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Front end vibration


walkabout

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Clearly something is wrong if having the amount of vibration you've described.  Seems to me this should be easy to solve. - With your dealers help, of course.

 

Your wheels are either unwarped, balanced and true, or they're not.  Same with the tires.  They're either in round, not cupped and within acceptable tolerance, or they're not.  The front end is either in alignment, or it is not...  Scientific method - Check one thing at a time, then see if anything changes or if the problem is corrected.

 

After those possible causes have been checked, then repaired, replaced, or eliminated as culprits, other things can then be considered.

 

Success will require your dealer being willing to play sleuthy detective, working together with you to solve the problem.

 

Hope you get this solved quickly and without needless stress, Walkabout. Keep us posted on your dealer's cooperation and support and how things are progressing...

Actually, just knowing something is wrong is helpful. It's been nearly a decade since I owned a fwd based vehicle and I've never owned/leased a crossover before. I didn't know whether this is sop.

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With due respect, there is actually nothing on that page that is even slightly helpful.  I'm aware that these are low profile tires.  I'm pretty sure that everybody on this board has some insight into tradeoffs that come into play with a 40 aspect ratio.  I've had cars with similar aspect ratio tires for 15 years.

 

Its not the ride harshness associated with low profile tires that is the issue here  - in fact, the overall ride of the car is quite comfy.  Its unusual behavior over road imperfections.  Even low profile tires should not rattle the whole cabin.

 

I'm personally of the opinion that the 18" or 20" tires would actually make more sense, but I think the real culprit here may be a balancing issue or a suspension problem.

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Years ago there used to be a steering dampener installed which was designed to attenuate the steering wheel jerking that you are describing. When this little arm became worn, you would experience a strong shaking of the steering wheel and whole car in general.

 

I don't know what methods are now being employed to correct this, but it certainly sounds like it's related to something similar (what with electric steering assist and all that).

 

I wouldn't think that you would be having problems like this on a new car, bUT ..

 

I would at least call the SERVICE MANAGER (not the associate behind the desk) and ask his opinion. It doesn't sound right, there always some vibration on a rough road, but nothing that should rattle the glove box unless it's a really bad railroad crossing or Indiana pothole in the spring. (I've had them rattle my teeth more than once.)

Edited by enigma-2
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walkabout...last Tuesday, you reported that you had called the dealer. What was the outcome of that call...an appointment?

 

My take on the issue from your description, i.e. a vibration throughout the vehicle when encountering road imperfections, is that all else being regular with the tires (primarily inflation), there is some fault with a mechanical component of the suspension. Arguably, tires don't normally vibrate due to road surface conditions, but defective mechanical/electronic components do when improperly functioning. Compared to many vehicles, the MKX's AWD suspension has any number of components aside from tires that could be a causative factor here.

 

What does the dealer say?

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Dealer just called.  He has not found the problem yet but he did note that the vehicle was out of alignment. So, he wants to start by bringing it to factory specs.

 

Fingers crossed for you, walkabout.  Hoping the alignment fixes things...

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Meanwhile, they've had my mkx since Friday. They did give me a brand new MKZ as a loaner (nice car with really disappointing fit and finish). But, that sedan didn't do me a whole lot of good when it was time for the weekend's cycling activities.

 

I feel ya, walkabout... No Thule rack on the MKZ front grill?  How dare they... ;-))

Edited by Timmer
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It does have fold down rear seats.  I got one of my bikes in there, after taking off the front tire.

 

The MKZ's interior styling is a lot like the MKX and it actually has more padded surfaces (which I expect we'll see in the 2017 MKX) but there are large panel gaps, and rough edges everywhere.  Its really unimpressive fit and finish and does not speak positively for where Lincoln is going next.

 

Also, I don't see anyway for the rear seats to lock.  So, you have no advantage to a trunk.  Lost utility, but no advantage in terms of security.

 

Its got a great ride, and handling is pretty impressive.  Also, I think the base seats in the MKZ are actually a bit more comfy than the 22-ways in my MKX.  

Anyway, next time they work on my car I'm going to ask that they at least give me a MKC. 

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Certain parts may not be stocked locally and need to be shipped in from a warehouse. Could take a couple of days, esp is coming from a supplier. Might just drop by and casually ask how it going.

Edited by enigma-2
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Did they say that they were replacing anything? For an alignment its basically loosening, adjusting, and tightening bolts and nuts while vehicle is on an machine. The only thing I can think of are the CV joints. Maybe something is wrong with them and need replacing

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It actually did turn out to be "something fishy." Eight days later, I still do not have my vehicle back.  I had communicated with the service adviser on Wed and was promised that the vehicle would be delivered to my door at 9 AM this morning.  Surprise! It did not show up.  I've been checking the car remotely - its never been moved since it first got there so its unlikely that they had done any real work on the suspension (which, presumably, would have required at least driving the car around the block). Without going into the details, there were multiple other incidents this week of me being either promised the car or something a bit more simple (like my parking permit being left at the front desk so I can drive to work) that weren't honored. 

 

So, I called and left a very testy message for service.  An hour or so later, I get a call back from somebody at the dealer acknowledging that there had been a serious problem with the service adviser and admitting that he was "no longer with the company."  

 

They are supposed to give me a call back shortly, but it looks like my car is still there and has never really been worked on. 

 

I can't say I've ever had anything like this happen in my 35 years of car ownership.  Absolutely bizarre.  

 

I'm not going to hold it against Lincoln, but pretty strange.

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About 4 years ago I experienced an issue with the fuel evap system on a new Ford model that required multiple visits to a dealer under warranty. After three visits with the problem persisting, I noted that the dealer failed to document the third visit, i.e. no service order, no invoice, nothing. With the car scheduled for a fourth visit, I emailed the general manager and questioned the absence of documentation with the suggestion that possible lemon law provisions were being circumvented.

 

A few days later, the evap issue was repaired (replacement of the entire fuel fill/evap system), a profound apology offered, and a statement of explanation that the service advisor had been dismissed (which I confirmed).

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It actually did turn out to be "something fishy." Eight days later, I still do not have my vehicle back.  I had communicated with the service adviser on Wed and was promised that the vehicle would be delivered to my door at 9 AM this morning.  Surprise! It did not show up.  I've been checking the car remotely - its never been moved since it first got there so its unlikely that they had done any real work on the suspension (which, presumably, would have required at least driving the car around the block). Without going into the details, there were multiple other incidents this week of me being either promised the car or something a bit more simple (like my parking permit being left at the front desk so I can drive to work) that weren't honored. 

 

So, I called and left a very testy message for service.  An hour or so later, I get a call back from somebody at the dealer acknowledging that there had been a serious problem with the service adviser and admitting that he was "no longer with the company."  

 

They are supposed to give me a call back shortly, but it looks like my car is still there and has never really been worked on. 

 

I can't say I've ever had anything like this happen in my 35 years of car ownership.  Absolutely bizarre.  

 

I'm not going to hold it against Lincoln, but pretty strange.

 

Sounds like the treatment I received at my dealer.  Eight days, and the car hadn't been touched.....   Every day was a new promise, and the next day, promise broken.  They had my car for 3 weeks, longer than I had it myself at that point.

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