What's the reason for my engine's excessive vibration? (2024)

What's the reason for my engine's excessive vibration? (1)

Hi Top Gear Philippines!

My wife has a Suzuki Celerio AT 2011. The engine is vibrating like hell, particularly when idle and shifting gears. Can you help with this?

Concerned husband

Hi,

If I recall correctly, your wife's Suzuki Celerio has a 997cc three-cylinder engine that outputs about 66hp at 6,200 rpm and 95Nm at 3,500 rpm. Generally speaking, three-cylinder engines aren't the smoothest of engines to begin with due to their design which sacrifices smoothness for compactness. Three-cylinders typically have more vibration than an equivalent four-cylinder engine (or higher) of the same displacement. This isn't to say they are worse—they're just different, and the vibrations can be quelled to almost negligible levels with good old-fashioned engineering creativity.

I can still recall how your Celerio drives, and wouldn't describe its vibration at idle or when shifting gears as colorfully as you do.

I would surmise that one or perhaps more of your engine supports may be in need of replacement. Most car manufacturers do a really do a good job of making sure that their cars run as smooth and comfortably as possible, no matter the price point. This naturally assumes that the car owners will be following the maintenance schedule as prescribed in the owner's manual, and that any part that fails be given the correct attention. If it is the mounts, you will want to get it taken care of sooner rather than later, as the excessive vibration is going to affect the other parts hangers and may possibly damage them.

I'd take if to a Suzuki service center and have them give it a once over and see what they say. I'd also go as far as having a tune up and transmission fluid change, if you're past due.

Thanks for writing in!

What's the reason for my engine's excessive vibration? (2024)

FAQs

What's the reason for my engine's excessive vibration? ›

Worn or dirty spark plugs can cause a petrol car's engine to misfire in one or more cylinders, which can cause vibrations when the car is idling or at running speeds. The easiest solution is to replace your spark plugs and check the related wiring. Engine vibrations can also be due to the air and fuel systems.

Why is my car engine vibrating so much? ›

Just like idling, excessive vibrations and shakiness while stepping on the gas can usually be traced to problems with the engine mounts. Whether they're worn, damaged, or have come loose over time, you'll be able to feel all the vibrations your engine makes every time you accelerate.

What is the main cause of excessive vibration in a motor? ›

Vibration can be caused by one or more factors at any given time, the most common being imbalance, misalignment, wear and looseness. Imbalance - A "heavy spot" in a rotating component will cause vibration when the unbalanced weight rotates around the machine's axis, creating a centrifugal force.

How do you fix a vibrating engine? ›

Adjusting the idle speed on the carburetor and cleaning the fuel intake system can rectify this issue. Any damage to the motor mounts can cause the engine to vibrate and shake during idle or when stopped. This component supports the engine in its compartment and absorbs the engine vibrations and road shocks.

How to reduce car engine vibration? ›

  1. 1 Check the engine mounts. One of the most common causes of engine vibration is worn or damaged engine mounts. ...
  2. 2 Balance the tires and wheels. ...
  3. 3 Tune up the engine. ...
  4. 4 Replace the harmonic balancer. ...
  5. 5 Isolate the source of vibration. ...
  6. 6 Reduce engine vibration today. ...
  7. 7 Here's what else to consider.
Feb 28, 2024

How do you diagnose engine vibration? ›

A good way to tell if this is the problem is to simply put the car in neutral and see if the vibration or shaking decreases a bit. If it does, this is a good sign that there may be problems with your engines motor mounts and you should have the engine inspected by a qualified repair shop or professional mechanic.

Is it bad for your engine to vibrate? ›

It's normal for your car to vibrate slightly when you're driving thanks to the rotation of the crankshaft, transmission gears and other moving parts in your engine. But, when these gentle vibrations feel more like shaking, it's time to investigate the reasons why.

How do you stop motor vibration? ›

Isolate the engine from the driven source by implementing vibration absorbents like elastomeric couplings. Turn off the power: If the vibration continues after pulling off the motor from the driven load, turn off the supply. Cutting off the power may cause the vibration to stop.

How do I fix my vibration problem? ›

In Settings go to Sound and Vibration, then select Vibration intensity and increase/decrease the options as per your requirement. Hope this helps. How do you turn off vibration completely on an Android?

What is the most common vibration related problem? ›

Vibration-induced white finger is the most common condition among the operators of hand-held vibrating tools. The symptoms of vibration-induced white finger are aggravated when the hands are exposed to cold. Vibration can cause changes in tendons, muscles, bones and joints, and can affect the nervous system.

Is it safe to drive a car with a vibration or shaking engine? ›

If you begin to feel persistent shaking in your car, it's best that you get to the problem right away before continuing to drive. Continuing to drive with the shaking can result in further damaging parts, ruining your tires, and other costly problems that could be avoided by a quick trip to your mechanic.

Can bad spark plugs cause engine vibration? ›

Other common reasons for a car shaking while idling include: Faulty spark plugs: Issues with your spark plugs can prevent proper ignition of the fuel and air mixture within the combustion chamber. This can lead to cylinders misfiring, which causes engine shaking.

What causes primary vibrations in an engine? ›

A single-cylinder piston internal-combustion engine vibrates because the startings and stoppings of its piston generate inertial shaking forces. As the crankshaft yanks the rising piston to a stop at TDC, the whole engine is, to a degree, pulled upward along with it.

Why is my engine vibrating too much? ›

A vehicle that's vibrating too much at idle is usually a cry for help and indicates that there's trouble under the hood. In most cases, the engine mounts, spark plugs, tires, timing belts, hoses, idle air control valves, fuel system components, and brake parts are the ones creating the problem.

What is the most common cause of a vibration in a vehicle? ›

The most prevalent cause of vibration is problems with your wheels or tires. The potential problems include improper wheel and tire balance, uneven tire wear, separated tire tread, out of round tires, damaged wheels and even loose lug nuts.

Why is my car vibrating like crazy? ›

While wheels and tires are often the culprits, you may also need to check your suspension and axles. QuickTakes: High-speed shake is frequently due to wheel and tire imbalance. Ball joints and tie-rod ends can also be culprits.

Should I be worried if my car is vibrating? ›

The most prevalent cause of vibration is problems with your wheels or tires. The potential problems include improper wheel and tire balance, uneven tire wear, separated tire tread, out of round tires, damaged wheels and even loose lug nuts.

Why does my car feel like it's vibrating? ›

Vibration is typically originated by a defective or out of balance tire, a worn driveline U-joint or a bent wheel. You may find that the auto shakes in an up and down motion. You may feel the vibration through the steering wheel, seat, or in the brake pedal.

Why is my car vibrating when I 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.

What causes a car to vibrate at high speeds? ›

High-Speed Shake Is Often Due to Wheel and Tire Imbalance

The shaking might only be between certain speeds — 50 to 60 mph, for example — but it's important to heed this warning sign. A bent wheel could also be the cause of high-speed vibration.

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