Slight vibration when driving fast and going up hill.

[02V70]

Sometimes when driving uphill on the freeway going 55-65 mph, the car seems to vibrate. I can't tell exactly what is vibrating, but I can feel it in the steering wheel and pedal, and think it may be the engine. The steering wheel is not moving from side to side. It isn't that bad and I thought it was just the road at first, however, when letting off of the petal, it stops. A few weeks ago, one of the coils failed, and the engine was vibrating and misfiring badly. This made me think the vibration when going uphill was from bad coils. I put in new bosch coils, new spark plugs, and a new air filter. This seemed to make the vibrating when driving uphill less (unless it's just a placebo), but it still occurs. Is the heat a factor? It has been 90-100 degrees almost every day.

[dikidera]

Sources of vibration can be many.

Engine mounts, unbalanced wheels, bent rims, driveshafts, even slight misalignment of the subframe from say a previous crash. Even in some cases, warped rotors(which is more indicative when you press the brakes). Wheel spacers as well if you have them.

Usually vibration when accelerating is a sign of worn CV joints, but like I said, can be any number of things, and if it's an auto then you have also Torque Converter vibration, but not sure if it isn't more specific.

So first solution is to get an alignment AND wheel balance. After that, my next suggestion is to replace CV joints or the entire driveshafts if you're feeling frisky.

Addendum: 65mph is not fast, but normal speed.

[jonesg]

Sometimes when driving uphill on the freeway going 55-65 mph, the car seems to vibrate. I can't tell exactly what is vibrating, but I can feel it in the steering wheel and pedal, and think it may be the engine. The steering wheel is not moving from side to side. It isn't that bad and I thought it was just the road at first, however, when letting off of the petal, it stops. A few weeks ago, one of the coils failed, and the engine was vibrating and misfiring badly. This made me think the vibration when going uphill was from bad coils. I put in new bosch coils, new spark plugs, and a new air filter. This seemed to make the vibrating when driving uphill less (unless it's just a placebo), but it still occurs. Is the heat a factor? It has been 90-100 degrees almost every day.

no , not the heat.
try torque revving , in drive , foot on the brake, watch the top mount.
if the top mount has a lot of movement but isn't broke then look at the lower mounts.
something is shifting under load.

[prwood]

This sounds like the symptom of two issues I've had on my '01 V70 - a bad right inner CV joint, and a bad right engine mount. Both can be inspected visually pretty easily if you remove the right front wheel.

[motormikeyman]

In my case, it turned out to be cheap tires. I was running Starfire tires, balanced properly, and would get a vibration on pulling up a hill at those same speeds. Replaced all the usual suspects- vibration less, but still there. I replaced the tires and went with Falken tires, vibration completely gone. You could have knocked me over with a feather!

[02V70]

I recently got new tires around the same time I changed the coils, and the problem remains. Interestingly, I dont seem to feel it in the passenger seat. Since the problem doesnt seem bad, is it fine if I dont do anything about it for the next year or so as I'll be at college away from the garage and the tools? Or is this a sign of something catastropic happening?

[Krons]

On my kids 02 S60 vibration at 70mph while accelerating and it was CV joints. New shafts resolved it immediately. If vibration is not bad likely something ok to put off for a little while.

Not a bad job to do if you have time. May need an alignment if you remove the strut from the knuckle, on one car I just marked everything to put back in exactly the same spot. Many swear by OEM only but I’ve found the TRQ CV shafts to appear well built and so far doing ok after 10k+ miles. Others have only gotten 10-15k out of aftermarket shafts.