What Causes the Car to Shake When Driving at High Speeds?
2 Answers
Causes of car shaking at high speeds are as follows: Severe engine carbon buildup: The most common cause of car shaking is a dirty throttle body or excessive carbon buildup in the fuel injectors. When there is too much carbon buildup inside the engine, the gasoline sprayed by the cold start injector can be largely absorbed by the carbon deposits, resulting in an overly lean air-fuel mixture during cold starts. Solution: Clean the fuel system and check the idle control valve for carbon buildup, then clean it thoroughly. Ignition system issues: Check the condition of the spark plugs, high-voltage wires, and ignition coils. Poor performance of the ignition system or weak spark plug firing can also cause such symptoms. Solution: Inspect the spark plugs for excessive carbon buildup and replace them if necessary. Unstable fuel pressure: Abnormal fuel pump pressure or incorrect readings and poor performance of the intake pressure sensor can lead to car shaking. Solution: Check the fuel pressure and replace components if needed. Aging engine components: Car shaking can also be related to worn engine mounts. Engine mounts act as the engine's shock absorption system, absorbing minor vibrations during operation. If the engine mounts are faulty, these vibrations can be transmitted to the steering wheel and cabin, causing shaking at idle. Solution: Replace the components.
When the car shakes at high speeds, the most common cause is unbalanced tires, meaning uneven weight distribution during rotation, which amplifies the shaking sensation at high speeds. Bent or damaged axles can also cause vibrations, and I often see car owners overlook this issue, leading to steering wheel or whole-body wobbling. Warped brake discs are another factor, especially when shaking occurs after braking and speeding up. A damaged driveshaft universal joint might also cause this. The inspection method is simple: first, visit a repair shop for a tire balance test—it's inexpensive and quick. Regular maintenance, such as rotating tire positions periodically and maintaining consistent tire pressure, can prevent this issue. For safety, don’t ignore high-speed shaking; get it fixed promptly to avoid long-term wear.
