Why Car Shakes when Accelerating but not When Coasting.

Last updated on July 12th, 2023 at 09:59 am

If your car shakes when accelerating but not when coasting and you are looking to find out causes, then this post is for you. Or maybe you noticed that your car shakes when accelerating transmission and then there’s a check engine light flashing, well this post proves to be useful to you.

In this article, we will be discussing various factors that cause your car to vibrate and shake, while accelerating at high speeds, idling, and from a stop, etc.   So get into this article fully without wasting time and we begin with the car shakes when accelerating but not when coasting

Car Shakes When Accelerating But Not When Coasting

The most significant explanation for car shakes when accelerating but not when coasting is damaged CV driveshaft. The solution to this is to get it replaced with a new one.

Car Shakes When Accelerating And Idling

There are a number of reasons why car shakes when accelerating and idling. These reasons include:

 1. Faulty Motor Mounts

 The function of the motor mounts is to support the engine by absorbing the engine’s vibrations in its compartment. Therefore, when the motor mounts are faulty, it will no longer be able to contain the engine’s vibration during acceleration and idling.

 2. Damaged Timing Belt

 When the vehicle timing belt wears out, a major effect is that it causes the engine to vibrate seriously. It is necessary to repair or replace a damaged timing belt so as to stop your car from shaking when accelerating and idling.

Car Vibrates When Accelerating From Stop

1. Damaged Vacuum Hose

 When your car vacuum hose is damaged, it will no longer be able to effectively handle the emission of exhaust fumes from your engine and this could be one of the reasons why your car vibrates from a stop.

 2. Faulty Fuel and Air Intake Systems

 Another cause of car vibrating when accelerating from a stop has been attributed to faulty fuel and air intake systems. When these systems are clogged or bad and they can no longer deliver clean fuel and air to the engine, the car engine would begin to vibrate when the car accelerates from a stop.

 3. Bad Wheel Alignment

 This has also been highlighted as another reason why a car vibrates when accelerating from a stop. The solution to this is to get a wheel alignment maintenance service from a good auto mechanic repair shop.

Car Shakes When Accelerating Transmission

Every driver or car owner should understand that the transmission filter is another vital car component that should not be ignored. One of the effects of a clogged transmission filter is that your car will begin to shake while accelerating. Hence, in order to stop your car from shaking when you reach highway speed, it is necessary to replace the clogged transmission filter. It is recommended to change the car transmission filter every two years or when you reach 30,000 miles. In case you don’t have quick access to an auto mechanic shop, here is how you can fix your car shakes caused by transmission issues, while accelerating:

•  1. The first thing to do is to jack up the vehicle.You get a carjack and lift your car up high on jack stands so that you are safe, while working underneath the vehicle.
•  2. The next step is to drain the transmission fluid into a bucket or container. The socket wrench is an efficient tool for this.
•  3. Thereafter, remove the former gasket seal and scrape off any dirt around the edges of the pan for smooth installation of the new gasket seal.
•  4. Then you install your new pan gasket seal to the transmission.
•  5. Lastly, change the transmission filter. To do this, loosen the bolts that hold your filter in position with a flat head screwdriver. Then, you can remove the old filter and fit in the new transmission filter.

Car Vibrating When Accelerating At HighSpeed

1. Unbalanced Tires

 This is one of the most common causes of car vibrating when accelerating at high speed.

Vibrations are one of the symptoms that point to the fact that your tires are out of balance.

This is usually caused by unevenness in tire wear. When your tires wear out at an uneven pace, you would begin to experience a vibrating effect throughout your car, as you drive.

If the imbalance is from the two front tires, you would feel the vibrations from your steering wheel and dashboard.

However, if your rear tires are the ones unbalanced, the vibrations will be felt mostly at the back seat and car floors.

 2. Damaged Driveshaft

 It has also been observed that another main cause of the car vibrating while accelerating at high speed is a fault in the car driveshaft. Basically, the function of the driveshaft or propeller shaft is to transfer engine power to the rear axles and wheels in the car.

In most cases, it uses the system of rear-wheel drive. Since the function of the driveshaft is related to speed, a bad driveshaft will tend to cause vibrations when the car accelerates at high speed.

 3. Old Spark Plugs

 When a car spark plug has reached the end of its lifespan, it begins to wear out. A defunct spark plug can also be the cause of your car vibrating while accelerating at high speed.

 4. Rough Brake Rotor

The brake rotor is the component of the car that reduces the speed of the car when brake pads rub.

In some cases, vibration effects, when a car accelerates at high speed, can be experienced when the driver applies the brakes.

In such a situation, it would imply that the driver is driving with a rough brake rotor or brake disc.

 5. Old Ball Joints

 The duty of ball joints is to link the control arms of the car to the steering wheel rod for smooth car movement.

This shiny ball joint metal rotates in a shiny metal compartment and the locomotion that occurs inside this compartment is aided with grease so as to limit friction.

However, if for some reason, the grease becomes insufficient or exhausted from the ball joint, the effect will be total wear and tear.

This will consequently lead to car vibration while steering and accelerating at high speed.

Car vibrates when accelerating at high speeds (My Car Shakes When I Accelerate)

As stated above the most common thing that can make your car vibrate or shake when you accelerate at high speed is an uneven tyre or tyre wear.

The shake and vibration occur when they are not balanced enough, they are worn out, and sometimes when your vehicle’s tyre treads are detached from the rest of the body of the tyre.

The rim of your car tire could also lead to this vibration and shakiness of your car tires primarily in addition to the factors above..

Car shakes when accelerating at low speed

If your car or vehicle shakes when you accelerate at low speed, the most common cause is a flat tyre, a bent rim, Damaged Driveshaft, and still uneven tire.

Check these and also look out for the factors stated above. Those might also be the cause of your car shakiness.

Mind you, this can apply to when your car shakes when accelerating and idling at the same time.

Car shakes when accelerating check engine light flashing

When there is a flashing check engine light it is usually an indication of a problem with your vehicle. 

This article covers more details of all what flashing check engine lights indicate, however when you have you notice a vibration or shake along with your car check engine light flashing at the same time, then the most common cause is an Old Spark Plugs that needs to be changed, Cylinder Misfire and others, a poor or bad fuel pressure. Read more here.

10 Other Causes of Car Vibrates When Accelerating at High Speeds, Low, Idling.

1. Uneven Wheels

When your car shakes when accelerating at high speeds, it may be caused by uneven or lopsided wheels. Unbalanced wheels will have to put up with dissimilar burdens on each side, hence causing car shakes when accelerating at high speeds.

When driving, equal weights would are distributed on the wheels. However, when the wheels are uneven, the car vibrates when accelerating from stop. When driving, you can even feel the shaking and vibration in the steering wheel particularly when on high speed.

To fix

To avoid uneven wheels, it is advisable to place your car on a balancing device while changing them and place small tire weights to balance it.

At any time you notice car vibrates when accelerating at high speeds, first check if your wheels are properly balanced.

2. Twisted Axle

A twisted axle can cause car shakes when accelerating and idling, particularly when your car was engaged in an accident (It doesn’t have to be a major accident; even a minor accident can lead to a twisted axle).

So, if your car shakes when accelerating but not when coasting, it is advisable to check your axle properly for any form of defect.

A twisted axle can cause car shakes when accelerating at high speeds, or even car shakes when accelerating transmission.

To Fix

If your car vibrates when accelerating at high speeds, then you have to replace it immediately as leaving it unchecked for a long can lead to more damages.

3. Wrecked Car Mount

Car mounts function like shock absorbers in the vehicle, which soaks up the engine shakes thereby reducing the impact.

It links the car mechanism to the structure of the car body. Owing to its function as the shock absorber, if there is wreckage on the vehicle mount, you notice the shakes strongly.

Not only that, other components are also at risk of losing alignment and possibly damage because of the wrong positioning of the engine.

Car shakes when accelerating and idling may be a result of a faulty car mount.

Though the car shakes when on idle, it becomes more pronounced when accelerating on speed.

To Fix

Simply change the faulty mount with a new one to stop the shakes or vibrations.

Unfortunately, you will have to keep changing the car mount after changing the original one because the others damages easily after the first replacement.

4. Deformed Brake Revolver

A faulty brake revolver mostly results in car shakes when accelerating transmission.

Car shakes when accelerating at low speed or at high speeds can be as a result of a damaged brake revolver which triggers a fault in the brake calipers and pads.

This fault causes the braking system to experience asymmetrical distribution of air pressure when the brake pedal is engaged.

To Fix

A faulty brake revolver will need to be replaced when detected to curb additional damages from resulting.

5. Wrecked Internal CV Joint

A CV connection is situated at the edge of every axle, and it might be an interior or exterior link.

So, when your car shakes when accelerating but not when coasting, it may be as a result of a defective internal CV joint.

So, when your car vibrates when accelerating from stop or vibrates when you hit the gas, the fault could be from a wrecked inner CV joint.

To Fix

Early detection and replacement of a damaged internal CV joint prevent the condition from deteriorating, particularly when your car is loaded.

A split in the connection boot can trigger the CV joints to break, causing grime to mix with grease.

Also, the liquid could leak into the boot and ruin the lubricant that shields the metal joints.

When this insulation is missing, it won’t work efficiently and would require to be replaced.

6. Loose Heave Screws

Loosened heave screws can cause car shakes when accelerating transmission and car vibrates when accelerating at high speeds.

This fault becomes a problem that can result in a more preceding faults.

When the heave screws on the tire go slack as a result of excess use, your car vibrates when accelerating at high speeds.

To Fix

Ensure you tighten loose heave screws when they go slack else it can cause the heave to detach and your tire will roll off while your car is in motion, and the resulting effect can be life-threatening.

It is advisable to tighten screws with a flexible wrench or wheel iron on an occasional basis, just to guarantee your safety and those of other passengers.

7. Wedged Brake Caliper

Another reason why car shakes when accelerating but not when coasting may be a faulty brake caliper.

It may likely wedge when you hit the brake pad, causing car shakes when accelerating at high speeds.

The shaking becomes more apparent when you are on high acceleration.

You may also pick out a burnt smell from the brake pad when you stop the car. This burnt smell signifies a wedged brake pad.

To fix

You should be able to use the smell to spot out where the damage is emanating from.

Scrutinize all gears of the braking mechanism meticulously. Check if the parts are completely damaged.

If they are still okay, then lubricate the wedge

8. Twisted Driveshaft

A car that vibrates when accelerating from a stop may be caused by a twisted driveshaft.

The driveshaft may develop a defect in an accident, no matter how trivial, and start causing shakings to a car when on acceleration.

To Fix

It is advisable to replace the driveshaft when replacing the axle.

9. Smudged or Spoilt Spark Plugs

Grimy or faulty spark plugs can cause car shakes when accelerating at low speed or even at high speed.

Spark plugs are responsible for starting the motor. When they get grimy or broken, they can cause it to fail.

This backfire can result in car shakes when accelerating check engine light flashing and other potential damages to your car.

To Fix

It is best to check the spark plugs of your vehicle if you’re uncertain of what is causing car to vibrate when accelerating at high speeds.

Change your spark plugs if they are faulty or dirty to prevent malfunction.

10. Detached Vacuum Tube

Car shakes when accelerating check engine light flashing or car shakes when accelerating but not when coasting may be as a result of a little cut vacuum tube.

A faulty tube will allow passage of air and may cause serious car shakes when accelerating and idling or car shakes when accelerating at high speeds.

To Fix

This setback may result in more major damages than just car shakes. To rectify the issue, check all the tubes to make certain that there is no tear on them and that they’re correctly attached.

If you notice any disconnection, then re-attach them back appropriately and replace torn tubes with more hardened silicone tubes.

Wrap Up

Vehicle vibrations cause discomfort to the passengers as well as the drivers. This is why you should take measures to see that the causes are corrected and replace faulty car parts.

Ensure you regularly take your car in for an expert examination to enable them to detect any impending defect.

Pay attention to the brake system and wheels, ensure that they all have enough, and equal pressure. Most people love driving fast and wouldn’t like it if the car shakes when accelerating. You might also love the article on Why Your New Brakes Are Still Squeaking While driving at Low Speed.

Conclusion on Car shakes when accelerating and idling

We hope the contents of this article have been of great benefit to you. Remember to always visit your professional auto mechanic expert, whenever your car shakes or vibrates for any of the various reasons discussed in this article.

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