Your car is one of your most important assets. It’s what gets you from one destination to the next, and you depend on it to get to work, get the kids to school, to run errands, and for fun. When it’s not running smoothly, this can cause a lot of issues. If you find that it’s shaking when you stop or when you’re idling, it’s probably a good time to take it to a mechanic.
There can be numerous reasons why your car shakes when it’s stopped or idling. Listed below are some of these reasons.
Worn out Spark Plugs
This is probably the most common reason why your engine might be shaking. When spark plugs become worn out or dirty, they won’t fire the way they are supposed to. That means that they won’t ignite the fuel in the piston cylinders in a timely fashion, which causes the engine to misfire.
While it’s possible to clean dirty spark plugs, it’s probably best to get them replaced. This is an easy fix that shouldn’t take a long time to accomplish, and it should take care of the engine shake problem. It should also ensure that the car continues to run smoothly and fires correctly on all cylinders.
Broken, Loose, or Disconnected Hoses
Every car on the road has vacuum hoses attached to the engine. They are in place at various spots and are responsible for expelling gas and fumes from the area. If the hose is leaking or broken, it can cause the engine to shake. If the hose is loose, disconnected, or just worn out, it can cause other issues, including engine misfire, power loss, stalling, or even the engine shutting down completely.
To determine if this is the culprit to your engine shake, a professional will have to inspect the hoses within the engine. Thankfully, if this is the issue, it is easy and straightforward to fix.
Dirty or Faulty Fuel Intake System
If the fuel intake system in your engine is faulty or overly dirty, it can also lead to car shake. The older a car gets, the more wear and tear this part will experience, and the valves can become clogged with debris or sludge. When this happens, they don’t deliver even amounts of fuel to the engine. Without a continuous clean supply of fuel, the engine will shudder and shake and may even die.
A mechanic will be able to diagnose if this is the issue and then correct the problem. Checking the intake system and the fuel pump, as well as changing the filter, should get your car back to running smoothly.
A lot of people depend on their cars to get them through their day. When something goes wrong, this can be detrimental. If your car happens to shake when stopped or idling, it’s best to get it into a mechanic to determine and fix the problem.
At McKinney Motor Company, we have the skills and expertise to help you with any of your auto repair needs. Get in contact with us today!
