Reasons Behind Your Car Engine’s Vibration

If you’ve spent a lot of time driving around Orange, there’s a chance you might have noticed some strange vibrations coming from under your car or truck’s hood. The engine is the beating heart of your vehicle, so anything that seems out of place can be understandably concerning. You don’t need to worry, though; Citywide Auto Care is the expert at complete auto repair for Orange, and we’re familiar with all kinds of reasons behind engine vibration and how to fix them. These are some of the most common causes of engine vibration that we’ve encountered.

Broken Engine Mounts

An engine mount is a piece of hardware that keeps the engine secured in place inside the engine bay and will vary in appearance and configuration based on the vehicle’s requirements. Most engine mounts are made from metal and rubber; the metal provides the structural integrity to hold the engine in place, while the rubber absorbs the engine’s vibrations. Engine mounts will wear out over time no matter what car they’re installed in, however. After enough deterioration, the metal can no longer hold a firm brace between the engine and the chassis, and the worn-out rubber cannot absorb vibrations. Once this happens, the engine mounts will need to be replaced. .

Failing Spark Plugs

An engine’s spark plugs are critical parts of the internal combustion process. As their name implies, they provide the spark that ignites the fuel-air mixture in a cylinder and creates combustion. However, every time a spark plug fires, its tip deteriorates slightly. It takes thousands of miles of driving for a spark plug to fully degrade, but once it does, it will cause the engine to misfire and make your car shake and shudder erratically. Other issues in the spark and compression system, such as a faulty ignition coil, can cause similar vibrations. During a complete auto repair inspection, spark plugs are removed from the engine and examined to see if they need to be replaced.

Worn-Out Belts

There are several belts inside an engine, such as the timing belt, serpentine belt, and v-belts. These belts synchronize various parts of the engine, ensuring that they run at consistent speeds. A failing or misaligned belt can result in serious shaking and squealing or rattling sounds coming from the car’s engine, which is a sign that fans and other components are not rotating properly. A qualified auto repair technician can identify which belts are failing and need replacement as well as which belts simply need to be readjusted.

Loose Or Disconnected Hoses

Every engine features hoses that help expel exhaust gases created during internal combustion. If one of these hoses becomes disconnected or develops a leak, however, it will prevent these gases from being properly cleared from the engine. This can result in harsh vibrations when idling or running, or even cause the engine to stall and shut down. Fortunately, reattaching loose hoses or replacing damaged ones is usually a relatively simple repair. 

A Faulty Fuel Intake System

The fuel intake system is critical for maintaining a healthy mix of fuel and air inside a car’s engine. However, over thousands of miles of driving, the fuel intake valves can get clogged by sludgy buildups that impede the flow of the fuel-air mixture. This can cause serious shaking in the engine even at idle speeds and is typically fixed by taking apart and cleaning the fuel-intake system to remove blockages. Readjusting the carburetor to make sure it is delivering the proper mix of fuel and air is another common solution.

If your car or truck’s engine vibrations have you worried, you can trust the experts at Citywide Auto Care to accurately diagnose the problems with your vehicle and fix them at an affordable rate. We provide complete auto repair for Orange and the broader Orange County area, with a staff of ASE-certified technicians who constantly train and update on the latest repair techniques and tools. We’ve been the trusted source for complete auto repair in Orange since 2002, and we’d love to earn your trust as well. If you’d like to schedule an appointment today, give us a call at (714) 633-4211.