diagnosis--what do i get for my $?

[Mr D]

03 GTP, 128k mi.

Had the car almost a yr. DD & project. Ran iffy when I bought it, & handled much worse - super soft & sloppy. Relaced almost everything on front & now have vibration on acceloration.

I am suspecting differential more and more.

So seriously considering paying for professional diagnosis. What can I expect? Is there equip that can give definative diagnosis of tranny malfunction?

Thanks in advance

 

[FordMan77]

Have you replaced the axles? Checked the balance on both front tires? That would cause a vibration. Also, what kind of shape are your motor and trans mounts?

 

[Mr D]

Thanks fordman, I wasn't going to get into it too much here, I've been hounding suspension section for couple of monthes, but to answer your questions and endrun others...

like i said, car handled like a ski boat, just worse--but as wiley as it was, with kaplunks and knocks, it did NOT have vibration until I started screwing w/ it. I did:
Excel G struts w/ HTM coil over kit, lowered front slightly and had TERRIBLE vibration; then
1/2" ZZP mtr & tran spacers, helped greatly, but still had knocks & vibration; then
DEA solid rubber mtr & tran mounts & Dorman sway bra & end links, improvement but not fixed; then
NAPA axles, new lt & remnf rt, Raybestos camber bolts, rotate tires & justtires wheel balance & alignment--now my right tire spins as much as my left, which was new! but still feel vibration on acceloraion from right side; then
Timken rt hub, MOOG lt hub & Dorman LCAs, rotated front tires again to be sure & back for another alignment--handling impoved, but still have vibration; then
Duralast right i&o tie rod, & a 3rd alignment.

Still have vibration from rt when accelorating. Here are the symptoms:
Started when I did on new struts, c/o. Now, I feel it on rt side under power. Does NOT happen everytime I hit the gas, just most of the time. Usually smooths out at top end. Happens hot & cold. Happens in all gears. Vibration will be consistant thru a shift. Frequent Knock/Kaplunk when engaging a gear from standing still. When going slow, like 10mph, and accelorate lightly, I hear faint whine from rt side, and when I remove gas, the whine whines down gradually (ie it does not stop immediately after removing gas).

Off hand I'd say; hub, CV axle, mtr mnt, tie rod, steering rack (?), TRANNY. OK, so if it is tie rod, rack, or hub, I would expect some issues while coasting and braking too. Axle is only a month old.

I do appreciate any help & advice I can get, but I do not want to loose sight of original question. Before I sell an unborn child to pay for tranny work, or replace new parts, or start screwing with the rack.... I would really like to know,

When I pay a pro for a tranny diagnosis, what can I expect for my $?

 

[matt5112]

vibe on accel normally points to axles.

Have you tried raising the cars right height back up?

 

[Mr D]

I have slightly raised and lowered it, 1/4"+ both ways. No change. However, I have not removed 1/2" spacers and attempted to get it stock. Specifically, I never measured it--I don't even know what it was--which is funny to me in retrospect. My guess is, not more than 3/4" lowered & has 1/2" spacers.

To me, with no point of reference for this car as I have not been able to get it right yet, it feels like the axle. But the more I read up on differential the more suspect that is to me.

Rmanf NAPA has warrenty, I could get another rmanf free,--but if I don't trust that one, why put another one of the same on,
Buy a NEW axle,--maybe I'm a princess, but I really prefer new parts
Try to get real diagnosis so I'm not wasting $ I'll need to be saving--don't want to pay to hear, buddy youre trannies shot, $3g. Even if it is true. Can someone tell me what specifically is wrong w/o pulling it apart? Or if by some fluke of nature, tranny is good, I'd gladly slip a new axle in.

Call me paranoid, but it occurred to me that my project might have more than 1 problem.