Vibration analysis for engine problem, interesting.

[John/Horace]

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EnGZdKvTM/

 

 

https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/08/toyota-tundra-engine-recall-hammer-test/?fbclid=IwdGRjcATtzjtjbGNrBO3OK3Bkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeVmnz4POlGv0oadTJffKia_2s6buSDoZuV8riHt5eHv6RR4dhN_MqQmEuFkI_aem_OxyCf86au_4HpRf8nQR2RQ

[Robert Miller]

The vibration angle is what caught my attention too. Using a hammer test to excite the structure and then reading the response makes sense as a screening step, since a loose or failing component will show up as an anomaly in the frequency signature. The tricky part is separating normal engine vibration from a real defect, which usually needs a baseline and consistent test conditions. Curious whether the results are being compared against known-good trucks or just flagged by threshold.

[John/Horace]

Great question. Toyota is a billion dollar company with an embarrassing problem. Vibration analysis experts have probably built mathematical models and special failure studies using weibull, poisson etc distributions.

 

I'm guessing main bearing clearances are some how beening analyzed with recorded sound clips. Heavy duty software in play.

 

Before I retired I was briefly involved with vibration analysis testing.  Very cool but involved engineering. Some equipment like $250k AtlasCopco rotory screw air compressors are actually built with sensors already installed. Control panel from the first minute of operation is monitoring mechanicals.

 

Cars arn't expensive enough yet .....to be doing this.

[Robert Miller]

The point about needing a baseline really is the crux. A hammer impulse excites a broad band, so unless you compare the response against a known-good unit under the same mounting and temperature, threshold flagging will be noisy. The retired commenter's note about sensors on industrial compressors is interesting, though the gap is mostly cost and durability: engine bays are harsh and high-volume parts are price-optimized. A baseline fleet comparison seems more realistic for screening than full modal modeling per truck.

[Robert Miller]

The point about needing a baseline really is the crux. A hammer impulse excites a broad band, so unless you compare the response against a known-good unit under the same mounting and temperature, threshold flagging will be noisy. The retired commenter's note about sensors on industrial compressors is interesting, though the gap is mostly cost and durability: engine bays are harsh and high-volume parts are price-optimized. A baseline fleet comparison seems more realistic for screening than full modal modeling per truck.

[Robert Miller]

The point about needing a baseline really is the crux. A hammer impulse excites a broad band, so unless you compare the response against a known-good unit under the same mounting and temperature, threshold flagging will be noisy. The retired commenter's note about sensors on industrial compressors is interesting, though the gap is mostly cost and durability: engine bays are harsh and high-volume parts are price-optimized. A baseline fleet comparison seems more realistic for screening than full modal modeling per truck.