Idle Vibations

trever1t · November 19, 2005

I notice that when idling my 5.3L is kind of vibrating or missing? My 4.8L used to do this too. No problem when driving but you can tell the engine is running when stopped!

Is this normal?

GM-Tech · November 19, 2005

but you can tell the engine is running when stopped!

Normal. It is running, after all.

trever1t · November 20, 2005

LOL, just seems to be more pronounced now at 4000 miles than it did before!

Mr. Smith · November 20, 2005

Oh come now that is a service manager response, a blow off. A properly running chevrolet V-8 shouldn't shake. My 97 5.7 is rock steady at idle and you can't tell it is running at a sign or light. Oh yea it has 102K on it.

trever1t, I would take it in and have them fix it. My fathers 06 does NOT shake nor do you know it is running at a light. It also has the 5.3 very smooth.

but you can tell the engine is running when stopped!

Normal. It is running, after all.

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GM-Tech · November 20, 2005

Oh come now that is a service manager response, a blow off. A properly running chevrolet V-8 shouldn't shake.

Excuse me?

I drive more vehicles in a month than you probably have in a lifetime. You certainly can tell the engine is running, which is what he said.

drumset5994 · November 20, 2005

I know every 4.3L V6 I ever had, and my family had, had a little vibration...same with all the 4.8L and 5.3L guys i know...

I know the 5.7L and the 5.0 were both supersmooth running engines in both my old Chevy Cheyenne and my Scottsdale...however, ive driven buddy's 4.8L and 5.3L that had worse vibrations then my 4.3L

I guess with design comes consequences. Dodge Inline Engines Vibrate so bad you could get a hard-on at a redlight.

Dont think of the vibration as bad...if they say thats what it does, its probably it.

Personally, i'd rather take a vibrating GM Quality Engine over that piece of garbage 4.2L my dad had in his F150...that sieze problems.

If you've got a friend who owns a classic car, like my neighbor, take a ride in it someday. You'll defenitly know its running..especially right around when the house you pass's windows start to rattle.

Besides...GMTech is a licensed ASE Certified Technician, taking his own time to help post on here...im pretty much going to guarantee he's telling the truth.

Mr. Smith · November 20, 2005

Oh come now that is like saying my father can kick your fathers butt. I really think you blew the guy off. You know d**n well you didn't answer the question. Your response just said it is running...

Here is what trevor1t posted:

I notice that when idling my 5.3L is kind of vibrating or missing? My 4.8L used to do this too. No problem when driving but you can tell the engine is running when stopped!

Is this normal?

So you are saying that GM built in a miss so you can tell it is running?

Thats some funny chit right there...

Oh come now that is a service manager response, a blow off. A properly running chevrolet V-8 shouldn't shake.

Excuse me?

I drive more vehicles in a month than you probably have in a lifetime. You certainly can tell the engine is running, which is what he said.

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GM-Tech · November 20, 2005

You know d**n well you didn't answer the question. Your response just said it is running...

This is not a question that can be answered accurately over the internet. I can only go by past experience. My experience is that 99.9% of the people (and their numbers are few) that come in complaining they can feel the engine vibrating/missing/running at idle in drive have absolutely nothing wrong with their vehicle. These are almost exclusively brand new vehicles, not vehicles with 10, 15 or 20 thousand miles on them. The remaining 0.1% have a misfire AND a SES light on as a result.

trever1t · November 20, 2005

No SES light and I dont think it's actually missing but more like stuttering?

Yes, maybe this is normal as a few people have told me they feel it in their vehicles also, but WHAT causes this? Is it differences in injectors?

svensk · May 26, 2006

No SES light and I dont think it's actually missing but more like stuttering?
Yes, maybe this is normal as a few people have told me they feel it in their vehicles also, but WHAT causes this? Is it differences in injectors?

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My 2000 SLE 5.3 4x4 with 113k on it vibrates more than when I first bought used last year. Really noticeable when I put in reverse to back out of the garage. It kinda settles down in drive and then goes away above 20mph. I don't like it, but the engine runs great and idles just fine.

overlord1 · May 26, 2006

I notice that when idling my 5.3L is kind of vibrating or missing? My 4.8L used to do this too. No problem when driving but you can tell the engine is running when stopped!
Is this normal?

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I too can hear the engine on my 06 Silverado 5.3L with 3k miles idling. You can even feel a slight vibration. I really don't mind since this is a truck and not a Lexus luxury vehicle. I have owned vehicles that are so quiet at idle that I have accidently engaged the starter when the engine was already running and felt like a fool doing it I wouldn't worry about it unless you have a check engine light or something.