YACT: Check Engine light turn on, engine vibrating like a mofo when accelerating. What can be wrong?? :( *New Update*

[pillage2001]

I wanted to go see LOTR for the second time but now I'm stuck at home. The car will move but the whole car will shake when I accelerate. I stopped the car to look at the engine and it shakes like a mofo when idle.

Any idea on what's going on? The check engine light is on but I dare not drive it for a long distance as the whole car is shaking when accelerated.

update:

I went out to start the car again and it seems that the vibrating is gone and the car is like normal. The check engine light is still on though. :Q

LATEST UPDATE:

I brought the car to Autozone and they could not find a jack to plug the monitor in. Fine, I started the car again and guess what, the lgiht is gone?!?!?!? WTF. Where do I go now and what do I do not?? I don't wanna go to a local repair shop and tell them my car acted weird and they change all sorts of parts and charge me a bomb.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

thanks for id'ing the ride..Mitsu Galant..

 

[Paulson]

was it not accelerating as normally?

Or was it accellerating just fine but vibrating...?

 

[pillage2001]

Accelerating normally I suppose. I still could drive it around but it's vibrating. I'm pretty sure the engine is vibrating cause I saw it did when I stopped the car.

It's a Mitsubishi Galant 97. Auto.

 

[xSauronx]

maybe a broken motor mount?

/me has idea

take it to a mechanic...but not a dealer

had a broken motor mount in my grand am, that engine shaked like a very alert stripper....mmmm....if only the engine had boobs

anyway, if thats what it is, it shoudlnt cost much or take long to fix, but definitely get it done asap

 

[Ladies Man]

mass air sensor?

my 5.0 shook and popped when accelerating

 

[pillage2001]

I'm bringing it in to Firestone tomorrow. That's the nearest mechanic to me but it's still a 2.5 miles drive. Not sure if the motor mount cause I'm not very good with cars. A car n00b you might call.

The question is, is it good to drive it to the mechanic or tow it there. I cannot feel the vibration when it's idle but it's vibrating more than normal and the engine will feel like dying out once in a while when idle.

What else to check to provide more details for this problem?? The black oil is kinda dark but it's only 2k miles since I changed it. There's still sufficient oil in there and there's no history of oil leaks. The air filter has been changed 2 months ago.

 

[Willoughbyva]

If it is only 2.5 miles to the garage then I would say drive it, but be easy on it. Since it doesn't apear to be making weird noises or anything hopefully it won't hurt it to drive it in. Could be a sensor, moutor mount, or more serious problems. You did check the coolant right?

 

[thomsbrain]

i'm no mechanic but from what i understand, the check engine light only comes on when something is wrong with one of the air/exhast sensors, or when something has gone wrong that is affecting what they see. the guy who mentioned the bad sensor in his car may have had the same problem you do...

 

[pillage2001]

Originally posted by: Willoughbyva
If it is only 2.5 miles to the garage then I would say drive it, but be easy on it. Since it doesn't apear to be making weird noises or anything hopefully it won't hurt it to drive it in. Could be a sensor, moutor mount, or more serious problems. You did check the coolant right?

Coolant?? The engine temperature runs about normal and the coolant reservoir is still kind filled. It's not making any weird noises but vibrating kinda badly. Also, it's a uphill drive. :Q

 

[Tripleshot]

Could be a dead cylinder or a timing belt slipped. Driving it is not a good idea. tow itto a mechanic and have it analyzed.

 

[spanky]

or like i suggested... drive there, but with seatbelts on, and a buddy who has AAA

 

[pillage2001]

Originally posted by: spankyOO7
or like i suggested... drive there, but with seatbelts on, and a buddy who has AAA

I'm AAA insured. I might drive it there tomorrow and see what's up. Let's hop I don't have to shell out a bomb for it.

 

[pillage2001]

Bump for an update

 

[Vette73]

Do not take it to a Firestone or any other national chain. Nationa Chains are for rip offs that need a good name to cover them up. I know I am a mechanic and even once put a App in at a Firestone, so yes I do know how they work.

Find a good local shop that is run and owned by the same person.


Also if you have one that is close, take it to a Autozone and they can pull the code and maybe help.

 

[pillage2001]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Do not take it to a Firestone or any other national chain. Nationa Chains are for rip offs that need a good name to cover them up. I know I am a mechanic and even once put a App in at a Firestone, so yes I do know how they work.

Find a good local shop that is run and owned by the same person.


Also if you have one that is close, take it to a Autozone and they can pull the code and maybe help.

What's OBD2?? I'm new to this area. Don't really know any good mechanics.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: pillage2001

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Do not take it to a Firestone or any other national chain. Nationa Chains are for rip offs that need a good name to cover them up. I know I am a mechanic and even once put a App in at a Firestone, so yes I do know how they work.

Find a good local shop that is run and owned by the same person.


Also if you have one that is close, take it to a Autozone and they can pull the code and maybe help.

What's OBD2?? I'm new to this area. Don't really know any good mechanics.

Your car is 97, so it will be OBD2 (On Board Diagnostic 2). It is a type of computer system the goverment made all cars have. So if there is a Autozone have them pull the code and ask for a good independent shop that can fix what your problem is. They will pull the code for FREE. They can't fix it but might be able to point you to a good shop.

 

[pillage2001]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: pillage2001

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Do not take it to a Firestone or any other national chain. Nationa Chains are for rip offs that need a good name to cover them up. I know I am a mechanic and even once put a App in at a Firestone, so yes I do know how they work.

Find a good local shop that is run and owned by the same person.


Also if you have one that is close, take it to a Autozone and they can pull the code and maybe help.

What's OBD2?? I'm new to this area. Don't really know any good mechanics.

Your car is 97, so it will be OBD2 (On Board Diagnostic 2). It is a type of computer system the goverment made all cars have. So if there is a Autozone have them pull the code and ask for a good independent shop that can fix what your problem is. They will pull the code for FREE. They can't fix it but might be able to point you to a good shop.

Gotcha. I've just checked the map and I have a autozone somewhere around 3 miles. I'll see how the car runs tomorrow and drive it there. I'm trying to avoid driving for a long distance.

 

[KEV1N]

My buddy's car vibrated under acceleration; problem was spark plugs

 

[optoman]

I had the vibration once, turned out to be a coil pack. But that is a common problem with VWs. Its only $400 to fix.

It seems like a problem with a sensor. I would think its okay to drive a couple of miles. If it gets real bad then call AAA and have them tow you.

 

[NutBucket]

This just happened the last time you started your car right? This sort of thing happened to me once. I was scared
sh!tless thinking something catastrophic had occurred. After my buddy did a compression test to verify everything was ok, he noticed that one of the spark plug wires was arcing through the insulation straight to ground. New spark plug wires, problem fixed. Now, I have a 91 so the check engine light didn't go on. On your 97 you might have distributorless ignition which would prolly see that sort of of problem and trigger the light. Does the car sound like a lawnmower when you're trying to accelerate?

 

[notfred]

The car is misfiring, the check engine light is mostly indicating the car is running either rich or lean. It's a spark plug, wire, distributor cap/rotor, or fuel injector most likely.

 

[pillage2001]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
This just happened the last time you started your car right? This sort of thing happened to me once. I was scared
sh!tless thinking something catastrophic had occurred. After my buddy did a compression test to verify everything was ok, he noticed that one of the spark plug wires was arcing through the insulation straight to ground. New spark plug wires, problem fixed. Now, I have a 91 so the check engine light didn't go on. On your 97 you might have distributorless ignition which would prolly see that sort of of problem and trigger the light. Does the car sound like a lawnmower when you're trying to accelerate?

Nope, the car sounded alright. Like normal but the vibrating was bad enough to be felt all over the car. I tried driving around with it 30 mins ago and it was alright. The car drove alright and everything was back to normal except for the check engine light still on.

Looks like there could be a numerous problems that will cause this problem but which is right?? Does the check engine like tell the problem of the whole thing or partial results?? How reliable is the light anyway?

 

[pillage2001]

Originally posted by: notfred
The car is misfiring, the check engine light is mostly indicating the car is running either rich or lean. It's a spark plug, wire, distributor cap/rotor, or fuel injector most likely.

I'll keep that in mind. It's winter, I can't change the plugs myself for now.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: pillage2001

Originally posted by: notfred
The car is misfiring, the check engine light is mostly indicating the car is running either rich or lean. It's a spark plug, wire, distributor cap/rotor, or fuel injector most likely.

I'll keep that in mind. It's winter, I can't change the plugs myself for now.

Unless there's a blizzard outside it takes 15 minutes to do the plugs on 90% of the 4 bangers on the road.