2007 Focus vibrations

Need some advice/speculation. I think I know what needs to be replaced, but I really REALLY hope I'm wrong.

Car is SWMBO's 2007 Focus sedan. 2.0 Duratec automatic, with 72k. We got the car in 2012 with 14k after her grandmother passed away and left it to her. Obviously grandma didn't drive it much...she bought it new in 07 and only put ~3k a year on it.

Car has had vibration issues since we got it. Worst when cold and idling, gets a little better with more rpm and when the engine warms up, but still bad enough to set up sympathetic vibrations in the dash, trunk hinges, rearview mirror, you name it. Low-frequency, doesn't really tie to RPM or road speed (but does get a little less noticeable with higher engine speed, although frequency stays the same).

I had presumed it was engine mounts. I replaced two of the three, and the third one is as tight as you can ask for. No change in the vibrations.

I'm guessing this thing has probably chucked a counterweight off the torque converter. If it's not that, the harmonic balancer is the only other likely culprit, correct? And given that these are big, low-frequency shakes, the harmonic balancer is probably not the problem, if I understand properly how they work.

Any input or ideas are appreciated. I really don't want to have to pull the motor on this thing....we're planning on getting rid of it later this year, and it's gonna be really hard to sell/trade if it still shakes like a paint mixer.

Are you sure it's not an engine miss caused by a plug, plug wire, coil or injector?

In reply to outasite:

TBH, haven't checked the ignition, but it doesn't really feel like a dead miss. The car runs great, except for the shake. Injectors haven't been checked either. Might be worth looking at.

It's probably the engine mount at the front of the engine (passenger side strut tower area).

Get a Ford mount, NOT an aftermarket one. The aftermarket ones are junk, install a new one and the car buzzes just as bad as with the sunken old mount. The Ford mounts also come with the bracket so they are easier to install, too.

We replaced seven of these mounts last month and we are a small shop. Well one of them was in a Milan and not a Focus, but same engine and problem. Actually the Milan was a WEIRD one, it would only buzz on hard left turns, like a bad wheel bearing. I could duplicate it in the shop by grabbing the engine and pulling it to the passenger side of the car.

Interesting. We picked up an 07 Focus 5-door for my daughter a few months ago. It has the same kind of vibration, especially at idle. It's definitely not missing, I did plugs and coils right after we bought it and it runs like a top (115k miles). I did take a quick look at the engine mounts and they looked OK, but maybe I need to take another look.

Another for passenger side engine mount

In reply to Tom_Spangler:

They only have to sag 1/8" or so before they go into hard contact and shake/buzz the car. They're even more finicky than the Saturn engine mounts were.

OK. I did replace the passenger mount, but it was with an aftermarket piece. Didn't notice any difference. I'll try the OEM Ford mount, since it seems like this is the most common issue.

I had a vibration in my 2001 that I thought was a tire problem. Tuned out it was the passenger side motor mount.

Also you may want to check the bushings in the rear suspension.