07 pt touring edition driveline? shudder
Hi all;

We have an 07 touring edition that's about 1200 miles from warranty end.
We've had it in the shop 5 times since February to try and sort out a low speed driveline shudder.
Engine struts have been replaced. Tune up work has been done (plugs, wires, etc.) and the control module has been updated with new firmware.
The shudder remains; especially on low speed left turns, but, it occurs in a straight line and during right turns too.
The car is smooth and drives fine at speed on the highway.
We we're told 1. Carbon build up in the fuel system was the problem. 2. My wife babies the car too much and 3. Maybe a tire isn't quite right.
My wife has been driving the car a bit more aggressively and we've been running a high quality fuel system cleaner through it since February.
The latest info we've been given by the dealer is quote "we drove an 08 off of the lot and it was worse".
I've never had a car with 35000 miles on it that had such a herky jerky manner at low speed. My wifes old Olds Alero was much smoother at 120k. Heck - my 1984 dodge mini ram is smoother at 119k!
Is a shudder during mild to moderate acceleration typical of the PT, or do yours ramp up to speed pretty smoothly??

Pulling what's left of my hair out

dud07pt :(

Good question, Wish I could help you, but maybe Smitty can help. Hey, Jack! Whatcha think?

I know what you mean dud07pt I have ours in the shop now and was told today they couldn't find anything wrong with it. It had been parked for about three weeks. When it was started up it popped, sputtered, and cough something terrible when accelerating but ran smooth driving normal. After the wife drove it about a hour to dealership and left it yesterday she said it seemed to run ok. They let set until today and checked everything out, everything tested ok. They said the same thing probably just carbon build up.

Time will tell we leave Wednesday morning for Cruise the Rockies.

I sure hate to start pulling hair out, hope you get your problem solved.

Could be torque converter shutter. I could have my techs look at it but we are in Fort Collins. Would you want to drive it up here??

hmmm...
Well;

After the last round I asked if they had switched the tires and wheels front to back to see what happened and I was told that it would make no sense to do that because "the 2008 they drove did the same thing - only worse".
I brought the car home, swapped tires front to rear and re-checked tire pressures for my own satisfaction. The shudder is now far less noticeable.
Funny you should mention "torque converter shudder" Jack, because that's what the service manager said he thought it might be when we took him for a ride in the car. Right after he had exclaimed "what the hell is that?"
The dealer transmission tech. says all PT's shudder under acceleration because of the way the engine is mounted.
We're going to put new tires on the car next weekend to see how that affects performance (I'm looking at Falken sn-828's). Any suggestions on tire choice folks?
If the shudder continues I wouldn't be averse to driving it to Ft. Collins for a check out either Jack.
To answer the other reply -- the check engine light has never come on, except when my wife didn't get the gas cap on securely once, or twice.
Big thanks to all of you for your replys and suggestions. :D


dud07pt -- (guess I'll have to change that username if we get her sorted - lol). :lol:

Hi again;


We're in Westminster at about 80th and Sheridan Jack.
My wife told me that the shudder was far less noticeable
on the way to work this morning since I swapped the
tires and wheels front to back.
She says it's still there though and still feels, to her, like
it comes from the left front area.
I can certainly understand a bit of a rough idle from a 2.4
4 banger - nature of the beast stuff. Makes sense.
Thanks again for all of the replies and info.

dud07pt

Re: hmmm...
Don't beleive a word of the "All PT's shudder under acceleration because of the way the engine is mounted."

I have a 01' 5 speed, never had the problem. I have only had a couple of issues with mine. Piston Slap, fixed under warranty. Since then we have pulled and rebuilt the motor 3-4 different times. Only because we upgraded all the internals with Crower componants. This last one was due to the wrong race cams were installed. Blew the valve train all to &^%$. Crowewr back there parts and sent a new head with valve train and race cams.


Well;

After the last round I asked if they had switched the tires and wheels front to back to see what happened and I was told that it would make no sense to do that because "the 2008 they drove did the same thing - only worse".
I brought the car home, swapped tires front to rear and re-checked tire pressures for my own satisfaction. The shudder is now far less noticeable.
Funny you should mention "torque converter shudder" Jack, because that's what the service manager said he thought it might be when we took him for a ride in the car. Right after he had exclaimed "what the hell is that?"
The dealer transmission tech. says all PT's shudder under acceleration because of the way the engine is mounted.
We're going to put new tires on the car next weekend to see how that affects performance (I'm looking at Falken sn-828's). Any suggestions on tire choice folks?
If the shudder continues I wouldn't be averse to driving it to Ft. Collins for a check out either Jack.
To answer the other reply -- the check engine light has never come on, except when my wife didn't get the gas cap on securely once, or twice.
Big thanks to all of you for your replys and suggestions. :D


dud07pt -- (guess I'll have to change that username if we get her sorted - lol). :lol:

Front end Alignment
If anything try an Alighnment, see it that will work.

Thanks Dean;


We'll have it checked.



dud07pt :)

Or trade it in on a new 2010 model. That'll fix it.

Nah;

trading it in wouldn't work because - "all PT's shudder under acceleration" - lol.
Besides; our budget's not as big as yours steve. :D
Good one though. :D


dud07pt

My budget? lol!!

I was hoping someone would buy a new 2010, so I could get a ride! lol!!

Know what ya mean Steve.
I'll have to wait for a ride until somebody
buys one too. :lol:


dud07pt