Car Shaking While Driving and Check Engine Light

Introduction

If your car is shaking while driving and the check engine light is on, it’s important to take it to a mechanic as soon as possible. This is a sign that there is a problem with your car, and it could be dangerous to continue driving.

What Causes Car Shaking While Driving?

There are many possible causes of car shaking while driving. Some of the most common include:

Unbalanced tires: When your tires are unbalanced, they can cause your car to shake at high speeds. This is because the weight of the tire is not evenly distributed, which causes the tire to wobble.
Misalignment: When your car is misaligned, it means that the wheels are not pointing in the same direction. This can also cause your car to shake, especially at high speeds.
Bad shocks or struts: Shocks and struts help to absorb bumps in the road. When they are worn out, they can no longer do this effectively, which can cause your car to shake.
Loose suspension components: The suspension system is responsible for connecting the wheels to the car. If any of these components are loose, it can cause your car to shake.
Driveline problems: The driveline is the system that transmits power from the engine to the wheels. If there is a problem with the driveline, it can cause your car to shake.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

The check engine light is a warning light that indicates that there is a problem with your car’s engine. When the check engine light is on, it means that the car’s computer has detected a problem and has stored a trouble code in the computer’s memory.

The trouble code can help a mechanic diagnose the problem with your car. There are many different possible causes of the check engine light, including:

Oxygen sensor problems: Oxygen sensors monitor the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gas. If an oxygen sensor is malfunctioning, it can cause the engine to run rich or lean, which can lead to a number of problems, including shaking.
Spark plug problems: Spark plugs ignite the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders. If a spark plug is malfunctioning, it can cause the engine to misfire, which can lead to shaking.
Fuel injector problems: Fuel injectors spray fuel into the cylinders. If a fuel injector is malfunctioning, it can cause the engine to run rich or lean, which can lead to shaking.
EGR valve problems: The EGR valve recirculates exhaust gas back into the engine. If the EGR valve is malfunctioning, it can cause the engine to run rough, which can lead to shaking.
Catalytic converter problems: The catalytic converter cleans the exhaust gas. If the catalytic converter is malfunctioning, it can cause the engine to run inefficiently, which can lead to shaking.

What to Do If Your Car Is Shaking While Driving and the Check Engine Light Is On

If your car is shaking while driving and the check engine light is on, it’s important to take it to a mechanic as soon as possible. The mechanic will be able to diagnose the problem and recommend the best course of action.

In the meantime, there are a few things you can do:

Check your tire pressure: Make sure that your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. This can help to improve your car’s handling and stability.
Get your tires balanced and aligned: This can help to reduce shaking at high speeds.
Avoid driving at high speeds: This can help to reduce the shaking.
If the shaking is severe, pull over to the side of the road and call a tow truck: It’s not safe to drive a car that is shaking severely.

Conclusion

Car shaking while driving and check engine light is a sign that there is a problem with your car. It’s important to take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible to have the problem diagnosed and repaired.