What Causes a Car to Shake Like a Spasm with Severe Lack of Power?
2 Answers
Excessive carbon deposits inside the engine can absorb a certain amount of fuel during startup, leading to an overly lean air-fuel mixture. When the carbon deposits become saturated with gasoline, the engine starts to operate normally. However, once the mixture is ignited, the gasoline absorbed by the carbon deposits is drawn into the cylinders by vacuum suction, resulting in an overly rich mixture. This alternating lean and rich condition causes the engine to shake. Below are some related details: 1. Dirty Air Filter: A clogged air filter restricts sufficient air from entering the engine cylinders, disrupting the air-fuel mixture ratio and leading to insufficient engine power and shaking. If the throttle body is too dirty, it may not close properly, causing an overly lean mixture at idle, which also results in power loss and shaking. 2. Precautions: When cleaning the throttle body yourself, some vehicle models require computer recalibration afterward. It's best not to clean these types yourself as you won't be able to perform the recalibration, leading to high or unstable idle speeds afterward. For cable-operated throttle bodies, you can clean them yourself.
When dealing with similar issues, I found that car shaking, jerking, and power loss may stem from ignition system failures, such as aging spark plugs or damaged ignition coils, causing abnormal operation in a certain cylinder. It could also be fuel supply problems, like insufficient fuel pump pressure, clogged fuel filters, or dirty fuel injectors, affecting the engine's fuel mixture and combustion efficiency. On the air intake side, issues like a dirty air filter or faulty sensors can lead to poor airflow, causing the engine to run unevenly. Other factors include mechanical engine problems, such as insufficient cylinder compression, or transmission slippage. It's advisable to first check if the warning light is on, then systematically inspect the vulnerable components. Leaving it unattended for long can damage more parts and compromise driving safety, so it's best to seek professional diagnosis at a repair shop early on.
