Car vibrates in idle and trouble accelerating after stopped
Recently I have been having what I think is transmission trouble. When my car is in idle, it vibrates more than when it is in park or neutral. Also, after I have been driving a while and then stop completely, the car then has trouble accelerating. In between gears, it shutters. I work around this by releasing the gas pedal and then trying to accelerate again. When this problem occurs, there are not noticeable noises. The only thing that the car does is shake/vibrate. What is the cause of this vibrating?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there, thanks for writing in about your 2003 Subaru Baja. There are dozens of potential causes for the symptoms you are having. It could be an engine performance problem, such as a bad sensor. It could also be a bad motor mount or internal transmission problem. If the Check Engine Light is on, (I’m guessing it is), the first step is to retrieve the stored diagnostic trouble codes. These codes serve as a starting point for an further diagnostics. I suggest having a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose the vibrating issue firsthand to verify what repairs are needed.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
If your vehicle is shaking when you are idling at a complete stop, the problem is likely to be damaged or broken motor mounts or transmission mounts. Broken motor or transmission mounts can result in severe motor shaking and should be fixed before causing other serious mechanical problems.
One common cause of shaking while idling can be loose engine mounts. Engine mounts are the connections between your engine and your car — they keep your motor safely attached while dampening vibrations produced by your engine. When those connections wear out, you`re more likely to feel the vibrations.
The most prevalent cause of vibration is problems with your wheels or tires. The potential problems include improper wheel and tire balance, uneven tire wear, separated tire tread, out of round tires, damaged wheels and even loose lug nuts.
Trouble accelerating can come from a few different engine issues. These include, but are not limited to, dirty fuel injectors, low fuel pressure, and restricted airflow. A problem with the mass airflow sensor, throttle position sensor, or engine speed sensor can also cause a car to have difficulty picking up speed.
Any unusual shaking or vibrating forces coming from the engine is cause for concern. It could be something as simple as old spark plugs producing an uneven power delivery, it could be something serious like worn or broken engine mounts, or it could be even more serious in the case of internal engine damage.
This is a common symptom of a plug or wire electrical current problem. Air or Vacuum Hose – Another common cause for engine vibration and power loss is when air or vacuum hoses come loose, begin to leak, or rupture. The three necessities for all combustion engines are air, fuel, and spark.
Worn Transmission Fluid (Automatic Transmission)
Over time, the transmission fluid gathers dirt and grime. This can cause the engine to run roughly, stall or fail to accelerate when you press down on the gas pedal. You may need to have a transmission fluid change before more damage is done.
One of the most common causes of a sputtering engine is an issue with the vehicle`s fuel system—the filter, pump, and injectors. These three critical components work together to ensure fuel flows smoothly from the fuel tank to your engine`s fuel injectors, and then pumps into the engine evenly.
There are a few reasons why your car might be struggling to accelerate. It could be due to a problem with the timing belt, the spark plugs, or the fuel injectors. It could also be because you have a dirty air filter or a clogged fuel filter. The fuel system may also be low on fuel.
Symptoms of low oil include your engine feeling sluggish. It may suffer from poor acceleration and you could find yourself sitting behind the wheel wondering what those knocking and ticking noises might be?
There are a few reasons why your car might be struggling to accelerate. It could be due to a problem with the timing belt, the spark plugs, or the fuel injectors. It could also be because you have a dirty air filter or a clogged fuel filter. The fuel system may also be low on fuel.
The most common cause of the shaking most often happens near your tires and rims. The tires and wheels connect your vehicle to the road, and if anything is a bit wonky, will notice. It may be something like a broken transmission or a broken control arm.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Car vibrates in idle and trouble accelerating after stopped
ANSWER : Hi there, thanks for writing in about your 2003 Subaru Baja. There are dozens of potential causes for the symptoms you are having. It could be an engine performance problem, such as a bad sensor. It could also be a bad motor mount or internal transmission problem. If the Check Engine Light is on, (I’m guessing it is), the first step is to retrieve the stored diagnostic trouble codes. These codes serve as a starting point for an further diagnostics. I suggest having a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose the vibrating issue firsthand to verify what repairs are needed.
Read Full Q/A … : Car vibrates in idle and trouble accelerating after stopped
My car started idleing rough, vibrations soon as start car, vibrations soon as I accelerate, vibrations, rough idle bad
ANSWER : This sound like you may be having an engine misfire. Have the system checked and scanned to see if codes are present for an engine misfire. If it is, then a mechanic can check to see if a coil or spark plug has failed. You may have oil leaks in the valve cover seals that has caused the ignition to short out in the spark plug holes. A repair of your valve cover gaskets may be necessary, along with the other components that I’ve mentioned. I’d recommend having the vehicle looked at by a qualified technician who will be able to diagnose these misfiring symptoms and fix it accordingly.
Read Full Q/A … : Car vibrates in idle and trouble accelerating after stopped
Vehicle vibrates while accelerating and stops when you take your leg off the pedal or accelerate more
ANSWER : I suspect you have a problem in a CV joint, or if you have the all wheel drive version; in a drive shaft. The joints that enable the shafts to move around can wear out and when they do, they can produce a vibration at "resonate" speeds. There might be a vibration at 40 MPH that smooths out at 50 and then returns at 60. Or any other odd sounding pattern. You can have that conveniently checked out by contacting Your Mechanic. They can send a technician to your home or office who can check out your Toyota’s vibration and give you a more exact idea of what is the problem and what it will take to fix it.
Read Full Q/A … : Car vibrates in idle and trouble accelerating after stopped
Car not speeding up smoothly, service engine light on when first start driving and car vibrating
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may have a dirty or faulty mass air flow sensor. The problem this can cause may also be compounded when the engine is cold due to the change in air density in cooler weather. The mass air flow sensor monitors air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. This sensor relays information about fuel and air temperature, air speed entering the motor and many other things to the ECM which uses this to make adjustments to fuel supply to the motor. A dirty or faulty sensor can cause an imbalanced air/fuel load to be supplied to the motor which results in an over fueling or under fueling situation depending on the conditions. This type of inconsistent fuel supply to the motor may cause a hesitation, loss of power, a jerking reaction, potentially a bit of black exhaust smoke and typically a strong smell of fuel when this sensor is malfunctioning. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your home to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
It sounds like you may have a dirty or faulty mass air flow sensor. The problem this can cause may also be compounded when the engine is cold due to the change in air density in cooler weather. The mass air flow sensor monitors air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. This sensor relays information about fuel and air temperature, air speed entering the motor and many other things to the ECM which uses this to make adjustments to fuel supply to the motor. A dirty or faulty sensor can cause an imbalanced air/fuel load to be supplied to the motor which results in an over fueling or under fueling situation depending on the conditions. This type of inconsistent fuel supply to the motor may cause a hesitation, loss of power, a jerking reaction, potentially a bit of black exhaust smoke and typically a strong smell of fuel when this sensor is malfunctioning. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your home to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
Read Full Q/A … : Car vibrates in idle and trouble accelerating after stopped
My car vibrates when I’m waiting at the light . It drives fine . And it vibrates more when I turn on the ac? Can itvtve motor moun
ANSWER : There are two principal possibilities: faulty motor/transaxle mounts, or an engine operating or mechanical condition including the possibility of a faulty harmonic balancer. To obtain a conclusive diagnostic, please simply request an engine vibration diagnostic and a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, will get this resolved. If you do need new motor/transaxle mounts, genuine OEM Nissan mounts are recommended in order to maximize the chances of resolving the problem. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Car vibrates in idle and trouble accelerating after stopped
car shakes when idle and accelerating
ANSWER : It is very possible that you have a valve cover gasket or spark plug tube seal leak on your vehicle. These type of leaks will allow oil to leak onto the spark plugs causing misfires. When the engine misfires due to oil getting on the spark plug, the engine oil will burn. Since oil and tires are both petroleum products, they will both smell similar when they are burning. I would recommend having an oil leak inspection performed by a qualified professional to determine if there is an oil leak. Consider YourMechanic as an Oil/Fluid leak inspection can be peformed at your home or office.
Read Full Q/A … : Car vibrates in idle and trouble accelerating after stopped
When I stop at the stop light or a stop sign my car shuts off.
ANSWER : It sounds like you may have a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve monitors the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and at idle. This valve is controlled by the vehicle’s computer and will adjust idle speed based upon other measurements such as engine temperature, intake air temperature and electrical system load or voltage. This is also an important function when starting the motor as it allows the motor to run and idle on it’s own once the motor fires. When you accelerate, the engine RPM increases, and as you let off the gas, the RPM slowly returns to the normal idling speed with the help of the idle air control valve making the transition from a higher RPM back down to idle speed while adjusting the air/fuel ratio constantly to allow this to happen smoothly. When the engine RPM drops below the normal range of about ~800 RPM, this often times will cause the engine to stall indicating a dirty or faulty idle air control valve. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
Read Full Q/A … : Car vibrates in idle and trouble accelerating after stopped
My car has a rough idle when I start my car, when I stop at a light my car turns off. Is it the purge sensor?
ANSWER : This may be a result of a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and at idle. Since this valve is controlled by the vehicle’s computer, it will adjust idle speed based upon other measurements such as engine temperature, intake air temperature and electrical system load or voltage. When you accelerate, the engine RPM increases, and as you let off the gas, the RPM slowly returns to the normal idling speed with the help of the idle air control valve making the transition from a higher RPM back down to idle speed. When the engine RPM drops below the normal range of about ~800 RPM, this often times will cause the engine to stall indicating a dirty or faulty idle air control valve. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and repair your idle air control valve.
Read Full Q/A … : Car vibrates in idle and trouble accelerating after stopped
