Q: Shaking when accelerating and slowing down but not cruising at a constant speed

asked by on December 14, 2016

I don't have to touch the brakes at all for it to shake but if I do brake it seems to lesson the shake
My car has a manual transmission.

Shaking or vibrating 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. The other issue that may cause this type of shaking or vibration is a broken engine mount. 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. Due to the many possible causes of this type of shaking or vibration, I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.

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

Lights, radio, windows not working, SRS light on, car runs very rough
This is likely either a dead battery (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-replacement) or a battery connection (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-cable-replacement) problem. Try checking (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-check-a-car-battery) the battery ground (black cable opposite end of the battery connection) to be sure is properly connected to the chassis of the car....
Check Engine codes. Need warranty for mechanic service work, any examples to ask for?
Hello there, thank you for asking about your 2001 Saab 9-3. These codes can come up if the engine needs a tune up, if it has bad coils, or even if you have dirty fuel injectors. Due to the age...
Will battery disconnect erase/delete obd2 data
Disconnecting the battery will not clear any codes in memory of the computer for stored OBD2 codes. The only way to clear the codes (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/check-engine-light-is-on-inspection) is to use a scanner and use the code clear function.
I get fire to my distributor coil. But I do not fire any of my plugs. My distributor won't turn.
As you may know, the distributor has a small gear on the bottom end of it that turns with the flywheel as the motor turns over. If the motor turns over and the distributor does not turn, this would suggest...
Shifting has become much harder, especially 1st gear and reverse, and sometimes I can't shift into any gear.
Hi. Usually when a manual transmission is hard to shift, it means that the slave cylinder is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced. The purpose of the slave cylinder is to make shifting of the transmission smooth and effortless for...
engine light
Your check engine light may come on for many different reasons such as a faulty mass air flow sensor, a faulty O2 sensor, a bad catalytic converter, bad spark plugs or wires and many other reasons. Unfortunately due to the...
can a undercarriage light system (Undercarriage LED) drain the battery
Hi there. LED lights do not put much strain on the battery unless your leaving them on without the engine running for extended periods of time. Also, I have not know LED lights to be used as a GPS tracking...
Windshield wipers do not work when cold but after car runs for a bit they start right up.
Hi there. The issue you are having is there could be water getting into the motor and arm area that is causing the system to freeze up and not function until the water is thawed out. I suggest greasing up...

Related articles

2012 Mazda 3 vs. 2012 Honda Civic: Which One Should I Buy?
Compact cars are well-known for their cost-effectiveness, value and affordability as well as their small stature. In general, they make great commuter cars and are especially good for first-time cars for kids or college students heading out for the first...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Axle CV Shaft Assembly
Common signs include loud clicking noises when turning, grease on the inside edge of the tires, and excessive vibration when driving.
The Top 5 Selling Cars in Alabama in 2012
2012 2012 was a great year in Alabama for auto manufacturing, but that wasn’t the only bright spot. Vehicle sales in Alabama were also robust in 2012. Nothing much changed in terms of the vehicle types that were most popular...