Rough idle is a symptom of a problem within your vehicle that you shouldn’t ignore, as it may indicate a serious underlying issue. If your car shakes at idle, take it to a certified mechanic, like the ones at our Honda dealership, for diagnosis and correction.
Here are some of the common reasons for rough idle:
- Motor mounts: It’s the job of the motor and transmission mounts to dampen vibration. When they break, you’ll feel excessive vibration, especially at idle. You can diagnose this yourself by putting your car in neutral. If the shaking lessens, you very well could have broken mounts. A professional mechanic can quickly confirm this.
- Timing belt: The timing belt choreographs the actions of several components and accessories. A stretched, torn or worn-out belt will result in inconsistent timing, which causes shaking. This most often occurs in high-mileage vehicles. If you start seeing cracks, ribbing or looseness in any of your belts, have them replaced right away.
- Fuel intake: Engines don’t like dirt, and that’s especially true of the fuel injectors and intake valves. If they become befouled by dirt or debris, they will deliver uneven amounts of fuel with each engine cycle, causing a high-frequency shutter or shake. A technician can clean out the dirt, and you can often avoid the problem by using quality fuel and perhaps additives that clean the fuel intake system.
- Spark plugs: Vibration can be the result of faulty, misfiring or worn-out spark plugs. If replacing the plugs doesn’t fix the problem, you may have deeper compression-related issues. If you replace plugs, make sure to use ones recommended by the car manufacturer. Cheap plugs are false cost savings.
- Hoses: Many times, engine shake can be traced to broken, loose or disconnected hoses. Bad air/vacuum hoses can cause serious sake. Reattach or replace hoses as necessary.
Unless you are an expert shade-tree mechanic, seek the services of a factory-authorized service center like the one at our Honda dealership. Our certified technicians will expertly maintain and service your car, and get you back on the road right away.
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