I just got a 96 Camaro RS. It has a 3.8L V6 manual transmission. The first problem I have is it has a bad vibration. It is worst around the 50-65 MPH range. It does not pull very much to the right so i am thinking it could be a alignment but it is a very bad vibration. I had new tires put on it and they were balanced when put on. I don't know if i should get it aligned again or have the tires rebalanced. It had the vibration prior to the new tires as well so I'm not thinking that that is the issue. I also have a problem with the heat. When it heats up to running temp. the heat works fine. When i start driving the heat goes away. If i am moving i can let off the gas and it will kick in again but if i get back on the gas it goes away. I can't figure out what would be causing that.

 

I also am experiencing kind of a pulsing when I break. I don't know if the rotors could be bad and these two issues may be related?

 

yes the rotors warped can cause pulsating brakes and a vibration. most likely looking at some new rotors and brake pads at the least. heat not working could be the engine does not have a thermostat or the one in it is stuck open.

 

Is the vibration only when you brake? Is it present when going straight or only when you turn the wheel?

Sounds like you need to super flush your coolant system and replace the thermostat which is a cheap part.

 

Vibrations can be tuff to track down, Once you do a bunch it get easier. Step one in the test drive is to figure out if its a vibration or a shimmy or something lose. Is it from the front or the back.

Vibration: the best way to describe this is a bent rim. If it felt at a give speed and is not effected by any other condition it is a vibration.

Shimmy: can be at certain speeds but is effected by engine load or the shaking is not fast enough or too fast to match the wheel speed. A vibration app from a newer phone to measure the vibration and compare it to wheel speed. Shimmies are normally drive line issues.

Something Loose: This will be a chaotic shaking not as rhythmic as the others. It can be effected by weaving the car side to side. In may case it will get worse one side or the other, it may change with braking/ acceleration/no load (coasting) .

Just a FYI a bent rim can be balanced and still cause a vibration. Bent axles would be the next check if you sure it is wheel related.

For checking if its front or back just feel the steering wheel and then the floor. If it from the front the vibration is more in the steering wheel if its in the back you will feel it more in the floor.

 

Went in to have my tires rebalanced to see if that was the issue and found a lot more. Needs new tie rods, upper control arms, and pretty much everything else in the front end.