Hi all! Shaking a car does not bode well, so you need to clearly understand why the car shakes at speed and what the driver needs to do.
Each element of the vehicle has a specific resource. For some it is less, for others it is more. When the service life comes to an end, the machine itself usually lets you know. This happens through the appearance of corresponding dashboard icons or manifestations during engine operation, when pressing the gas, while driving at high speeds, or simply when the internal combustion engine is idling. Some problems become noticeable not when accelerating, but when braking.
Not everyone has encountered such a situation when the car begins to shake for unknown reasons. This doesn't promise anything good. We urgently need to understand what is happening, find the cause and try to eliminate it. Here we should consider the 3 most common situations.
Shaking starts at idle
It happens that the car begins to shake when accelerating, or vibration occurs when waiting for a traffic light. That is, the problem is observed precisely at idle speed.
There are 2 main reasons, the likelihood of which is the greatest. We will consider them.
- Problems with the engine when burning the air-fuel mixture. The body shakes if the fuel burns unevenly. In this case, the speed can drop and rise sharply, and this phenomenon is beyond the control of the driver. There are many reasons for incorrect combustion of fuel, ranging from failed sensors to a breakdown of the fuel pump. You need to take diagnostic equipment and check the car with it when it starts to shake;
- The supports are no longer able to support the motor. Over time, supports can become loose, bend, or simply break. In such a situation, vibrations will already affect the body directly. This is immediately felt in the form of shaking at idle.
It is important to add that similar phenomena characteristic of shaking at idle can also occur when driving. It doesn't really depend on whether everything happens in summer or winter.
The car shakes at idle
If your car shakes when you are stopped at a traffic light, then most likely something has gone wrong. To determine the cause of idle vibration, check the following:
– Broken or worn engine mounts . Broken or severely worn powertrain mounts do not support your engine properly, causing detonation from the engine to be transferred to the body.
– Problems in the fuel system . If the engine speed suddenly drops or increases, it may cause the vehicle to shake or vibrate. In order to find the cause, it is necessary to fully diagnose, using special equipment, the operation of the entire fuel system, starting from various electronic sensors and ending with the fuel pump.
Shaking appears when accelerating
The most dangerous and unpleasant situations are those when a noticeable vibration manifests itself precisely at the moment of gradually picking up speed.
In some cases, the car shakes only at certain speeds or when reaching high speeds. That is, at low speed everything is good and stable. As soon as the revs reach a high level, the car literally wobbles. If you encounter similar moments, watch the speed first. She may be:
- at 30 km/h;
- 60 km/h;
- 70 km/h;
- 80 and above;
- 90 kilometers per hour;
- 100 km/h;
- 120 km/h;
- at 140 km/h and above, etc.
Shaking at high speed may be due to a banal feature of the suspension. Some cars are simply not adapted to driving at such speeds, which is why when reaching certain values, shaking begins in different directions.
But if the speed is low or medium, and similar symptoms appear during acceleration, this is much worse.
There is a high probability that a malfunction has occurred. They need to be found. If the shaking is relatively mild at the moment, then over time the vibrations can intensify, which will sometimes lead to unpredictable and unexpected negative consequences.
When it comes to shaking during acceleration, the first things you need to check are:
- Filter in the gearbox. If you have an automatic transmission and the filter is clogged, it can cause the body to rattle when accelerating. This is usually noticeable at high speeds. Just change the filter;
- Oil in box. Vibrations during acceleration often occur due to a lack of lubrication in the automatic transmission. If you step on the gas and the car moves jerkily, then raising and then increasing dynamics, this is probably an oil deficiency;
- Cardan shaft. When the universal joint wears out, the car will likely begin to vibrate and shake. This problem is most obvious when starting from a standstill. The element must be replaced, otherwise the entire driveshaft may break.
From the above, it can be noted that shaking of cars with automatic transmissions during acceleration is usually associated with the oil in the box or with the filter. For mechanics, the problem with the cardan is more relevant.
Vibration at speed
In addition to discomfort, vibration signals some malfunctions or improper installation of certain parts as a result of the last repair. The consequences of driving with vibration depend on which unit causes this effect, whether it is a consequence of a breakdown or the result of gradual wear of parts. For example, when the driveshaft crosspiece of some car models wears out, it creates a vibration that gradually intensifies.
To find out why vibration appears in the car, you can go for computer diagnostics. But this procedure does not always allow us to find out the true cause. We have selected some general recommendations from experienced motorists, thanks to which you can find the source of vibration without expensive diagnostic procedures.
Let's look at each of the symptoms that appear at a certain car speed.
0 km/h (idle speed)
The cause of vibration in this mode of vehicle operation may be:
- The gearshift lever vibrates, which may be caused by a misfire or tripping of the internal combustion engine (read why this happens in another review );
- The vibration is accompanied by a stable metallic knocking sound. The reason is wear and tear on the engine mounts;
- In addition to vibration, a high-frequency whistle can be heard from the engine compartment, especially in wet weather. The reason for this effect is the slipping of the generator drive belt;
- The car shakes a little evenly - the flywheel or clutch basket is unbalanced;
- If the vibration is uneven and periodic, then this may be a consequence of a misfire, problems with the fuel system or air supply, as well as malfunctions of the engine control unit.
