What Causes Engine Shaking in a Car?
2 Answers
Here are the reasons for engine shaking in a car: 1. Cylinder pressure: Low cylinder pressure. 2. Blockage: Carbon deposits and oil sludge blockage. 3. Fuel injector: Clogged fuel injector. 4. Water temperature: Abnormal water temperature. 5. High-voltage line: Open circuit in the high-voltage line. Below is extended information about the causes of car shaking: 1. Insufficient power: Shaking during startup is caused by insufficient fuel combustion leading to lack of power. 2. Idling issues: Idling shaking results from severe engine carbon buildup, ignition system problems, or unstable oil pressure. 3. High-speed shaking: High-speed shaking is caused by either too high or too low tire pressure, abnormal tire wear, rim deformation, shock absorber failure, or tire imbalance. 4. Engine aging: Worn engine mounts. Engine mounts serve as the shock absorption system for the engine, absorbing minor vibrations during operation. If the engine mounts fail, these vibrations will transfer to the steering wheel and cabin, causing the car to shake.
Yesterday, my neighbor Brother Zhang's car was shaking badly, and he insisted I take a look. Most likely, it's an issue with the ignition system—common problems include worn spark plugs with enlarged electrode gaps or cracked ceramic bodies. Alternatively, it could be aging ignition coils causing misfires, especially noticeable during hard acceleration when the steering wheel vibrates intensely. If the shaking is severe during startup, it might be time to clean the throttle body, as carbon buildup could be choking the intake to a sliver. By the way, how’s the fuel quality you’ve been using lately? I’ve seen poor-quality gasoline make fuel injectors sputter erratically. These issues aren’t expensive to fix, but don’t delay—last time, mechanic Old Wang mentioned a driver who ignored it for three weeks and ended up paying over 8,000 for a transmission repair.
