Vibrate 5.0 Tutorial

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• Printing a Vibration Worksheet
• Preparing for a road test.
• The Road Test with the EVA/EVA2
• The Road Test with the MTS 4000/4100
• After the Road Test
• On Vehicle Diagnosis
• Belt-Driven Accessory Vibrations

Printing a Vibration Worksheet

After starting the Vibrate 5.0 software program, as shown below, the "Select A Powertrain Type" prompt is displayed. Select the type of powertrain your vehicle has.  To view an example and description of each Powertrain type, move the mouse pointer over each button. By default, the Rear-Wheel Drive button will be selected if the Enter key is pressed.

The software program uses this information to determine which calculations need to be performed to display the proper vibration worksheet for your vehicle, it also uses the information to determine which prompts to use.  In this example, the Four-Wheel drive powertrain will be selected.

Next, a prompt to enter the transfer case gear ratio is displayed. To see a list of transfer case gear ratios for each vehicle manufacturer, press the Help button or F1. The help file will display a list of vehicle manufacturers, select the manufacturer of the vehicle. A list of transfer case gear ratios is displayed. Determine the gear ratio used in the vehicle.

A default transfer case gear ratio of 1.00 is displayed in the box, just type in your gear ratio and press OK with the mouse or press ENTER on your keyboard. (Note: The default transfer case ratio can be changed to any gear ratio wanted. Select Options from the Tools Menu)

Next, a prompt to enter the final drive axle gear ratio is displayed. To see a list of drive axle gear ratios for each vehicle manufacturer, press the Help button or F1. The help file will display a list of vehicle manufacturers, select the manufacturer of the vehicle. A list of final drive axle gear ratios is displayed. Determine the gear ratio used in the vehicle.

A default drive axle gear ratio of 3.73 is displayed in the box, just type in your gear ratio and press OK with the mouse or press ENTER on your keyboard. (Note: The default axle gear ratio can be changed to any gear ratio wanted. Select Options from the Tools Menu)

Next, a prompt to enter the transmission gear ratio is displayed. To see a list of transmission gear ratios for each vehicle manufacturer, press the Help button or F1. The help file will display a list of vehicle manufacturers, select the manufacturer of the vehicle. A list of transmissions is displayed. Determine the transmission used, then determine the gear ratio for the gear used while the vehicle is vibrating.

A default drive transmission ratio of 0.70 (overdrive) is displayed in the box, just type in your gear ratio and press OK with the mouse or press ENTER on your keyboard. If the transmission gear ratio is unknown enter 1.0 as the gear ratio and drive the vehicle in third gear (direct drive for most 4-speed automatic transmissions). (Note: The default transmission gear ratio can be changed to any gear ratio wanted. Select Options from the Tools Menu)

Finally, a prompt to enter the number of engine cylinders is displayed. Enter the number of cylinders in the engine. The software program uses this information to calculate engine speed related vibration frequencies.

A default number of 8 cylinders is displayed in the box, just type in your number of cylinders and press OK with the mouse or press ENTER on your keyboard. (Note: The default number of cylinders can be changed to any number wanted. Select Options from the Tools Menu)

Road test instructions are presented next. Print these instructions and take them on the vehicle road test. (Note: The road test instructions are always displayed upon starting the Vibrate 5.0. This feature can be turned off in the Options section of the Tools Menu in Vibrate 5.0)

Calculations are performed and Vibrate 5.0 displays a graph of vehicle speed related vibrations and engine speed related vibrations on the screen.  IMPORTANT: Press the Hz button if you are using the MTS 4000/4100 for diagnosis on the road test so the graph will display Hz rather than RPM.

Press the Print button at the top of the screen to print the current vibration worksheet.

A Vibration Worksheet with the graph of vehicle speed related vibrations and engine speed related vibrations on it is printed.

Next you must prepare to perform a road test.

Bring the vibration worksheet on a clipboard, a pencil or pen, the EVA/EVA2 or the MTS 4000/4100 and if the vehicle does not have a tachometer, bring a scan-tool to access engine RPM over the vehicle's serial data link on the road test. If needed, Click here for EVA operating instructions. Click here for MTS 4000/4100 operating Instructions

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bring an EVA or a MTS 4000/4100 to read vibration frequency RPM or Hz

or

use the vehicle's tachometer or a bring a scan-tool to read engine RPM.

  or  

Inspect the vehicle to insure it is safe to drive.  Look at the tires, make sure they are not separating and that they have the correct air pressure in them.

Place the MTS 4000/4100 sensor or the EVA sensor with the magnetic attachment on the seat frame to begin the road test. It may be necessary to move the sensor to other locations on the vehicle to obtain good readings of frequency and amplitude.

Place the sensor's magnetic base on the metal seat frame, try to position the sensor facing up.

MTS 4000 / 4100 Sensor is shown on the left, the EVA / EVA2 Sensor is shown on the right.

TIP: Think if the sensor as a "vibration sniffer"; the closer you get to the source of the vibration, the higher the amplitude level will be.  If you don't get a good reading with the sensor on the seat frame, move it somewhere else.

Select one of the following options:

• If you are using the EVA Version 1.0 memory cartridge, jump to here.
• If you are using the EVA2 Version 3.0 memory cartridge, jump to here.
• If you are using the MTS 4000/4100, jump to here.

Power up the EVA and place the EVA in a location where you have access to the keypad and can see the screen.

This is the screen that should be displayed before the road test.

Now go to to the road test procedure by clicking here.

From the main menu, as shown below, select "NORMAL MODE" with the Down Arrow key, then press the ENTER key.

then press

Now go to to the road test procedure by clicking here.

Using the MTS 4000 / 4100 with Vibrate 5.0

The MTS 4000 / 4100 works great with Vibrate 5.0, just follow the steps shown below.

• Power on the MTS 4000 / 4100 by pressing the On/Off Button.

• Press Enter to to bypass the License Screen

• Skip the Vehicle Selection screen select Vibration Diagnostics instead by pressing the 2 key or the down arrow key.

• The Principal Component Display screen will become active.

Ignore the  following display parameters:

• Engine Speed, use the vehicle tachometer or a scan tool to read engine RPM instead

• Vehicle speed is not needed

• Driveshaft speed is not needed.

• VIN is not needed.

• "Possible Source" displaying "No Match Found"

Use the Vibration frequency (Hz) numbers from the left column and Engine RPM from a tachometer or scan tool for more accurate diagnostics using the Vibrate 5.0 printed Vibration Worksheet. 

Now go to to the road test procedure by clicking here.

The Road Test with an EVA / EVA2

• Road test the vehicle on as smooth and as level of a road as possible.

• A steady throttle must be held in order take accurate readings on vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission.  This will keep torque converter clutch slippage to a minimum.

• Road test the vehicle at the speed the vibration is most noticeable.

• Downshift the transmission for several seconds, then back into the higher gear. This procedure may need to be repeated for an accurate diagnosis. If the vibration was not present or changed in a lower gear, the vehicle has an Engine Speed Related Vibration. If the vibration was still present in a lower gear, the vehicle has a Vehicle Speed Related Vibration.

• Bring the vehicle back up to the speed where the vibration is most noticeable. Obtain and record a vibration frequency (RPM or Hz) reading from the EVA and an engine RPM reading from a tachometer or scan-tool. Mark these readings on the vibration worksheet. For more information on diagnosing these type of vibrations select Vehicle Speed Related Vibrations.
• Take several measurements at different vehicle speeds to verify the type of vibration.

The following readings were taken while road testing the truck on the freeway at a steady speed.

The Engine tachometer equals 2000 RPM

The EVA’s primary vibration frequency (the top row of numbers) equals 1560 RPM while the vibration was occurring.

• Mark the engine RPM and the Vibration RPM on the worksheet as shown below.  The engine RPM and vibration RPM lines intersect on the T2 line.  T2 represents a second order tire speed related vibration.

After the Road Test

After the road test, the technician uses the readings obtained on the road test to line up the mouse crosshair.

• The mouse crosshair intersects at the T2 line. T2 represents a second order tire speed related vibration.

Move the mouse to the T2 button on the right side of the screen. Vibrate 5.0's "smart images" will be displayed.  Next, press the T2 button.

Vibrate 5.0's context sensitive help file is displayed next.

On Vehicle Diagnosis

• Click here to access the same help file shown above.  Follow the diagnostic directions to isolate the source of the vibration.

The Road Test with a MTS 4000 / 4100

• Road test the vehicle on as smooth and as level of a road as possible.

• A steady throttle must be held in order take accurate readings on vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission.  This will keep torque converter clutch slippage to a minimum.

• Road test the vehicle at the speed the vibration is most noticeable.

• Downshift the transmission for several seconds, then back into the higher gear. This procedure may need to be repeated for an accurate diagnosis. If the vibration was not present or changed in a lower gear, the vehicle has an Engine Speed Related Vibration. If the vibration was still present in a lower gear, the vehicle has a Vehicle Speed Related Vibration.

• Bring the vehicle back up to the speed where the vibration is most noticeable. Obtain and record a vibration frequency (Hz) reading from the MTS 4000/4100 and an engine RPM reading from a tachometer or scan-tool. Mark these readings on the vibration worksheet. For more information on diagnosing these type of vibrations select Vehicle Speed Related Vibrations.
• Take several measurements at different vehicle speeds to verify the type of vibration.

The following readings were taken while road testing the truck on the freeway at a steady speed.

The Engine Tachometer equals 2000 RPM

The MTS 4000/4100’s primary vibration frequency (the top row of numbers) equals 25 Hz while the vibration was occurring.

• Mark the engine RPM and the Vibration Frequencies (Hz) on the worksheet as shown below.  The engine RPM and vibration 25 Hz lines intersect on the T2 line.  T2 represents a second order tire speed related vibration.

After the Road Test

After the road test, the technician uses the readings obtained on the road test to line up the mouse cross hair.

• The mouse cross hair intersects at the T2 line. T2 represents a second order tire speed related vibration.

Move the mouse to the T2 button on the right side of the screen. Vibrate 5.0's "smart images" will be displayed.  Next, press the T2 button.

Vibrate 5.0's context sensitive help file is displayed next.

On Vehicle Diagnosis

• Click here to access the same help file shown above.  Follow the diagnostic directions to isolate the source of the vibration.

If you suspect a belt-driven accessory is causing a vibration, follow this procedure:

Press the pulley button at the top of the screen.

You must enter the diameter of the crankshaft pulley. This is the drive pulley. A default pulley diameter of 7.5 is displayed in the box, just type in your pulley diameter and press OK with the mouse or press ENTER on your keyboard.

Measuring the pulley diameter of belt-driven accessories can be difficult. Measure the diameter where the belt rides on the pulley, NOT the pulley's outside diameter. Try to be as accurate as possible.

Before you enter the pulley diameter in the diameter box, you must first convert the fraction to a decimal. If the pulley diameter of the crankshaft pulley was 7 7/8”, you should find 7/8 in the chart below to get 0.8750” as a decimal equivalent, then enter 7.875 in the diameter box. The conversion chart below shows the most common fractions and their decimal equivalents. Metric measurements are supported can be entered directly.

After measuring the pulley diameters and converting them to a decimal, select the pulley button at the top of the screen. This will open the Belt-Driven Accessories Pulley Diameters box. Click the button with the pulley name on it to enter the diameter. The last two buttons on the left are "user definable".  This means you can call them anything you want.  In the example below, we called them the Idler Pulley and the Tensioner Pulley.

Each prelisted and user defined pulley has a default value displayed. Just type in your pulley diameter and press OK with the mouse or press ENTER on your keyboard.

When you are finished entering pulley diameters, press OK with your mouse. A new graph of engine speed related vibrations and belt-driven accessory related vibrations will be displayed. Print the vibration worksheet to assist you in diagnosing which accessory is the cause of the unwanted vibration. Refer to Belt-driven Accessory speed related vibrations for more information.

This page was last modified Thursday, June 19, 2008 01:37:08 AM

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