It started out just shaking a little when I accelerated up to about 60 mph. I went and had the tires balanced, thinking that might be the problem. It wasn't. Over time the shaking got worse. One mechanic told me to change my EGR valve. It didn't help. Now accelerating up to 50 makes the car shake rather violently, and even at 25 mph it'll start shaking. One friend told me it might be a tie rod problem, but I've already spent a lot of money on what the problem /isn't/ and I'm too strapped for cash right now to keep doing it. Any advice would be wonderful!
2007-03-27 04:02:01 · 9 answers · asked by nabiki_saotome26 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Chevrolet
The mechanic who told you EGR - was working off a hunch. I've seen that behavior, but generally it will only "chug" (jerk forwards and backwards) in a very specific speed range, say 40-50 mph. So it was a good guess, but just a guess, he shouldn't have done that.
It sounds to me like your problem starts around 25 and goes way up to 60 mph+.
We need to rule out drivetrain problems (engine, transmission) versus chassis issues (wheels, tires, struts).
Here's what I want you to do. Go on the highway, get up to about 60-70 mph, and when there isn't traffic behind you, get off the gas pedal and carefully shift the car into NEUTRAL. Coast along till the speed drops about 10mph, noting if there is any change to the vibration! Then put the car back in Drive. As long as your foot is OFF THE GAS PEDAL you do no harm taking the car between drive and neutral. Obviously you must also never go into Reverse, Park, and stay out of the Low gears too. :)
If the shaking stops when you go into neutral, it's a drivetrain issue. Then try this: at a stop sign, put the car in "2", accelerate to 30mph. Still shaking? That points to engine and if the basics have been checked out like plugs and wires, air filter, then I have to wonder if it's the fuel pump. Especially since you say it used to only do it at high speeds (heavy demand on fuel pump) and now its starting to do it lower and lower.
Shaking stopped? Could be tranny. Check tranny fluid for being full (while engine is hot and running) and being pretty red/pink, clean looking. You don't want dark red/burnt smelling.
If the shaking did not stop when you put the car in neutral on the highway, it is not engine or tranny related. Try rotating your tires, front to rear, and see if the nature of the vibration changes at all. i'm not expecting it to go away - i'm just asking you to note a difference. If no difference at all - then it's not wheels/tires.
You need to do some more troubleshooting, but if I had to guess at this point, i'd say:
Fuel pump.
An honest mechanic can hook up a fuel pressure gauge in 5 minutes and test it for you. Should definitely charge no more than like $30, if that. If you're not up around 40psi that's your problem, the engine is starved under high fuel demand.
2007-03-27 04:18:19 · answer #1 · answered by Brian D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I use to own a 91 chevy corsica and loved it!!! My husband is a service manager and a lead mechanic. He said that maybe you need new tires or like the other friend told you new tie rod ends. I cannot believe someone told you the egr valve. My egr valve has been bad for a couple years and all it effects is my gas mileage!! Good Luck!!!
2007-03-27 11:08:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best answer I can come up with is that I am missing a lot of information about your car's problem. Does it pull to one side? Does it take a lot of fuel? Does it make noises when you go around a corner? Check these 3 things: Tie rods, fuel filter, and CV joints. Good luck. I'll be looking for more questions or an update on this problem.
2007-03-27 16:51:01 · answer #3 · answered by Bryan A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
does your car feel like a boat on rough water a low speeds. kinda rocking side to side? if this is the case you most likely have a tire with a slipped or busted belt. this should have been caught by the folks balancing your tires. but could have been missed by an inexperienced person
2007-03-27 11:26:41 · answer #4 · answered by hunting4junk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible for ONE tire to lose its shape of the steel belts.
Try rotating front tires to the back and see if the shaking goes away. That is the NO cost test for bad tire bands.
2007-03-27 11:59:20 · answer #5 · answered by GOMEZ LOPEZ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
more than likely, you need a new front end. you might get away with just ball joints and alignment. Have it checked to see if the tire is about to separate. The iminent threat is a blowout and a wreck. If its the front end, just keep it off the highway till you get the front end replaced.
2007-03-28 01:32:10 · answer #6 · answered by pyledriver 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me the front axle might be going
2007-03-31 04:32:41 · answer #7 · answered by greenhollow2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds to me like you need new tires.
2007-03-27 11:09:31 · answer #8 · answered by Doug H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
contact the company experts
2007-03-27 11:05:40 · answer #9 · answered by initial man 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋