Q: Car shaking and stalling

asked by on January 21, 2016

My car shakes when I start it, then cuts off.

Car is shaking or vibrating Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

If your vehicle starts and then shuts off right away, the first thing I would check is to see if there is a Check Engine Light, and thus perhaps a trouble code that can guide us to the solution. Usually a vehicle starting and then immediately stalling is indicative of a problem with the fuel, spark, or air entering the engine. A problem such as this can be caused by several reasons, so fixes for this problem can range from something small like a vacuum leak, to the need for a replacement of the fuel pump assembly. Closer inspection of all systems would be necessary to determine the exact cause of the car’s shaking issue. I would recommend having the vehicle examined by a knowledgable technician, such as one from YourMechanic.

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

Parasitic load on battery.
Cars basically use the battery at start up. Once the vehicle is running the alternator takes over and provides the car with the electricity it needs to run. If the alternator stops producing the electricity the car needs, the car...
Exhaust smoke smells like gas or burning oil.
Hi there. The smoke coming out of your exhaust is most likely oil being burned through your engine. The oil gets into the cylinder by a few ways. The first way is for the oil to get by the oil...
Check engine light illuminted
Depending on the code received, you could either have separate problem or the O2 sensor code returned due to a misdiagnosis. The codes for O2 sensors can be from the engine running lean, rich, misfiring, or several other reasons. However,...
Overheating and heater not working
It sounds like you may have a faulty thermostat as well as a bad coolant temperature sensor. If the coolant is not getting to the heater core, then this would indicate a bad thermostat or a clogged heater core not...
Hesitates with acceleration, check engine light blinks when gas is pressed. White smoke coming out exhaust but disappears
Hello...If the check engine light is flashing, that signifies a condition, such as active engine misfiring, that should be investigated and resolved promptly to avoid further damage to engine components, not to mention the catalytic converter. The recommended service is...
Crankshaft position sensor
If prior to the work, no diagnostic trouble code was set (i.e., check engine light was not on) identifying a fault with the crankshaft position sensor, then the likelihood is they caused the problem. In any event, once the "cause"...
Why does my Transmission pops out of gear
Hello. Popping out of gear is a common problem when it comes to manual transmissions. The most common reason a manual transmission would jump out of gear is due to low or contaminated fluid, worn synchronizers inside the transmission, or...
a/c making boiling noise
Hello, thank you for writing in. The noises you are hearing may in fact be bubbles in the system. If the refrigerant is low, there may be air caught in the system instead. As the air conditioner processes and vaporizes...
There is a rattle coming from my front driver side Tire area every time I turn in my 09 Ford excape what can it be
The rattle could be due to a loose or worn sway bar, strut, other suspension component, body panel, brake part including dust shield or other as yet unidentified part. As you are describing it, the noise sounds fairly obvious so...

Related articles

2012 Ford Escape vs. 2012 Honda CR-V: Which One Should I Buy?
SUVs represent one out of every three vehicles sold in 2012, making them one of the most-purchased types of vehicles in the country during that time period. Compact SUVs are a sub-class that are slightly smaller and offer the most...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You’re a Vet
The The best car for a vet to own largely depends on the type of practice he or she has. Large animal vets are probably going to want something that delivers a fair bit of power, and possibly even towing...
How to Keep Your Car From Stalling
When When driving a car, we expect it to get us from point A to point B without any issues. It can become unnerving to drive if your car stalls randomly when coming to a stop, whether it is at...