How to Diagnose Vibrations on a 1997 Toyota T100

If your 1997 Toyota T100 is vibrating, it's normally not a good sign. Vibration can by caused by loose bolts or misaligned or broken components. It can also be caused by worn components that need attention right away. Replacement parts for your T100 can normally be found at an auto-parts store, but before you replace anything, it's a good idea to troubleshoot some of the more common problems first so that you don't start fixing things on your truck that aren't broken.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. • 1

     Turn on your engine and open the hood. If your engine is vibrating, and you can see and hear it, it may be a loose or broken engine mount. Look at, but do not touch, the engine mounts on either side of the engine. You will be able to see right away if they are not working as they should because there will be excessive vibration at the mount and a metallic clanking sound if the rubber bushing inside the T100's mount has been worn away. You'll need to have the affected motor mounts replaced.

   • 2

     Check for loose transmission mounts. If the vibration only occurs when shifting gears or when the truck is in motion during a gear shift, the problem is a transmission mount. This needs to be fixed by a professional mechanic.

   • 3

     Check for vibration when braking. If your T100 vibrated only when applying the brakes, your brake rotors and pads need to be replaced. The vibration happens as a result of an uneven braking surface on the rotor.

   • 4

     Listen for vibration coming from under the truck. The heat shield on the catalytic converter on your T100 is prone to rust since it is not treated with any kind of rust-proofing spray. If the top of the heat shield comes apart (it rusts at the mounting holes), it will begin to rattle or vibrate. This is not a serious problem, and can be fixed by any muffler shop. If the problem is caused by a broken mount for your exhaust (a broken exhaust hanger), this is more serious and needs to be fixed by a muffler shop right away.