My whole car vibrates when I'm stopped
If the car shakes at a stop but smooths out when you drive, the cause is usually a worn engine mount or an engine that is misfiring at idle. Mounts are rubber and they break down with heat and age. The shake often gets worse when you put it in drive or turn on the AC.
Urgency
This week is fine
What to do right now
What to do right now
- 1Compare the shake in park versus in drive with your foot on the brake. Much worse in drive points to the mounts.
- 2Turn the AC on and off at a stop and see if the shake changes.
- 3If the check engine light flashes, slow down and come in today.
What it usually is
What it usually is
Car diagnostics
We check the engine and transmission mounts while someone shifts between drive and reverse. A torn mount shows right away.
See the serviceTune-up and spark plugs
A weak cylinder at idle shakes the whole car. Plugs and coils are the usual fix.
See the serviceAC repair
A compressor that is failing or a clutch that grabs hard adds a heavy load at idle and makes the car shudder.
See the serviceQuestions people ask
Why is it worse with the AC on?
The AC compressor puts extra load on the engine at idle. A worn mount or weak cylinder shows up more under that load. In Miami the AC is always on, so you feel it a lot.
Are engine mounts a big deal?
A broken mount lets the engine rock, which stresses hoses, wires, and exhaust parts. It is not an emergency, but it is worth fixing before something else breaks.
Does it matter that it stops shaking when I drive?
It helps us narrow it down. A shake only at a stop usually means mounts or idle. A shake at highway speed is usually tires or wheels.