Car Shakes At Idle But Smooths Out While Driving – How To Fix This Problem?

Published on: 09 February 2023 Last Updated on: 04 September 2024

You might have noticed some irregularities with your car, like how it’s vibrating more than usual, even while idle. This can happen due to many reasons. Therefore, people should know the reasons behind why their car shakes at idle but smooths out while driving.

If you are looking for the answer to this question, then you have clicked on the correct link. In this post, you will learn why the above effect happens and what needs to be done to solve it.

Why Does Car Shakes At Idle But Smooths Out While Driving And How To Fix This Issue?

If you wish to know why your car shaking while idle, then there can be various reasons for this issue. Therefore, here are some of the most common reasons why your car shakes when idle:

1. The Motor Mounts Are Weak

As you already know, your engine is stored in the car’s engine compartment. This is done with the help of motor mounts that are attached to the engine to keep it in place.

When these mounts become weak, they might fall off one by one. This can create a situation where your car vibrates when idle. You can notice this the most when your car is in neutral.

If it does so, then you better go to a mechanic to get it checked and fixed immediately.

2. Damaged Spark Plugs

Spark plugs are connected to your engine and are responsible for igniting the fuel that goes in it. However, after lots of use, these spark plugs can become greasy due to the accumulation of residue from burnt oil. This can cause the engine to misfire.

Therefore, it’s best to keep in mind that your spark plugs are best replaced after every 20,000 to 30,000 miles. However, if you have a car that has a diesel engine, then there’s no need to worry about this since diesel engines don’t have spark plugs.

3. The Camshaft Timing Chain Is Loose

Many cars have a camshaft timing chain, which helps all the camshafts stay attached to your engine valves and pistons. This can create a problem for you if the timing chain for your camshaft has a loose chain tensioner.

If you don’t get all the hoses of your engine inspected by a mechanic, then your complaint about your car shaking when idle will never cease. This is because it can cause an engine vacuum leak, increasing the pressure inside its cylinders and vibrating your car.

4. Battery Cables Are Loose

Another common reason why your car shakes at idle but smooths out while driving is because of loose battery cables. If you see your car wont start after getting gas, then this might be one of the reasons why.

This can happen if you recently changed your car battery. It can happen if the battery is not correctly connected to the battery cables. After driving around town, there is a chance that your battery cables might become loose, which leads to vibrating cars.

5. The Sensors Are Dirty Or Worn Out

Two primary sensors in your car that are essential for starting it up are – the throttle position and oxygen sensors. Since they are located so close to the engine, they get greased up over time, making them malfunction.

Adjusting the throttle cable a bit too tightly might cause the car to turn even while idle. Also, it makes things rough while driving as your car might speed up irrationally at times.

In the same vein, a dysfunctional oxygen sensor can lead to exhaust malfunctions. This can also be another reason why your car shakes while idle.

6. Faulty Ignition Control Module

Your car’s idleness can be disturbed if there are faults in the ignition control module. Here, your engine might not start since the control module wrongly sends a signal that makes your engine misfire the compression from your cylinders.

You can quickly diagnose this problem if you see your car vibrating on idle, even when you are not pressing the accelerator while in gear.

7. The Gas Cap Is Loose

One of the most common causes of your car shaking on idle is a loose gas cap. If the gas cap is loose, then air can leak inside, pressuring and vacuuming the engine even more. This increase in pressure can cause your engine to shake, even while the car is idle.

Therefore, try checking your fuel cap. Open it yourself and then put it back. If you see the cap is loose, then you have found the main culprit.

8. Malfunctions In The Fuel Intake System

If you see your car shaking when idle, then there is a high chance that the problem probably lies in your fuel intake system. The more you drive your vehicle, the more wear and tear your fuel intake system suffers, leading to blockages and malfunctions.

Obstructions in your fuel intake valves can lead to less fuel going to your engine, which fails to start the engine properly. This leads to vibrations in your engine, which makes your car shake even while idle.

Therefore, ask your mechanic and allow them to implement the use of an OBD2 scanner to find car engine malfunctions. This scanner will quickly pick up any obstructions in the fuel intake system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Here are the answers to some questions that people ask alongside why is my car shaking when idle:

Q1. How Do You Diagnose Engine Vibration?

Ans: To diagnose the reason why your engine is vibrating, you can do the following:
First, place your car in a neutral state.
Slowly start increasing the engine speed to an RPM which makes it vibrate.

Q2. What Reduces Engine Vibration?

Ans: To reduce the vibration of your engine, you can try making the coupling more flexible than before. Here, changing the spring and the damper will work wonders.

Q3. Does Changing Engine Oil Reduce Vibration?

Ans: Yes, changing the engine oil can indeed reduce your engine and car vibration. This will be most noticeable if the engine has not been changed for some time. In addition, this is more prominent in two-wheelers than in four-wheelers.

Conclusion

There are various reasons why your car shakes at idle but smooths out while driving. It can be due to iffy motor mounts, gas caps, damaged spark plugs, and battery cables. In addition, your ignition control system might be faulty as well, alongside worn-out sensors.

In case you faced a similar situation, let me know in the comments below what you did!

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Car Shakes At Idle But Smooths Out While Driving – How To Fix This Problem?