Vibrating shifter fix!

[Superhatch]

I've looked for a thread detailing this "fix" but couldn't find anything. Last night when driving home from work the wife and I did some troubleshooting and found that the vibration sound is coming from the shift knob itself. If you remove the shift knob, the vibration goes away. I'm going to try some stuff this weekend to get rid of the vibration sound and let you know how it goes. I did find that if you tightened the knob all the way down the sound goes away, but then your shift gate pattern is upside down.

[Hawaiian]

perhaps plumbers putty?

[slimjoe]

Along those lines, how about plumbers tape (the teflon stuff)?

[Kwaziekeller]

I didn't have a vibration, but my shift know was loose (it turned in my hand mid shift one day)... so I tightened it up. a 1/2 turn was about right, but I made the other 1/2 turn so the pattern was right. It's definitely tight! You may be able to get that other 1/2 turn on yours as well.

[Superhatch]

Originally Posted by Kwaziekeller

I didn't have a vibration, but my shift know was loose (it turned in my hand mid shift one day)... so I tightened it up. a 1/2 turn was about right, but I made the other 1/2 turn so the pattern was right. It's definitely tight! You may be able to get that other 1/2 turn on yours as well.

I was thinking about going another 1/2 turn, but I don't want to break anything.

Below is a diagram which shows the different parts...dont have a pic. There is an inner ring between the outter knob and the threading which doesn't touch either of those pieces, I -think- this is what vibrates so I'm not sure if putting putty or tape on the threading of the shifter will dampen the vibration.

[Kwaziekeller]

Yea... my knob is very tight now... almost heard some cracking in the last few degrees of turning, but it's on there for now. I'll eventually replace it anyways.

[Draco-REX]

It might be the plastic insert at the top. Sometimes those can be loose.

Just go with a knob that doesn't have one:

[alex124]

This is really a dumb question... but is there a mechanical problem if the shifter vibrates? My shifter also vibrates since I bought the vehicle in June. It vibrates basically the whole time while engine is on, but it doesn't make any noise. Does this mean there still is a problem? I thought for a sports car like BRZ, the manufacturers made it intetionally to vibrate, but I can easily be mistaken.

[Sony]

Originally Posted by alex124

This is really a dumb question... but is there a mechanical problem if the shifter vibrates? My shifter also vibrates since I bought the vehicle in June. It vibrates basically the whole time while engine is on, but it doesn't make any noise. Does this mean there still is a problem? I thought for a sports car like BRZ, the manufacturers made it intetionally to vibrate, but I can easily be mistaken.

This is not a problem, this is just a side effect of having a shifter that is directly attached to the transmission. You are feeling the vibrations from the engine and the gears themselves inside the transmission. It's a good thing. Most cars nowadays are FWD or have transaxles which require a cable connected shifter....this mutes shifter feel. The BRZ, having a true longitudinal transmission has a shifter that is directly attached to the transmission and the gears themselves by solid rods and therefore gives a more direct and attached feel.

[Draco-REX]

No, it's perfectly normal. I think the OP was talking about a rattle noise.

Unlike a lot of FWD cars these days which use cables to link the shifter to the transmission, the shifter in the BRZ/FR-S has a mechanical linkage. Then, on top of that, again unlike FWD cars, the shifter is mounted directly to the transmission rather than the body.

Think of those vibrations as a way for the engine and transmission to communicate with you. Unlike most cars these days where the manufacturer does all they can to try and separate you from the mechanical side of the car, Toyobaru wants you to be a part of the whole process of driving this car.

Might as well stay at home and play a video game with a controller for all the involvement most cars today have. :P

[Hanzo]

A good transmission/shifter doesn't have to have vibration for example: Honda S2000, Mazda Miata.

[Draco-REX]

Originally Posted by Hanzo

A good transmission/shifter doesn't have to have vibration for example: Honda S2000, Mazda Miata.

There might be a difference between what each of us are referring to as "vibration".

[fistpoint]

Originally Posted by Hanzo

A good transmission/shifter doesn't have to have vibration for example: Honda S2000, Mazda Miata.

Agreed, sounds more like excuses. The '91 Civic's/CRX's had horrible vibrations that you could feel through both the steering wheel and the shifter. The very next model year('92-'95) almost eliminated both, the next generation again had more removed.

It seems today this place is full of buyers/owners who are grasping for straws with excuses to pass off the issues they don't like.

I felt very connected to my muted wheel/shifter in my last 3 vehicles without vibrations to tell me I'm connected. Geez, what's next? We accept poor alignments and wheel balances?

[Draco-REX]

Originally Posted by fistpoint

Agreed, sounds more like excuses. The '91 Civic's/CRX's had horrible vibrations that you could feel through both the steering wheel and the shifter. The very next model year('92-'95) almost eliminated both, the next generation again had more removed.

It seems today this place is full of buyers/owners who are grasping for straws with excuses to pass off the issues they don't like.

I felt very connected to my muted wheel/shifter in my last 3 vehicles without vibrations to tell me I'm connected. Geez, what's next? We accept poor alignments and wheel balances?

Really? A little bit of engine noise through the shifter is that traumatic for you? Considering the S2000 and Miata both have their shifters attached directly to the transmission as well, they aren't devoid of all vibration. I've driven a Miata and I know for a fact that the shifter is not completely isolated from vibration. Nor did it have appreciably less vibration than the shifter in my BRZ.

So take your troll posts elsewhere.