Q: Engine rattling, shaking and loss of power

asked by on May 27, 2016

Hi. My car has gone around 120,000 miles. The car has some engine malfunctioning lately. When I started the car up the other day, there was this rattling sound and the car was shaking. I drove it and these issues wouldn't go away. The dashboard showed the check engine light on as well. The engine seems to be losing power and the rattling is becoming worse. It has difficulty accelerating. Right before this happened, I had the oil changed. Also, the outside temperature was low. Can that cause these problems? Thanks.

Check Engine Light is on Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

The VANOS unit or solenoid can cause a rattling sound from the engine. The VANOS is a camshaft timing system which runs off of engine oil pressure. If the oil is the wrong viscosity or the system has a buildup of sludge which causes the system to cavitate, it will make a rattling sound and store faults which will cause the Check Engine Light to illuminate.

You will want to have the fault codes read out. If there are camshaft position faults or any VANOS faults, then they would further support this theory. In some instances, an engine flush can correct sludging issues in the camshaft timing adjustment system. Replacing a VANOS solenoid or a camshaft sensor is not a difficult job, but replacing a VANOS unit could be an issue as it is an involved repair requiring special tools.

You may want to enlist the help of a mechanic such as one from YourMechanic, who has the tools and expertise to complete the diagnosis and repair, starting with a diagnostic of your Check Engine Light illumination.

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

Why does my engine stall so much?
Greetings and thank you for writing in with this question! Does the Check Engine Light illuminate when the vehicle stalls? If so, a certified mechanic (like those with YourMechanic) can scan the vehicle computer for codes. This type of stalling...
Car starts, but doesn't stay started.
The problem you describe can be the crankshaft position sensor. The sensor is a major failure on these vehicles and can cause no starts or intermittent starts and stalls. Have a qualified mechanic test you car with an approved scanner...
Car overheating.
You would have to start with checking the coolant level. If it is low, you would have to pressure test it to find out where it is leaking. If it is not low you could either have a circulation or...
Power steering pump leaking
If your power steering pump is leaking, that would be the cause of the noise you are hearing. Since a leak exists in the system, the fluid level is likely low. Hydraulic systems depend on an exact amount of fluid...
whole front end making diffrent noises
Hello. From what you describe it appears to me that your vehicle may be having several, separate, issues, some of which may require urgent attention. The metal clashing sound you hear when going over a bump may or may not...
Misfire due to bad ecm
Hi There, The ECM on your Dodge Caravan is located inside the driver's fender on the frame,toward the front bumper. As you know, there are many things that can cause a misfire aside from the ECM. I would suggest removing...
Codes p0101, p0131, p0137, p0151 & p0327 I guess I'm asking would replacing the ECM solve the problem? 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
Hello - the codes you list (besides the P0101 for the MAF) reference problems with the oxygen sensors (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-oxygen-sensor) and a knock sensor (P0327) for your engine. These are normal higher mileage maintenance items, and do NOT require replacing the...
I was told that Nissan Altima requires synthetic oil and If I use any other it might damage system. Is that true? 2013 Nissan Altima
There are several schools of thought on this topic. While many can attest that synthetic oils can reduce friction and extend oil life, others prefer not to use synthetics in engines that have run on conventional oils for most of...
2003 Yukon stalls going down hill and at abrupt stops.
Hopefully, the two stalling scenarios have only one cause. Among the possibilities are a faulty torque converter lock up. You might be able to detect that with a sophisticated scan tool, such as the Tech 2. If the level of...

Related articles

P0138 OBD-II Trouble Codes: O2 Sensor Circuit High Voltage (Bank 1, Sensor 2)
P0138 code definition O2 Sensor Circuit High Voltage (Bank 1, Sensor 2) What the P0138 code means P0138 is the OBD-II generic...
P0267 OBD-II Trouble Code: Cylinder Number 3 Injector Circuit High
P0267 P0267 code definition Cylinder Number 3 Injector Circuit High What the P0267 code means P0267 is an OBD-II diagnostic trouble code (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-is-the-on-board-diagnostics-obd-system) which indicates that the engine control module (ECM) (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-is-a-vehicle-s-electrical-control-unit) detected the cylinder number 3 injector circuit having...
P2616 OBD-II Trouble Code: Camshaft Pos Signal Output Circuit High
P2616 means the camshaft position sensor has released a high output signal due to a faulty, broken or shorted wiring, or fluid contamination.