What are the causes of idling vibration in the Buick Regal?
3 Answers
Buick Regal idling vibration has the following reasons: Fuel quality issues: According to statistics, most car owners encounter idling vibration problems due to fuel quality issues. If poor-quality fuel is occasionally added, it not only damages the engine's performance to some extent but also leads to minor issues such as body vibration, thereby increasing later maintenance costs. Therefore, when refueling, it is essential to pay attention to the fuel quality and refuel at reputable gas stations. Severe carbon buildup in the car engine: The most common cause of body vibration during car idling is an excessively dirty throttle body or fuel injectors where the sprayed gasoline is heavily absorbed by carbon deposits, resulting in a too lean air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber and making the engine harder to start. Solution: Clean the fuel system and check if the idle control valve has carbon buildup that needs cleaning. Vibration caused by the ignition system: Ignition system vibration is generally caused by ignition coils and spark plugs. The main checks are whether the ignition coil has signal loss, poor contact, or module failure. For spark plugs, the focus is on whether there is carbon buildup, insulator cracking, gaps that are too small or too large, or high resistance or leakage in the high-voltage coil.
After driving my Buick Regal for so many years, I've found that idle shaking is usually caused by carbon deposits. When there's dirt blocking the throttle body, uneven air intake makes the engine unstable. Worn-out spark plugs can also cause this—failure to ignite properly leads to shaking, and regular spark plugs need replacement after tens of thousands of kilometers. Another issue could be the ignition coil; if it's faulty or has poor contact, power delivery becomes intermittent. Clogged fuel injectors can also cause uneven fuel spray and shaking. Additionally, aging engine mount bushings fail to absorb vibrations, transmitting them into the cabin. Last time I dealt with this, I first tried cleaning the throttle body, and if that didn’t work, I replaced the spark plugs—simple and cost-effective. Regular maintenance is key; don’t wait for problems to worsen.
If you enjoy DIY car repairs, start with the basics when dealing with idle vibration. Check if the spark plugs are worn—replace them if the filaments are black or have carbon buildup. Clean the throttle body with a spray and brush; removing carbon deposits can smooth the airflow and stop the shaking. Also inspect the ignition coils by shaking them to ensure the connections are secure. Fuel system issues, like clogged injectors or poor fuel quality, might be resolved by switching to a reputable gas station. Worn engine mounts can transmit vibrations, so crawl under the car to check their condition. If everything seems fine, investigate vacuum leaks or faulty sensors. Keeping an OBD scanner handy to read trouble codes can simplify diagnosis. Early detection leads to easier fixes.
