Test drive went great, service history all checks out etc..etc...

but there were 2 issues - a spongy brake pedal (could be low discs/pads/both or characteristic of the car, unsure)
and the vibration at idle from the engine - it seemed excessive. I've never driven a diesel car before, but should i be able to feel the vibration through the drivers seat?
is this normal for a diesel?
it was only ever at idle, applying the tinniest amount of throttle and it would disappear completely.

if not, what would cure it?
by the way - the video was recording at 30fps, hence why it looks like the engine parts are slowly moving back and forth.....but gives you an idea of the magnitude of the vibration.

what could it be, is it normal or should i walk away?


Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

166 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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4 cylinder diesels do vibrate at idle, it doesn't look out of the ordinary to me.

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

178 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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Loads of four cylinder diesels have a bit of a vibration through the dash and seats at idle. I've no idea if it's typical of the Laguna in general though.

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

169 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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Cant imagine they will idle that rough.

DMF toast?

Matthen

1,285 posts

150 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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DMF or balance shaft somewhere - that looks pretty extreme. Is there any knock under load?

*Al*

3,830 posts

221 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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Makes me dislike diesel even more!

wioifoiee

Original Poster:

148 posts

180 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Matthen said:
DMF or balance shaft somewhere - that looks pretty extreme. Is there any knock under load?
no knocking or unusual noises under load, no.
yeh i think its excessive too, i can't imagine the car being like that brand new out the showroom.....feeling vibration through the seat.

i'm going to enquire with a couple of renault specialists here in the midlands, see what they say, and get it independently inspected by clickmechanic....

*Al*

3,830 posts

221 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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Could it be engine/transmission mounts or maybe the torque rods bushing?

wst

3,494 posts

160 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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It doesn't sound like it's a particularly rare car, it might be worth scouting about for another one and comparing the idle?

Toaster Pilot

14,615 posts

157 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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My 2.2 dci Laguna 2 does this - it's not exactly a concours example so I assume something's fked somewhere

littlebasher

3,767 posts

170 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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I had one of these and there was hardly any vibration at idle, certainly nothing through the seat or any interior rattling as a result.

wioifoiee

Original Poster:

148 posts

180 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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i've decided not to bother, it seems like buying a diesel second hand is a total minefield.
I spoke to a renault independent specialist in Nottingham today (highly recommended on the renaultsport forums etc).
Even though he was clearly snowed under he took some time out with me and went through the pro's and con's.

As diesels go he said the renault + PSA engines are right up there as the best, but its so dependent on how they've been maintained.
Things like not using the exact engine oil can lead to serious problems down the line.

He said the vibration could either be something as simple as engine mounts, or dodgy injectors - which'd be an expensive job.
I can't be dealing with that level of uncertainty.

i'll stick with my 2002 mazda until it most likely fails its MOT in july due to all the corrosion, then start looking for a petrol car.
Seems like the only thing within my 6.5k budget is a fully loaded Insignia 2.0T petrol with 217bhp, I'll look for those in the summer.
thanks for your inputs.

poing

8,743 posts

199 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Surprisingly hypnotic to watch actually.

Loyly

17,990 posts

158 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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The illusion of the engine moving is less dramatic when you figure in that it's a result of the FPS. Still, diesel engines do typical vibrate strongly at idle, but I've no experience with that car to say if that is normal.

In the diesels I drive at work, I usually leave my foot on the throttle a tad at idle to lift the revs a bit, which usually cures the rough resonance you get at idle.

VGTICE

1,003 posts

86 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Isn't that the French version of massage seats?

Noesph

1,148 posts

148 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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littlebasher said:
I had one of these and there was hardly any vibration at idle, certainly nothing through the seat or any interior rattling as a result.

+1. Dad has had his hatchback mk3 Laguna with this engine for just over 9 years, there isn't really any vibration. I've driven it a good few times over the years, not a not bad engine. But it can be quite laggy, it can catch you out coming out of a junction. Brakes aren't spongy at all, there pretty good, with good feel to be honest.