Unusual Pedals Vibration
 

Hello,

This is my first post on here, over the past few days I've noticed a vibration in the pedals of my car that I feel wasn't present before.
The vibration is in all three pedals and seems to be related to engine RPM. I feel the vibration most at highway speeds, but also around town.
I do have winter tires on, but have had them on since November and didn't notice this, so I have revved the engine just a bit in neutral while stationary
and can feel it there as well.

I don't feel any different vibrations in the shifter other than whats always been there, and nothing really in the steering wheel.
I listened to my car at idle and don't hear any obvious signs of something wrong. The only thing I can hear maybe different is the alternator making a slight high pitch type sound,
but it may be unrelated I'm not sure. It doesn't seem to have gotten worse over the past day or so. I want to look at a few more things, but I will go to the dealer for them to look at most likely.
I was just wondering if anyone had other input or suggestions for things to check.

Thanks,

Car info: 2018 BRZ MT, roughly 5000mi, all stock, except winter wheels and tires.
Car idle: https://streamable.com/clgek

(I felt it best to just append an update to my original post to make it easier to read)

UPDATE: 1/31/19
I have been unable to determine what the cause of the issue is, I scheduled an appointment at my local Subaru dealer.
This morning I dropped of the car at the dealership, I asked the service advisor to see if he could feel the pedals and vibrations while I was there.
The service advisor confirmed the vibrations quickly after only a quick spin around the dealership lot and have agreed to look at the issue.
As of this update I'm driving a rental Outback for the time being, I can further update when I find out more.

Hello J2M555 and WELCOME to our happy clan … :clap:

Vibration in the pedals, huh?

So, can you feel the vibration in/on the floorboard or just through the pedals?

If it (?) vibrates when the car is NOT moving as well, I reckon you can rule out unbalanced, drivetrain, wheels or tires.

I would suggest you fire that puppy up and place your hand on the floorboard and feel if it is vibrating.

Then look/feel around the moving parts of the engine while it is running to determine if you can isolate where the vibration is coming from (pulleys, A/C, alternator, belt).

Then report back - :)


humfrz

Is it a lot colder than it has been there? The snow tires are very soft and squishy when at or above freezing but get really hard when the temperature drops. You can have a totally different feel from them at low temperatures. If you are only feeling the vibration through the pedals but not the shifter this may be all it is.

I strongly recommend NOT doing that!

Generally, I would agree - but, the OP stated:

"so I have revved the engine just a bit in neutral while stationary
and can feel it there as well.".


:iono:


Hey, we still got no running hot water - mrs humfrz is beyond not being happy so, this may be my last post - :bonk:


humfrz

Why NOT?

If the OP gets his necktie tangled up in the serpentine belt, he will no longer feel any vibrations - problem solved - :iono:

Oh, I forgot, who I was talking to - ol "remove all the safety shields @Tcoat ".

They just get into the way - right ?- :D


humfrz

I can feel my pedals vibrate when I rev in neutral as well. Doesn't mean it is the same cause and effect.

But, but, but - how can the tires be causing the vibration, if the car isn't moving?

:iono:

If it is colder there, maybe the vibration is caused by his shivering legs or chattering teeth?


humfrz

Thank you everybody for the responses,

I'm going to double check I'm feeling the vibration while stationary, it has been colder over the past week or so, currently 8 degrees outside.

I agree the tires seem like the logical culprit, so I'll run through it all again, I'll feel the floorboards, and touch the pedals, try a couple different things, its tough when its this cold outside.

Again, thank you for the tips,

By revving the engine maybe?
If it has gotten cold all of a sudden it is probably more than coincidence that they started feeling a vibration. If it is not severe enough to be felt anyplace but through the pedals then tires make sense.

Or maybe just turned the HU volume up. Should feel the pedals go when I crank the tunes.

Lets see how far you make it...
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kQMDSw3Aqo[/ame]

Pretty much need to wit for it to warm up again and see if it changes.

I made it to 1:04.

How (where) on earth do you find that stuff - :eyebulge:

:iono:


humfrz

If the car is stationary and in neutral and you can feel an unnatural or unusual amount of vibration in the cabin when the engine is running (be it from pedals, dash, steering, etc.) it could possibly be a motor mount has gone bad. Check to see if the engine shifts an excessive amount under throttle/load. Check your service manual for how much it should be able to move.

OK, the "vibration(s)" is/are in your court.

Just be careful trying to touch the pedals and touch the floorboard and drive at the same time - :eyebulge:

Hint: Try it just in your stocking feet.

I was going to suggest you take along your SO as a passenger to reach over and take the readings - but, that may get unwanted attention from a LEO.


humfrz

I'm sorry I haven't posted since the other day, but I wanted a change in temperature and to update just a bit what I've tested an experienced.

I can confirm even at a standstill out of gear in neutral, the vibration remains, while it is less than driving on the road it is there and different from the road surface vibrations, its distinctly constant.

Today it warmed up a bit, it's 30 outside, and it was about 30 a few days ago when I noticed this issue.

Today the vibrations were worse basically putting my foot to sleep at highway speeds, the vibrations seem to peak when the engine is at about 3k and even revving past that I don't feel it get worse,
just the same. the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are the worst, the clutch vibrates a bit if you just rest your foot on it
(I don't do this while driving, just trying to feel in this case) but while using it not much is noticeable outside of normal action.

Turning the AC / Defrost on with fans does make it worse, but it's still felt even when off, just to a lesser extant.

I began to feel it in the handbrake as well, or maybe I just noticed it now, still nothing noticeable in the wheel.

Interesting note: the vibrations increase as the car warms up, at cold start there is nothing, and gain in intensity with revs and the longer the car is on, seeming to level off after about
10-15 minutes.

I don't have anyone around to help me troubleshoot, I revved the engine and can see the engine move just a bit with the hood up, but I don't think its major, I felt it looked normal.

I don't notice any difference in engine note, maybe at low rpms up to 3k its kind raspy, but I feel its been that way since I got the car.

I felt I should just share my troubleshooting process so far, this is a peculiar issue and I can't seem to find an obvious cause. Maybe an engine mount is prematurely going bad as a I drive.
Is it possible an engine pulley is faulty or the belt is too tight causing vibration, maybe some underbody panel or heat shield is vibrating against the body, or something totally harmless causing it, I'm not sure.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions thus far, this is my first new car, I'm new to this forum in general and really appreciate all the feedback.

Just an update on this issue:

I did take my car to the dealer and after they had it a few days, it was determined that there was nothing wrong with the car.

Dealer performed a multi point inspection of the car. They had the head service advisor drive it and a tech drive it,
both said they felt the vibration even at standstill but only during certain RPMs most specifically around 2000 rpm.
Dealer called SOA and they even had another BRZ to compare it to and said it was normal.

Subaru states "slight vibrations felt are a characteristic of injection modes switching on the engine" on my paperwork I got from the dealer.

So I guess I'm crazy and never noticed before, I can still feel it, specifically on the gas pedal even over 2k rpm but it hasn't gotten worse.

Car is totally running normal otherwise, again I don't notice any odd sounds or anything different with the car, just the pedals for now.

Not crazy but yes once you notice something it can bug you. It may have been there all along but since your brain is now aware it will make a big deal out of it.

This is most likely the case, car is great otherwise, still love driving it everyday, life goes on, thanks for the help.

Now you will worry if for some reason the vibration goes away!

That could very well hold true for a large percentage of the noises that this car makes posted by many folks on this forum - :D


humfrz

Tl;dr.
Bent rod.

Ya, like the drive by wire thingy bob that was lose and vibrating, finally fell off and stuck the dial "wide open" - :eyebulge:


humfrz