GentlemanScholar09
New member
This is a question I posted a few days ago..and then an update after words...any help would be much appreciated..
Why did my car start shaking tonight when Idle?
I drive a 2001 Ford Taurus SE with 154,000 miles on it. For about 5 years the "Check Engine/Emissions" light has been on. The mechanic told me this is because I have an O2 censor out but that it was no big deal; would only cause my mpg to dip a bit. Tonight, that same light started flashing. The car has also started shaking when idle. The manual says that if my light is flashing that the engine is misfiring. I asked around and I've heard it could be anything from bad gas or a clogged fuel line, to much worse. Anyone have any ideas of what to do? Should I take it in immediately for a check up or try and fix it myself? I had a new air compressor installed in June and a free check up when I had my oil changed in July. No one mentioned seeing any problems like this. Thanks a ton.
*Update*
The car shook when it was idle and idled at a higher rpm for the first time on my way to work a few days ago. When I got off work it was doing the same thing and the check engine light continued to flash. I was going to drive home, call my mechanic, and take it in. About halfway home the check engine light stopped flashing and remained solid. The car also remained still when idle, and the rpm was back to normal at each stop. I took it in anyway and they hooked it up to the computers. They said they got back several different codes, but all in all it was running fine for them now, and they did not want to order an expensive part and that not be the problem. The only thing they told me to do was to bring it back while it was acting up. They reset everything and my engine light stayed off a while but has returned solid, and hasn't blinked since. Now the only time I have problems with it is when I first start it up after it has sat awhile. When I start it up and put it into gear it vibrates, but by the time I'm to the stop sign at the corner its stopped, running normal, and drives fine. There's no more shaking or high rpm when idle with the exception of the first minute or two the car is turned on. Occasionally I think I feel it sputter when I accelerate, but I'm probably being paranoid...I've heard everything from bad gas too spark plug issues...
Does anyone have any idea what's wrong?
Why did my car start shaking tonight when Idle?
I drive a 2001 Ford Taurus SE with 154,000 miles on it. For about 5 years the "Check Engine/Emissions" light has been on. The mechanic told me this is because I have an O2 censor out but that it was no big deal; would only cause my mpg to dip a bit. Tonight, that same light started flashing. The car has also started shaking when idle. The manual says that if my light is flashing that the engine is misfiring. I asked around and I've heard it could be anything from bad gas or a clogged fuel line, to much worse. Anyone have any ideas of what to do? Should I take it in immediately for a check up or try and fix it myself? I had a new air compressor installed in June and a free check up when I had my oil changed in July. No one mentioned seeing any problems like this. Thanks a ton.
*Update*
The car shook when it was idle and idled at a higher rpm for the first time on my way to work a few days ago. When I got off work it was doing the same thing and the check engine light continued to flash. I was going to drive home, call my mechanic, and take it in. About halfway home the check engine light stopped flashing and remained solid. The car also remained still when idle, and the rpm was back to normal at each stop. I took it in anyway and they hooked it up to the computers. They said they got back several different codes, but all in all it was running fine for them now, and they did not want to order an expensive part and that not be the problem. The only thing they told me to do was to bring it back while it was acting up. They reset everything and my engine light stayed off a while but has returned solid, and hasn't blinked since. Now the only time I have problems with it is when I first start it up after it has sat awhile. When I start it up and put it into gear it vibrates, but by the time I'm to the stop sign at the corner its stopped, running normal, and drives fine. There's no more shaking or high rpm when idle with the exception of the first minute or two the car is turned on. Occasionally I think I feel it sputter when I accelerate, but I'm probably being paranoid...I've heard everything from bad gas too spark plug issues...
Does anyone have any idea what's wrong?