Very noticable vibration / noise coming from drive line area

[seekerman]

Getting into business and looking for a sprinter, 158. A guy has a 2003 SPRINTER 2500 SHC 158" WB and here's what he says about the vehicle: THE VAN HAS A VERY NOTICABLE VIBRATION / NOISE COMING FROM DRIVE LINE AREA **IT IS MOST NOTICABLE WHEN DECELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP, BUT YOU CAN ALSO HEAR & FEEL SOME WHEN YOU FEATHER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UP & DOWN, BUT ITS MOST NOTICABLE WHEN SLOWING TO STOP.THERE IS NO NOISE OR VIBRATION WHEN CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS!!!!I WOULD HAVE TO GUESS ITS COMING FROM REAR END OR A U-JOINT, IT COULD BE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION BUT AGAIN IT SHIFTS AND PICKS UP SPEED GREAT! COULD BE FROM THE TRACTION ASSIST, IT IS MOST NOTICABLE WHEN YOU DECELLERATE. Anybody got any thoughts on this. Thanks!

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Getting into business and looking for a sprinter, 158. A guy has a 2003 SPRINTER 2500 SHC 158" WB and here's what he says about the vehicle: THE VAN HAS A VERY NOTICABLE VIBRATION / NOISE COMING FROM DRIVE LINE AREA **IT IS MOST NOTICABLE WHEN DECELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP, BUT YOU CAN ALSO HEAR & FEEL SOME WHEN YOU FEATHER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UP & DOWN, BUT ITS MOST NOTICABLE WHEN SLOWING TO STOP.THERE IS NO NOISE OR VIBRATION WHEN CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS!!!!I WOULD HAVE TO GUESS ITS COMING FROM REAR END OR A U-JOINT, IT COULD BE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION BUT AGAIN IT SHIFTS AND PICKS UP SPEED GREAT! COULD BE FROM THE TRACTION ASSIST, IT IS MOST NOTICABLE WHEN YOU DECELLERATE. Anybody got any thoughts on this. Thanks!

What you've heard is somewhat normal..can't remember but we with sprinters have a name for it....has to do with the torque converter...our Turtle or RLent could chime in here...

 

[seekerman]

Thanks. Is the fix to replace the converter?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Thanks. Is the fix to replace the converter?

It usually get louder when it is due for service, then diminishes after the service....nothing you can do except either slow down or speed up a bit....its like the torque converter is locking up.. It is something we live with and all know about...it is a sprinter quirk...

You'll also notice your speedometer will be off by almost 3-4 mph....another sprinter quirk..

 

[The Enemy]

If the noise you are hearing comes from the trans then its called RSN or Rumble Strip Noise. It sounds and feels like you are running over the rumble strips on the shoulder. It usually happens on acc/decel between 17-23 and/or 36-43 mph. OVM is right it is the torque converter. A few Sprinter techs explained to me that the torque converter never fully locks or unlocks so its always 5-95% locked, and the clutches chatter. It will go away with a fluid a fluid and filter change, but will come back when the oil breaks down. There is a fix for it created by Dr. A off of Sprinter-source.com. Here is a link that explains it Rumble Strip Noise- Cured - Sprinter-Forum


My '06 long and tall has had this symptom from about 32K miles. Dodge would not warranty it because they said it wasn't a problem. I have learned how to make the noise go away when it happens while driving. Now my van has 361K miles, it still makes the noise on occasion. the trick to it is to have fresh fluid at the Correct level.

 

[seekerman]

Thanks, guys.

 

[Turtle]

The rumble strip noise, sounds like. My guess is the current owner of the van read that ridiculous maintenance directive that got lost in translation, actually believed it, and changed the transmission fluid "once only at 80,000 miles", and has never had it changed since.

I'd want to see complete maintenance records for any used Sprinter, but for an '03 especially, since those have some particular issues that were corrected in 04 and later models. The EGR valve and some other things that I can't remember right now.