Happy Thanksgiving! We Will Be Closed Nov. 28th
[GEOTITLE] [GEOADDRESSONE] [GEOADDRESSTWO] [GEOPHONE] Directions
Store Hours [GEOHOURSMONDAY] [GEOHOURSTUESDAY] [GEOHOURSWEDNSDAY] [GEOHOURSTHURSDAY] [GEOHOURSFRIDAY] [GEOHOURSSATURDAY] [GEOHOURSSUNDAY]
Current Location
[GEOTITLE] [GEOADDRESSONE] [GEOADDRESSTWO] [GEOPHONE] | Directions
Store Hours [GEOHOURSMONDAY] [GEOHOURSTUESDAY] [GEOHOURSWEDNSDAY] [GEOHOURSTHURSDAY] [GEOHOURSFRIDAY] [GEOHOURSSATURDAY] [GEOHOURSSUNDAY]
Go

News

30

The Multiple Causes of a Shaky Car

posted on

What it Means When Shaking Occurs 

Unfortunately, it’s rarely a good sign if your car is shaking, whether it’s idling at a stoplight or roaring down a highway. It can be difficult to diagnose what’s going on with a car from one symptom alone. Highland Tire can help you pinpoint what’s causing this unsettling problem so you can get it taken care of as soon as possible.
 

When Starting Your Car 

If your car shakes when you start it up, the most likely culprit is either worn out spark plugs or a dirty engine filter. Old spark plugs can cause the engine to misfire, and a dirty filter can starve the engine of the air it needs to really get going, which causes the shaking. 
 

While Driving  

The most likely cause of your car shaking while driving is tire issues. This can be caused by uneven tire wear, improperly balanced or installed tires, tire damage or lug nuts that haven’t been put on correctly. It’s a good idea to check your tire pressure and inspect the sidewalls and treads for cracks often.
 

When Idle and Braking

If your car shakes while idle, it could be due to a variety of issues. Aside from affecting your car’s start up, worn spark plugs or a dirty engine filter can also cause your car to rough idle. Dirty fuel injectors and faulty oxygen sensors can  also have this effect. 
 
If braking is what makes your car shake, you’re probably looking at an issue with your brake rotors. If they’ve worn down too much or in an uneven way, you’re likely to experience shaking in either or both the steering wheel and your brake pedal. 
 

When Accelerating or Driving at High Speeds

Shaking that occurs at high speeds or while accelerating is most likely due to an issue with the tires as we already discussed. But it could also be linked to broken or damaged engine mounts or issues with the car’s suspension or driveshaft. Both of these issues cause important connectors in the vehicle to be looser than they should be, which can make the car shake.
 

How Safe is it to Drive When Your Car is Shaking?

If your car is shaking, it’s a good idea to get it checked out as soon as possible. Sure, it could be as simple as needing to tighten up your lug nuts or replace your spark plugs, but it could also spell big trouble with important parts of your vehicle. When in doubt, check it out!
Categories: Tires 101 | View Count: (430) | Return

Visit Our Shop

Highland Tire

Contact Us

Phone: (724) 224-7900
Fax:
Address: 1707 Freeport Rd
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
Phone: (724) 224-5900
Fax:
Address: 1701 Broadview Blvd
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
Phone: (724) 224-9222
Fax: (724) 224-6610
Address: 200 Boyd St.
Tarentum, PA 15084
Powered by Net Driven
Login

Stop By and See Us Today!

Highland Tire proudly serves the local Natrona Heights, Tarentum, PA area. We understand that buying new tires can be overwhelming. Let us help you choose from our large selection of tires. We feature tires that fit your needs and budget from top quality brands, such as Michelin®, BFGoodrich®, Uniroyal®, and more. We pride ourselves on being your number one choice for any tire service, from flat tire repair to tire rotation. Let us earn your business.