What Causes Car Shaking and Engine Warning Light to Illuminate?

[DeDante]

When the engine warning light comes on accompanied by vehicle shaking, the cause is typically poor combustion of the air-fuel mixture. Incomplete combustion leads to carbon buildup in the engine - the primary reason for vehicle vibration. Additionally, when oxygen sensors detect this combustion issue and report it to the ECU, the system triggers the warning light. This explains why these two symptoms often occur simultaneously. Several components can cause poor mixture combustion including faulty spark plugs, defective ignition coils, malfunctioning fuel pumps, or clogged fuel lines. When the engine warning light illuminates, follow these steps: First, check whether the engine is operating normally. Look for symptoms like shaking, black smoke emission, or difficulty starting. If present, avoid restarting the engine - this is especially critical when the red warning light is on. If the engine runs normally and the vehicle remains drivable, visit a service station promptly. Technicians can easily retrieve trouble codes using a portable diagnostic tool to identify and address specific issues. For normally functioning engines, owners may attempt gently reseating all wiring harness connectors (as loose connections could be the culprit) or repeatedly turning the ignition to ON position to potentially reset the system.