drivetrain vibration

[Johnny2x]

I just bought my Fusion Hybrid 2 weeks ago. Love the car, getting great mileage. I have one question before I take it back to dealer and get the run around. When the car is running on the gas engine, I get quite a bit of vibration & a drone noise coming from under the car somewhere. I can feel the vibration thru the center column & the brake & gas pedals. Is this normal for this hybrid? When in EV mode, it is nice & quite. I commute about 45 miles to work on fairly level ground & the engine noise and vibration is starting to get a bit annoying.

[GrySql]

Welcome to the Forum!

The early 2013 cars had a pronounced growl during certain acceleration points, this is normal for the special Atkinson gas engine in these cars.

It is caused by some exhaust gases being allowed to blow back into the air intake to precondition the incoming air. (That's the simple answer)

That process causes a growl and possibly a vibration.

During the 2014 model year Ford added a a resonator to the air intake to quiet this noise, it helped somewhat and some of us changed ours to the latest air intake.

 

However, after saying all that, if you feel the growl and vibration is excessive it might be worthwhile to see your Dealer and ask their opinion.

There are situations like this one (TSB 14-0176) that can be causing your problem, only the Dealer can check these things.

 

 

(This Topic has been moved to the Powertrain Q&A Forum)

Edited October 11, 2014 by GrySql

[jeffo65]

I have a 2013 and have no vibration. Some of the 2013s came with the resonator thatGrySql references and we did not have to buy one and install it. :-)

 

I would drop by the dealer and let them know.

[lolder]

You shouldn't feel any vibration and the growl should only be heard at higher power.

[FordService]

I just bought my Fusion Hybrid 2 weeks ago. Love the car, getting great mileage. I have one question before I take it back to dealer and get the run around. When the car is running on the gas engine, I get quite a bit of vibration & a drone noise coming from under the car somewhere. I can feel the vibration thru the center column & the brake & gas pedals. Is this normal for this hybrid? When in EV mode, it is nice & quite. I commute about 45 miles to work on fairly level ground & the engine noise and vibration is starting to get a bit annoying.

 

Congratulations on your new Fusion Hybrid, Johnny2x! :)

 

Send me a PM with some additional details (dealer, current mileage, etc.); I'll see how I can best assist.

 

Rachel

[wreckedcar]

We test drove a couple and then ordered ours and never thought to drive it before taking it off the lot once it came in. I kept kicking myself thinking we got a screwed up one since I never noticed the sound and slight vibrations one the test drive. So I did the sneaky thing and jumped in the old beater we have and went to a different Ford dealership and test drove 3 other FFHs and they all seemed to be the same. Same sounds more or less and same feel. I felt better.

 

So if you are a bit concerned about getting the run-around from a dealer on why it sounds and feels that way, maybe think about test driving a few at a different lot. Who knows, maybe you will find one you like enough to pick up a spare FFH.

[darrelld]

I just bought my Fusion Hybrid 2 weeks ago. Love the car, getting great mileage. I have one question before I take it back to dealer and get the run around. When the car is running on the gas engine, I get quite a bit of vibration & a drone noise coming from under the car somewhere. I can feel the vibration thru the center column & the brake & gas pedals. Is this normal for this hybrid? When in EV mode, it is nice & quite. I commute about 45 miles to work on fairly level ground & the engine noise and vibration is starting to get a bit annoying.

 

Two things will cause additional noise and vibration, a cold gas engine and low high voltage battery state of charge. Also the vibration and noise will become less pronounced as you accumulate more miles.

Edited October 17, 2014 by darrelld

[acdii]

The ICE will be louder and vibrate more if it is A. Cold, B. low SOC, C. accelerating with a light pedal up a slight rise or even level ground and under the 2 KW mark on Empower. Any one or all three can contribute to it being louder than you think it should. It runs in a narrow RPM band to get the most power per drop of fuel, so it "lugs" the engine, and that is when it makes the most noise and vibrations.

 

Probably just means you are driving it right. :)

 

On the Flip side, the Active Noise Cancellation can also make it seem louder than it is and shake things up. Every so often, mine will resonate wrong, and actually contribute to the noise. It is funny, sometimes if I have a window open a little, and a truck is in the next lane, say a left turn lane, when it starts to move, the ANC will rumble.