Iq: Heavy Resonance Under Load At Low Rpm

[maartenvanheek]

My iQ has a rather terrible resonance - makes the car sound growling, and the inside mirror vibrates along - between about 1500 to 2000 rpm. I get it in every gear while accelerating. It only does this under load, not when revving up in neutral. It does it in every gear, at any speed, around this engine speed. It also doesn't seem to do it much when going along at constant speed, but if you then floor the pedal again, it vibrates again.

So it's not the tires, because that would be at one speed (or above a certain speed).

I found very little on this problem, only someone suggesting a clutch issue. Cost him 1100 euro. The car might still have a bit of warranty left (we're in the 5th or 6th month of a 6 month warranty term, as far as I know), but I am uncertain they would do this for me...

Oh yes I thought this was normal for a 3 cilinder. But today it's at the garage to solve an ABS and airco issue, and I got to borrow a Peugeot 107. That car is in terrible shape but it does not have the resonance, so it is really my car's faolt :'(

car: Toyota iQ, 05-2009, 1.0i manual

EDIT: I just start looking up a bit of the reported EGR problems, but (at work) don't have enough time to figure out if this is related. I noticed the car is sometimes hesitant to pick up. When I floor the pedal in 2nd or 3rd gear, it accelerates for a bit, then hesitates, then goes again, hesitates again, and continues to go. In 4/5 acceleration is so slow that you couldn't notice it. I'm not sure, but I believe it doesn't always do it - some days more severe than others. Any thoughts about a relation between the two?

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Stick some fuel system cleaner through it and see if that improves things a little.

Could be a heat shield resonance or maybe your cat if you've been through any flood water or are unlucky. But if you're in warranty, just get it checked by Toyota first.

[Adam Evans]

Mine does it too

I have no idea why.

My clutch needs replacing soon, probably got 6 months left in it so I will report back when the clutch is done to see if there is an improvement

[bullet77]

I have a similar problem. For me, the cause is bumping exhaust pipe for steering sticks

[98avensis]

Hi we have the same problem with our 2009 manual iQ2 which has covered 34,000 miles, which we absolutely love accept for this harshness, I know the manual 1.0 is always a bit gearbox whiney in 1st gear, but our resonance which happens under load between 1500 and 2200 rpm in all gears but getting less noticable as you go up thru the gears, also seems to have a noise associated with it which does sound like gearbox noise.

We drove a 21,000 mile 2010 manual iQ2 a few weeks ago and although it had the same resonance it was much much less noticable, I can't help thinking it's gearbox noise which gets worse as the mileage increases. The gearboxes in iQ's are a mirror image to a normal transverse gearbox with the diff and driveshafts at the very front and the gear clusters nearer the bulkhead of the car, that's why I think you hear the 1st gear whine much more than a normal fwd car and possibly why you hear and feel this horrible resonance so much.

When I serviced our car the other day I was going to drain the gearbox oil and check for metal particles, however the oil level was correct, and the oil that I got out the gearbox oil filler hole was golden, like new so I didn't investigate further, I think I will have to soon.

Let us know how you get on.

[thomasaiwilcox]

Hi,

I just thought Id add to this thread as I have also kind of had this issue but somewhat overcome it.

When I first got my IQ I fuelled it up using the same fuel(standard Esso petrol) that I used on my old Renault Clio without issue for years. The car vibrated/resonated as you described and I just assumed it was the nature of a 1 litre car.

I gave Shell V-power a go just because others were using it on the forums and after about half a tanks worth was used the car was running smoothly. I used it for a few more tanks worth without issue and then reverted back to my original fuel choice and after around a quarter of a tank it was vibrating under load again.

Not sure if this will help you but might be worth a try!

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Mrs Cabbie swears by VPower and the difference it makes to her IQ. If she notices a difference, then there's definitely a difference.

At least give your car 2 tanks of VPower to see. If it makes no difference then return to your usual brand.

[maartenvanheek]

Thanks, I just filled her up before I got the advice but will give it a try next time (I need to refuel about once a week, but next week I'm not driving).

[98avensis]

Hi everyone, thanks for the suggestion, we've been away but our little iq2 is slowly using up the fuel in the tank, once it's empty we'll give it at least two tanks of v power and let you know how we get on.

[maartenvanheek]

Here is a little update from my side. I just finished the second tank of V-Power. I wish to say it's better now, but in reality it's only a little improvement. And that may even be wishful thinking...

Unfortunately I had to refill at an unmanned station with only FuelSave today. Maybe I will pick up the experiment later again.

On a side note, I finally found out my car has the old EGR. Being well out of warranty, my garage advised against changing it, as it involves a new catalyst (€ 800-900). So I threw in a bottle of injector/EGR cleaner instead, with the previous tank. Doesn't seem to help either. But that's a different story...

[98avensis]

Hi everyone, we're at the same place, we've used two tanks of high octane from bp (97Ron) and our little iq2 feels much the same, we think acceleration might be a bit smoother and more responsive but the resonation is just as bad :(, not sure what to try next, does anyone else feel it could be anything to do with the harshness and noise from the manual gearbox?

Have a great weekend everyone :-)

[chillired]

:disgust:My IQ2 has been at the garage for 10 days now with this problem and so far they haven't solved it! My car is only just over two years old and went into the garage for warranty work where the engine and gearbox were taken out of the car. It started the vibration /resonance on the drive home and I took it straight back the day after, two hours later they decided it had to be booked in. They thought it was the gearbox and replaced some bits but it still seems to be doing it... feeling quite fed up as want my lovely car back!

[iQ-Chris]

Is anybody able to capture audio/video of this issue? My car is a bit noisy at low revs, but at the moment I still feel inclined to attribute it to the small engine.

Chris

iQ² ☆ black with red leather ☆ upgraded interior lighting ☆ white backlit dashboard/switches ☆ auto-folding mirrors ☆ smart entry ☆ auto-locking doors ☆ chrome exhaust ☆

[chillired]

Unfortunately never thought to record it, sorry.

Garage is saying it is something to do with the gearbox and have taken it out to see if they can figure out what is causing the vibration - as it apparently got worse after the first time they replaced something in the gearbox last week. So that's me without my car until next week at least!

[maartenvanheek]

Is anybody able to capture audio/video of this issue? My car is a bit noisy at low revs, but at the moment I still feel inclined to attribute it to the small engine.

Chris

iQ² ☆ black with red leather ☆ upgraded interior lighting ☆ white backlit dashboard/switches ☆ auto-folding mirrors ☆ smart entry ☆ auto-locking doors ☆ chrome exhaust ☆

It's definitely not the small engine/3-cilinder noise. Then it would also do it at other revs. More importantly, then I would hear the same with other cars with the same engine. My garage has a few (rubbish) Peugeots 107 to borrow while your car is under repair. Those have the same engine, but they do pick up without hesitation, and without nasty vibrations. Mind you, the overall engine noise in those cars is MUCH more pronounced.

So in my mind it's either the EGR or, as others say, the gearbox, but I doubt that. It's also not the same as the first gear 'whine' that I personally don't mind.

My phone has a bit of issue taking videos lately, but I will try this afternoon.

[iQ-Chris]

Thanks chaps. Even a 'voice memo' that picks up the fault you can hear would be interesting.

Chris

iQ² ☆ black with red leather ☆ upgraded interior lighting ☆ white backlit dashboard/switches ☆ auto-folding mirrors ☆ smart entry ☆ auto-locking doors ☆ chrome exhaust ☆

[rossfergie]

Hi Guys, new to the club. I bought my wife an IQ2, 61 Reg and had it from new. When driving it myself about eight months ago I noticed a pronounced resonance at 2000 revs, the mirrors shook and plastic items within the car made buzzing noises, my wife hadn't really payed any attention to this. I booked it into my local dealers for investigation after hanging around for hours they said that they couldn't find anything wrong with the car. They didn't even test drive the car! Naturally I wasn't pleased, sso I got on to Toyota UK and express my dissatisfaction with the dealer, they also asked if the dealer had taken it for a test drive, when I said they hadn't Toyota said leave it with us. Within half an hour of contacting Toyota the dealer rang and asked why I didn't bring the car to them rather than going directly to Toyota, I said I did bring it to you and you said there was nothing wrong with the car!!! So I took it back to them the next day and the head mechanic accompanied me on a test drive. Within the first 500 yards he said there was something definitely wrong with the car. It was taken in and the next day they rang me and said the car would need a new clutch, this was done over the next three days and when I picked up the car it drove like new without any resonance. I know this is a bit long winded but it my give you another avenue to explore. Thanks for your patience. Ross

[chillired]

Thanks Ross, I'm hoping that as the garage has had the car 10 days already that if it is the clutch they will find it and sort it out... however they haven't filled me with confidence so far! Will update once they call me next week.

[rossfergie]

You're most welcome, I hope you get it sorted. Keep us informed. Ross

[98avensis]

Hi everyone, thanks Ross for taking the time to tell us about your clutch replacement, did you have to pay for the clutch or was it done under warranty? If you have an invoice for the repair could you let us have the part numbers for the clutch etc? It would be interesting to see if they are modified parts.

Thanks again

Paul and Zoe

[iQ-Chris]

Thanks Ross. Grateful for any further details you can give in due course.

Chris

iQ² ☆ black with red leather ☆ upgraded interior lighting ☆ white backlit dashboard/switches ☆ auto-folding mirrors ☆ smart entry ☆ auto-locking doors ☆ chrome exhaust ☆

[Guest]

Could it be the engine mounts. I only suggest this as in some more expensive cars, possibly Porsche, there is the option to have 'stronger' or more effective mounts to reduce vibration. Maybe someone on here will know what I am talking about, because I don't. I can't recall the details.

Is anybody able to capture audio/video of this issue? My car is a bit noisy at low revs, but at the moment I still feel inclined to attribute it to the small engine.


Chris

iQ² ☆ black with red leather ☆ upgraded interior lighting ☆ white backlit dashboard/switches ☆ auto-folding mirrors ☆ smart entry ☆ auto-locking doors ☆ chrome exhaust ☆

It's definitely not the small engine/3-cilinder noise. Then it would also do it at other revs. More importantly, then I would hear the same with other cars with the same engine. My garage has a few (rubbish) Peugeots 107 to borrow while your car is under repair. Those have the same engine, but they do pick up without hesitation, and without nasty vibrations. Mind you, the overall engine noise in those cars is MUCH more pronounced.

So in my mind it's either the EGR or, as others say, the gearbox, but I doubt that. It's also not the same as the first gear 'whine' that I personally don't mind.

My phone has a bit of issue taking videos lately, but I will try this afternoon.

[rossfergie]

Hi Paul & Zoe, thankfully for me the clutch replacement was carried out under warranty, therfore , I don't have an invoice to support it or any part numbers. I have just looked at my service book and typical of my dealer it is not noted ! Last time they forgot to put my MOT in the service book, I had to go back and ask them for it, in fact, it was a wonderful surprise they remembered to put the clutch in the car! I am due to have a major service in August and I will ask them to reflect the fitment of the new clutch in the service book and ask them for the part numbers but I don't hold out much hope. Kind Regards, Ross.

[FROSTYBALLS]

The clutch replacement won't be reflected in the service book - it wasn't a service. However, it should be shown in the service history section of your My Toyota.

[rossfergie]

Thanks for the information Mike, I will make sure I put it in when I can get access.

Kind Regards

Ross