anyone who knows more about cars than me (almost everyone)

[ButterflyBlood]

if my car shakes even when I'm completely stopped and acceleration is slow and "jumpy" a lot, what could be the problem?

I've hear I could just need more trans fluid, or it could be a problem with the fuel filter, but I actually got the fuel filter replaced about a week ago. So I'm guessing it a transmission problem. Since I'm due for an oil change pretty soon I should probably just bring it and ask for that to be checked out.

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. Timing chain could be off.

:hi:

[DS1]

2. new plug wires?

[dave502d]

3. Check your spark plugs.

[Book Lover]

4. Lotsa stuff

Failing fuel pump, poorly tuned engine, low tranny fluid (or something else with the transmassion), loose spark plug wire... Bring it in for the oil change and tell the folks the car's running roughly. Good luck!

[tridim]

5. A Misfiring cylinder?

Could be bad plugs, wires, or a bad fuel injector. Your car could also just be out of tune, or have the timing set wrong. There are lots of possibilities in the engine.

[skygazer]

6. what kind of car is it?

what year? automatic?

[ButterflyBlood]

8. 95 Cavalier

manual.

[DS1]

7. Must be a loose hydrogenator

[olddem43]

9. One cylinder is probably not firing - could be any of several

things - bad spark plug or wire, clogged injector, burnt valve, valve timing belt problem or worn camshaft. Need someone to look at it. It probably has nothing to do with the transmission, fuel filter or oil. Take it to a real mechanic, not an oil change place.

[A HERETIC I AM]

10. Is the engine jumpy when it is in neutral also?

if not, then the transmission is the problem. does the engine rev up in neutral ok? does it sound ok? If not, then it could be timing or a fuel system problem. Is the problem only when it is in drive? or does it do the same thing in reverse? Checking your tranny fluid is easy, just do it with the engine running, in park. there is a dipstick for it and the handle is usually red. Look for it and check it. If it is low, this MAY be a large part of the problem.
Dont, and i repeat DONT, expect a place like Jiffy Lube to give you a decent appraisal of the problem. They are in business to change fluids, NOT perform mechanical diagnosis/repairs on cars.


On edit to say....OH! its a Manual shift! well....could be the clutch also........but, i like the Hydrogenator answer too! Or the Blinker fluid.....or the Downfropromotoclamus, or the Knutsen valve (On the Belvin panel)



hee hee....good luck

[baldguy]

11. Cracked motor mount?

[demosincebirth]

12. When was the last time you had it tuned up?

Probably what it needs. Have it checked out first. Pls, go to someone reputable.

[CanuckAmok]

13. Did this start after the new fuel filter was put in?

If so, my first stop would be to make sure the filter was installed in the right direction. There should be a little raised directional arrow on the filter casing. Look there first.

Check your plug wires and your hoses and stuff. If you have dry/cracked hoses, spray a mixture of water and dishwashing liquid on them, and look for bubbles or dry spots where there's air passing through.

Mecanics often inadvertantly (?) break stuff when you're putting your car back together. My wife once had the timing chain replaced in our 4Runner, and something under the hood smelled like it was burning, for days. The dealer said "Oh, it's probably just the new gasket, or some oil that spulled during the work. It'll burn off...". What it turned out to be was a length of 2x4 which the used to prop up the engine during the chain swap, and had forgotten to take out. You couldn't see it, because it was lodged under the exhaust manifold, but everytime the engine heated up, it would burn the wood, and the cab would fill with smoke.

on edit: 95 Cavalier firing order: Make sure your wires are in this order...

4 cyl: 1, 4, 2, 3

6 cyl: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1

http://www.twoguysgarage.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-4617.html





Broken motor mount is also a possibility.

[lfs5]

14. Could be water in the fuel tank...

Had to have mine cleaned out to get rid of water after buying bad gas. Tried and tried to run it out, changed fuel filters three times, than fnally gave in and had the work done. (It was cuttng out a lot, running really rough,)