Q: Engine rumbles and vibrates while idling

asked by on May 04, 2016

When I start my car, if it idles, it seems like the engine rumbles a bit. It's hard to explain and it's not constant. People put in neutral so it won't vibrate but it feels like that for a second, like an on and off vibration I guess.

Car is shaking or vibrating Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote
Clean Throttle Body $109.17 - $370.59 Get a Quote

You might want to try watching my video "How to Fix a Car That Idles Poorly." You just take the plastic plenum that goes from the air filter to the intake and get some throttle body cleaner. Spray the throttle and get it all nice and clean. A lot of times that will fix it. When I was a kid, we had carburetors, and we had to clean them. They would get dirty, and build up carbon and then they wouldn’t run right. So you had to clean it once in a while with the spray cleaner. Fuel injection systems don’t need that much work, so people rarely do much there, but they still get carbon on them. So it’s a good idea to clean them out once in a while. A good throttle body cleaner will often stop that. I recommend having a certified technician inspect your car’s shaking issue to verify the source of the problem on your car. If needed, they will be able to clean the throttle body and make any other repairs as needed.

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

Car overheating. I replaced the thermostat recently.
Through my experience, the most common culprits I see related to your issue with your Toyota Solara running hot are a possible bad water pump or a blown head gasket. There is also a small chance you may have had...
Car will not start.
Since you replaced some things already we can certainly rule those out. When you replaced the fuel pump did you replace the filter also? a clogged fuel filter can certainly make the car act this way. Also, considering the age...
How do I delete a phonebook entry?
If you would like to delete an entry from your Bluetooth phonebook, you can do so easily, and with just a few steps: 1. Press the Phone Send button. 2. Following the tone, say “Phonebook”. 3. Following the prompt, say...
Rear shocks squeaking
It is a common problem with this car to have the key wear down and not trigger the tumblers in the key cylinder. The only fix would be to replace the key assembly and switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ignition-lock-assembly-replacement). I would suggest having...
Reverse doesn't work? Could it be solenoid?
Hi there, thanks for writing in. There is a reverse band that will lock the reverse drum to reverse the rotation of the output shaft. You will need to have the transmission tested to see if the band is being...
Possible fixes for overheat
Good question and I'm sorry about the problem you are having. However, I need to know where your leak is coming from. Is it in the front or the sides? I recently had a customer with the same exact car...
My clutch is hard to push down and when I do it squiles and vibrates so I was just w oundering what that could be
The most common for the clutch to be hard to push and is real noisey is going to be a broken clutch pressure plate. You will need to replace the clutch assembly to fix the problem.
The check engine light always seems to come on when my gas tank is half full. 1998 Honda Accord
Hello - the first task here is to capture the problem codes turning on the Check Engine light (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-does-the-check-engine-warning-light-mean). Most auto parts stores will do this for free - on a time-available basis. It is probably worth checking for problem...
Car sounds like golf cart when revving and braking; also leaking fluid; sound fades as car warms up
Hello, There are a number of things that could make an engine noisy when starting up. Depending on the specific type of sound you are referring to, this will determine how to properly diagnose. If there is a bit of...

Related articles

What Does It Mean When My Car Is "Burning" Oil?
Burning oil is usually caused by leaking oil that burns up on hot engine or exhaust components. Fix leaking oil to prevent expensive car repairs.
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Throttle Body
Common signs include dirt, grime, and carbon deposits on the inside of the housing, electrical problems, vacuum leaks, and a very poor or high idle.
How Long Does a Throttle Return Spring Last?
Not Not all vehicles on the road feature an electronic throttle control (ETC), which is also called drive-by-wire. For vehicles that don't offer this system, they have a throttle cable instead that is attached to the accelerator pedal, and runs...