If you own a car long enough then there's a good chance you'll develop car problems to some extent. One of the most common issues is shaking. It happens slowly but surely and then one day you find yourself wondering how you drive like this! Is this safe?
What does it mean if my car is vibrating? There is no substitute for our ASE certified mechanics. However, you can develop a good feel yourself for car problems that are relatively common, like the shaking.
Here is some good and sound advice from us at Bill Tyson's as to why your car may be doing this, what it can mean and why you should bring it in.
The fix could be something relatively cheap and simple, like a tire rotation or balance. It could signal more serious car trouble - something not as simple, like steering or suspension problems. Coming in to our Wellington or Royal Palm Beach location to just have the car looked at may seem like a hassle at first. We understand and will try to get you in and out the door as soon as possible because we understand you have a busy schedule. We are here to save you from bigger car trouble down the road.
Sometimes a shake or shudder will come from the engine compartment, because the engine isn't getting enough air, fuel or spark that it needs to run in top condition.
Symptoms like:
- Shudder or jerking when speeding up
- Sharp, disconnected shaking like driving over cobblestones within a specific speed range
- Car starts and drives fine and later begins to vibrate
These symptoms could be signaling that it's time for a new set of
spark plugs. If the plugs are fine, it could be that the spark plug wires need to be checked (connected in the right order) or replacing them.
A
dirty air filter or clogged fuel filter can starve the engine of the oxygen or fuel it needs. Easily prevented by replacing them at the manufacturer's recommended time frame.
Is the shaking coming from the
steering wheel? On most modern cars, wheel bearings are meant to last the life of the car/or truck. But as you may already know, if you drive worse-than-typical wear-and-tear (off-roading, hard driving, high mileage), it's going to wear out.
Another thing to look for is how much a wheel deviates from a perfectly circular rotation when it is turning.
Other sources of wobbly wheels include the tie-rod ends or ball joints. If they're worn out, they'll allow too much play in the wheel.
Tires can contribute to the shakes:
- Car vibrates at certain speeds= tire balance
- Tires have separated tread or roll unevenly = needs replacements
- Uneven tire wear = tire rotation
Please feel free to call seven days a week. We can narrow it down even more. Make an appointment or just bring it in and tell us what is going on. Our
mechanics are seasoned and will find what is wrong in a hurry. We will always tell you what you need and won't try to sell you something you don't. Honest work at a great price so you can get back on the road safely.
