What is the problem when the car engine warning light is on and the car is shaking?
3 Answers
The engine warning light is on, and the car body is shaking due to poor combustion of the air-fuel mixture. Poor combustion of the air-fuel mixture can lead to engine carbon deposits, which is the most important cause of body shaking. At the same time, when the oxygen sensor detects poor combustion of the air-fuel mixture and reports it to the ECU, the warning light will illuminate as an alert. Therefore, the engine warning light and body shaking occur simultaneously. Faulty spark plugs, ignition coil failure, fuel pump failure, or clogged fuel lines can all cause poor combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the engine. If the engine warning light is on, you can follow these steps: After the engine warning light comes on, first check if the engine is running normally, whether there is shaking, black smoke, or difficulty starting. If any of these issues are present, try not to start the engine again. Especially note that if the red light is on, do not start the engine under any circumstances. If the engine is running normally and the car can be driven, please go to a service station as soon as possible to find out the cause. The service station can easily read the fault code by connecting a portable diagnostic tool, obtain fault information, and carry out targeted repairs. If the engine is running normally, the owner can also try gently plugging in all wiring harness connectors, as it may be caused by a loose connection somewhere, or repeatedly turning the key to the ON position to see if the issue can be resolved.
If your car's check engine light comes on accompanied by shaking, it's likely an issue with the ignition system. Worn-out spark plugs or excessive carbon buildup can cause misfires, making the engine tremble like it's shivering. The illuminated light usually indicates the computer detected abnormalities – perhaps the oxygen sensor reporting improper air-fuel ratio, or clogged fuel injectors causing uneven gasoline supply. I've encountered similar situations where a faulty ignition coil caused cylinder misfires and shaking. If not repaired promptly, the shaking can destabilize the entire engine, potentially causing weak acceleration, and long-term damage to the catalytic converter could double repair costs. It's best to immediately use an OBD tool to read trouble codes, then replace spark plugs or related components. For maintenance, inspect the ignition system every 20,000 kilometers to prevent such issues.
Recently, my car had this issue where the engine light was on and it kept shaking, driving like a tractor. At first, I thought it was a spark plug problem since shaking usually comes from a cylinder misfire. After replacing the spark plugs, it still shook. Checking the fault codes revealed that the throttle body was dirty or the fuel injector was clogged, causing unstable fuel supply. The light being on indicates the computer detected an abnormality, such as incorrect oxygen sensor signals affecting the air-fuel ratio or the mass airflow sensor misreporting the intake volume. This situation is quite dangerous, as the car might suddenly stall while driving. I suggest not ignoring it and taking it directly to a repair shop to diagnose whether it's an electrical or mechanical issue with professional equipment. Whenever the shaking occurs, slow down and pull over to ensure safety. Regularly cleaning the intake tract and fuel injectors can help reduce such faults.
