motor shuttering while at a light

[Power Sedan]

Maybe the Regal has weak motor mounts, lol! I still have not encountered this myself, even with the few times I get to drive my wifes Turbo, with 6k clocked.

 

[goobee]

For what it's worth, my 2011 T07 does it intermittently whether the engine is hot or cold. After I installed Vince's tune, I discovered that it reduced the shaking to almost nil. I don't keep the tune on all the time and when it shakes, just flipping the tune on smooths it out.

 

[Power Sedan]

Huh, possibly just the torque convertor maybe causing this. It shouldn't try to disengage when stopped idling though.

 

[stevie123]

I have the same problem. The first couple times it happened, I thought it was the bass from the music. Then, after a while, I realize it wasn't. Its so bad that my passenger noticed it.

It can be a minor vibration felt through the brake pedal, or a full rocking motion for ~2 seconds. At its worst, it can feel like someone is jumping on my car.

I also notice the RPM needle almost doesn't move, but I once caught sight of the needle inch up a touch and the shuttering subside. The needle is not a good indicator since it can be "calibrated" to NOT jump up and down and alarm the owner. (just like the fuel gage not moving up or down abruptly anymore in modern cars.)

Another observation is that during any point of this shuttering or minor vibration, I can shift to neutral and back to drive, and the shuttering/vibration goes away instantly.

I'm fairly confident I can reproduce this problem to the dealership next week when I bring it in for my first oil change apointment (~6500 miles). 2012 Turbo Prem2.

I'll update the thread on possible solution.

 

[Buick Customer Service]

Looks like even the pros have seen this, look at Andrew Stoy's comments in this AW blog:

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120124/CARREVIEWS/120129938

I haven't experienced this yet, hope I don't!

Tricia@Buick, any TSBs forthcoming?

Unfortunately I do not have access to TSB information. You would need to contact your local dealer for this kind of assistance. However I would be happy to look into this for you with more information. Please feel free to contact me if you need more assistance. Thank you.

Tricia, Buick Customer Service.

 

[goobee]

In my case, since Vince's tune seems to smooth out the sputtering, it's probably safe to assume that it might be related to the detuning of the engine.

Thanks Buick. 🙄

 

[GottWhat]

In my case, since Vince's tune seems to smooth out the sputtering, it's probably safe to assume that it might be related to the detuning of the engine.

Thanks Buick. 🙄

I thought the same when I first got the tune but after awhile, it seems to do it just as often as before.

 

[n1ck3rp]

I was told it is the Cam Actuators. I am not sure if this is true.

 

[laloggia]

Mine has done it with the tune turned on or off...doesn't matter. Also seems to do it with the auto or manual. Definitely something in the engine...bad gerbil maybe? I told my wife it was the flux capacitor and she said "that sounds expensive".

 

[stevie123]

I took my car in to the dealership for my first oil change. They couldn't reproduce the problem with 2 short test drives...(I wasn't in the car) They also tried to "record misfires" or other engine codes by hooking up something to the car. They couldn't find anything. I think they are looking for actual stumbling or hesitation, which they won't get. I've asked them to check for TSBs or even just to update the firmware to the latest. I don't think they did that...

Of course, on my drive home, I still feel this problem...

 

[Buick Customer Service]

I took my car in to the dealership for my first oil change. They couldn't reproduce the problem with 2 short test drives...(I wasn't in the car) They also tried to "record misfires" or other engine codes by hooking up something to the car. They couldn't find anything. I think they are looking for actual stumbling or hesitation, which they won't get. I've asked them to check for TSBs or even just to update the firmware to the latest. I don't think they did that...

Of course, on my drive home, I still feel this problem...

stevie123,

If you would like for us to follow up with your dealership on your behalf, please get in touch via private message (we'd need a bit more information: your name, phone and address, and last 8 of your VIN and current mileage, as well as the name of your dealership).
Regards,
Sarah (in for Tricia)
Buick Customer Service

 

[cpar2380]

I've noticed this as well. I have a 2011 with under 500 miles owned for under 2 weeks. Doesn't happen all the time but it is a noticeable shutter.

 

[chadder]

I notice it on rare occasions. I have about 1k on it and I would estimate it's happened 4 or 5 times. Not a big deal to me and it lasts maybe a couple of seconds but would rather it not happen at all.

 

[goobee]

I'm not that bothered by the shuddering/stuttering, what I am more concerned about is the issue with the car not wanting to move when you step on the gas. The last time it happened, I slowed for stopped traffic ahead, stepped on the gas to change lanes to the left and the car went "putt putt" for a few seconds before moving.

 

[laloggia]

It's bad enough for a safety recall. Mine stalled at a light...could have gotten rear ended. Seems pretty common too...Buick/gm needs to give this problem some serious thought.

 

[cpar2380]

I'm not that bothered by the shuddering/stuttering, what I am more concerned about is the issue with the car not wanting to move when you step on the gas. The last time it happened, I slowed for stopped traffic ahead, stepped on the gas to change lanes to the left and the car went "putt putt" for a few seconds before moving.

I've only had mine a couple hundred miles. Something to keep on eye on. Never good when dealer with any type of traffic.

 

[rhsanborn]

I have a German 2011 Regal CXL. I had the same problem. It steadily got worse, until it started stalling. The first time I had it in they did a firmware/software update on the ECU. That didn't resolve it. The next time, they replaced the cam actuators. I think this is pretty common. The cam actuators solved it. They only replaced them after seeing the codes from the stall though. It may have to get worse before they'll actually fix it for you.

 

[laloggia]

When I had the dealer check it out, there was a TSB for the 2.4 for the cam actuators...not the turbo. I was told it was documented and to let them know if it happens again.

 

[stevie123]

It's bad enough for a safety recall. Mine stalled at a light...could have gotten rear ended. Seems pretty common too...Buick/gm needs to give this problem some serious thought.

Laloggia, was your car shuttering at stop lights initially, and then got worst?
When the car stalled, did it start back up?

My shuttering issue was never resolved, nor did I (and dealer) find anything in the TB. (Tricia, I already have another appointment with the dealer) Now that you mention it, the last few days of driving, I noticed that it is hesitant to accelerate from the light. Once it did, it would "leap". It feels like someone was learning to drive a manual transmission car... I first attributed it to the cold weather and the turbo, but now that I read this....
The shuttering (at stop lights) are getting more common now (but the shuttering is not any more severe..)

 

[laloggia]

Laloggia, was your car shuttering at stop lights initially, and then got worst?
When the car stalled, did it start back up?

My shuttering issue was never resolved, nor did I (and dealer) find anything in the TB. (Tricia, I already have another appointment with the dealer) Now that you mention it, the last few days of driving, I noticed that it is hesitant to accelerate from the light. Once it did, it would "leap". It feels like someone was learning to drive a manual transmission car... I first attributed it to the cold weather and the turbo, but now that I read this....
The shuttering (at stop lights) are getting more common now (but the shuttering is not any more severe..)

My car has only done this 3 times. Stalled at a light once. I had to turn key off and restart. Will only do it on cold starts. If I let it warm up for a few minutes, it won't shutter. When it did drive like crap, it would go away as soon as the temp gauge was at normal. RPM's should be stable at a stop and not fluctuate up and down without there being a problem.