Q: Car has high rpm going 60mph and it hears as if the engine is overworking its self. Also car vibrates in gear on a complete stop.

asked by on February 05, 2018

Car has high rpm's going 55-60mph and it hears as if the engine is overworking its self. Also car vibrates in gear on a complete stop or red light, not sure what it could be?

My car has 77500 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Shaking or vibration may be caused by many different things such as faulty spark plugs, poor fuel pressure or misfires. Other things such as a faulty idle air control valve may cause the engine idle to drop below the normal idling RPM which may also cause the motor to shake or vibrate more than normal. This creates a loss of power that resonates throughout the motor additionally causing other problems with ignition and fuel timing. Anytime a misfire is caused, this causes an imbalance in the motor which will cause the motor to shake or vibrate. Other issues that may cause this type of shaking or vibration might be broken engine mounts or potentially tires that are out of balance or worn improperly. Engine mounts are generally rubber mounted braces that hold the engine in place to the chassis of the car. When these break or become weak or faulty, this may cause the engine to vibrate heavily. When tires are out of balance, as the speed of the vehicle increases, the vibration will become much more noticeable and pronounced. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle using a scanning tool which will more accurately indicate what specifically may be causing this.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Loud rattling from power steering pump
From the symptoms you describe on your Kia and the leaking you are observing, it sounds like the power steering pump is failing internally. This is due to running low on power steering fluid. The power steering pump plays...
Abs tracking lights randomly goes off and on
The ABS will need to be tested to see if you have a problem with one of the wheel sensors (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-abs-speed-sensor). The only way to tell what sensor is having a problem is to have the computer scanned and diagnosed....
Cabin air filters on a 2010 Altima
Most of them actually do come with some kind of the tray. Maybe yours is lost and you need to get another one. But they do generally have arrows this side up or air flow downwards that show you which...
My car not starting because there is no fuel pressure,
You'll have to remove the back seat bottom and gain access to cover to the fuel pump. Test the fuel pump's wiring to see if power is getting to the pump, specifically on the blue and black wire. If there...
Ford Explorer sport not shifting/running right.
Hi there. Thanks for writing into YourMechanic.com about your Ford Explorer. It's possible that you have a transmission speed sensor or other sensor that is sending inaccurate information to the ECU, or you have a mechanical issue inside the transmission....
Battery and Jerking
Hello There, The battery light indicates that you have either a weak battery or something potentially wrong with the charging system such as a bad alternator (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/alternator-replacement) or a faulty voltage regulator. As you may know, the alternator is responsible...
Rough idle and stalling after coming off the highway.
Hi there. Sometimes the best fix is the simplest solution. On you list of things you have completed, what is missing is cleaning fuel injectors and the throttle body. Typically idle issues and stalling after frequent fuel delivery (like on...
pads are 2mm on 2014 yukon xl denali with 52000 miles...all works good...incidental finding...do I replace now? Pads and rotors? o
At 2mm, the pads are definitely due for replacement. The the thickness of the brake rotors should be measured and compared to the minimum thickness specifications. If they measure above the specs and there is enough thickness to them, resurfacing...
P0401
Hi Mushi. Thanks for writing in today. Sometimes the initial diagnosis based on the error code is not the actual source of the problem. In the case of the P0401, the code (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0401-obd-ii-trouble-code-exhaust-gas-recirculation-flow-malfunction-by-jay-safford) indicates that that the engine control module...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2013 Scion FR-S
This This sporty little twin of the Subaru BRZ offers the same light, fun to drive platform but in a bit more spartan, budget-minded form. The marriage of affordability and sports car-like driving is a successful one in the 2013...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Teacher
If If you are a teacher, probably foremost on your mind is getting to school on time. You would also probably like a used car that is easy on gas and not terribly expensive, and will hold your gym gear...
How to Get Nissan Dealership Certified
Nissan dealerships offer auto technician jobs to those certified through Nissan’s Service Career Opportunities for Professional Enhancement program.