Why does the car shake like it's convulsing?
2 Answers
The reasons why the car shakes like it's convulsing are: 1. Ignition system issues: including faulty spark plugs, high-voltage wires, or ignition coils; 2. Aging engine components: vehicle shaking is also related to the aging of engine parts. If these parts fail, the vibrations will be transmitted to the steering wheel and the cabin, causing shaking at idle; 3. Severe engine carbon deposits, including a dirty throttle or excessive carbon buildup in the fuel injectors; 4. Unstable oil pressure. Solutions for a car shaking like it's convulsing include: 1. Check the oil pressure and replace the intake pressure sensor if necessary; 2. Clean the fuel system and check if the idle speed motor has carbon deposits, and clean it if necessary.
My car had this jerky shaking before, and it turned out the spark plugs needed replacing. When these things wear out, the electrode gap widens, causing unstable ignition. The feeling of cylinders misfiring in sequence is like convulsions. It shakes the most during cold starts, and becomes even more noticeable when idling with AC on. Last time the mechanic even had me feel the exhaust pipe – the tailpipe was puffing intermittently, a classic symptom of cylinder misfire. Also, check if the ignition coil boots are cracked, as rainwater seepage can cause short circuits. I recommend first scanning for trouble codes with an OBD reader – it usually pinpoints exactly which cylinder is acting up.