e2r

Hi everyone.

For two weeks now I own a 1999 Berlina Black S2000. A week after delivery I got a CEL. On my way to the mechanic I noticed that the car began vibrating. When I arrived I asked the mechanic to check this also. The CEL was code P0420 and they fitted a new catalyst without any costs (warranty). About the second problem the mechanic told me it was just normal vibrations for a S2k.(I think now they only drove it for less than 20 mins.)

But... When I drove home the same problem occured. These are the characteristics of the problem:

- It starts after about 20 mins of normal/easy driving.

- It starts every time when I'm driving between 70-90kmh, steady.

- the whole car starts shaking and becomes worse the longer I keep driving.

- the frequency of the vibrations is dependent of the speed of the car.

- When I'm slowing down it keeps vibrating until I stop.

- When I stop for 2 minutes and start driving again the car doesn't vibrate for about 5 mins and then starts at the same way at the same speed enveloppe.

- It don't feel the vibrations in the steering wheel so I don't think the front wheels are the problem. I got the feeling it comes from the right aft wheel...

Things I checked: Tyres (pressure), wheels fastened, braking behaviour (seems normal). The car was balanced prior to delivery. The wheels are standard 16" with Vredestein Giugaro tyres just fitted 5k km ago. Brakes, suspension etc.; all is standard equipment.

Could someone please help me to identify what the problem is (and maybe..help me with the solution)??!!

Thanks in advance


E2R

xviper

It would seem like it's heat (from friction) related. My guesses are wheel bearing, tires, tire pressures, CV joint.

SpitfireS

Are the rear brakes hot after you feel this vibration?
(no thats not it I think)

I've just checked the Vredestein website.
The GIUGIARO's are winter tires!
They probably get (too) hot and start to deflect or something.
You could check the profile and see if it has "melted" or simular signs.

Not the right tire for your S2000 right now.

Go back to where you bought them and change them IMO.

For best summer results get Bridgestone Potenza S-02.
They are "special" tires made almost excusivly for the S2000.
I've got them now and I absolutely like them very much (don't want to say Love them)

Succes.
let us know what you find.


(P.S. Are you in Noord Holland by any chance?)

xviper

Nice bit of detective work. Winter tires for extended high speed summer operation? I don't think so.

e2r

Yes I think too it is heat related. I don't hope the bearings or the cv-joints are the problem...That sounds expensive!

Spitfire I forgot to add the type of VS Giugaro's: the Sportrac2
And these are summer tyres. But for a moment you made me doubt, because the symptoms could be caused by the tyre(s) (-choice).

All the brakes and rims feel hot, but not extraordinary hot...

Oh somehting I forgot to add in my first post: I didn't discover the problem when I was test-driving the car for two hours before I bought it.....

E2R

P.S. Yes I live in Den Helder. And you??

SpitfireS

e2r Posted on Aug 23 2006, 09:34 PM
e2r Posted on Aug 23 2006, 07:40 PM
Did you test drive it with those Sportack2's?
If not.. then that is you problem.

What sizes did you get?
I cant find the proper sizes on the Vredestein website.

(Then your car was at Welman the other day?)

SpitfireS

Btw..
If you just drive arond for a bit and wheels and brakes feel "hot"... that could be wheel bearings and stuff xviper mentioned.


So much for detective work....
Guigiaro seems to desing more then one Vredestein tire.

Anyway.. it felt good while it lasted

e2r

I did test-drive it with the Giugaro's. (I only drove about 400km since I bought the S2K)...

The sizes are: 205/55 ZR16 91W in front and 205/50 ZR16 92W aft.

Yes my car was at Welman for the last few days. Today I went there to get the car. Did you see it??

SpitfireS

Rear sizes are wrong!
Very wrong!


For Potenza S-02 it is 225/50/16.
For anything else it is 245/45/16.

Those Potenza's are much wider then any other tire.
Trust me.
Change them.
Really!


(yeah... I did see your car there. I was there (my car) to get coolant changed Tue / Wed of last week and again last Monday (to top-up coolant) and it was still there! . Did you see my car last week? We should get a room... )



edit:
I think you (e2r) typed the rear size wrong.
The Sportrack2 is available in 225/50, I hope you have it.
But I still think (from experience) that they are a bit to narrow.
(because of reasons explained above, I did not think of that, i found it in the Wheel & Tire forum, only wish I did that before driving on those sizes for a little over a year. Again: very happy with the S-02's now)
Also those Sportrack2's seem to be directional, the V-shape groove (like the S-02)
Did they put them on the right way?
Is there an arrow on the sidewall to indicate the way it should rotate?
When driving forward the point of the V should touch the road first.
(looking at the front of the tire)

Enthralled

I was getting some vibrations in my car aswell couple weeks ago and discovered one of my rear tires was starting to seperate.





Peace