Funny vibration, I'm worried!

[houli]

I've got a '01 auto with 260,000 that has just started vibrating real bad at idle, it happens while moving or while stopped, in drive or neutral, but only at idle. I wish i knew more info to give you guys but that's all i got right now. Anyone have any suggestions. I dont have a lot of money so i'm trying to figure this one out without a shop. Thanks

[symbols]

Check for bad dampner. Cylinder balance test maybe? Do you notice any performance loss? Any noises?

[houli]

Sorry, very new with this, what is a dampner? I don't think there is performance loss. No noises.

[houli]

It does not do it every time i am at idle, just sometimes, so i wouldnt think it was unbalanced cylinders because that would do it consistently i would think.

[symbols]

Vibration dampener is the big round heavy thing attached to the front of your crankshaft. If it's not doing it all the time then I don't think it would be that anyways. I would still do a cylinder balance test. Different variations in temperature, humidity, and whatever else may set it off. It has nothing to do with the cylinders being balanced. Its a way to see if all 8 of your cylinders are contributing equally.

Have you checked to make sure nothing is rubbing against the cab or frame? Like motor mounts, trans mounts, downtube, etc

Do you have a tuner or performance mods or is this truck stock?

[houli]

No mods other than a DIY intake with the napa gold filter. I'll check motor and transmission mounts and downpipe. Now that you say mounts it reminds me of a sort of lag in the power delivery to the wheels. When i press the accelerator there is a "bump" as the truck first starts to move, almost as if there is play in a drive component that has to rotate until it hits something solid before the movement is transferred to the wheels. That would line up with mounts possibly. Thanks again, we'll get to the bottom of it.