Engine is shaking like an Earthquake

notoriousbob · Feb 27th, 2007, 04:34 PM

So basically here's the problem. When I was driving on the highway, my engine started shaking very very very hard, and with it, my whole car.

I experimented with it a bit, in an attempt to do some analysis. Here is what I figured out:
Flooring it, the shaking calmed down quite a bit. When it was in gear, regardless of how high or low the RPM's were, if i took my foot off the pedal, the shaking began very very harshly. In neutral, the shaking continued, but not as badly as when it was just in gear. When i revved it high in neutral, after the RPM's came down, I seemed to hear a cough as the engine got to idle speed.

I have relatively recently replaced
Plugs
Fuel Filter
Air filter
pcv valve

Oil change is current, and I tried using STP injector cleaner, and engine cleaner.

thanks a lot for all your help..

-Bob

Oldnissanguy · Feb 28th, 2007, 06:44 AM

Here's something to check. I had a similar thing happen to me in the way you describe. It made the entire car shake and thought the engine was blowing up. It turned out to be a little rock that somehow bounced up and got stuck in a pully. The belt made a big jump every time it went over the rock which shook the car. I pried the rock out with a screwdriver and all was well.

I hope your problem is as simple as that.

notoriousbob · Feb 28th, 2007, 01:43 PM

If this is the case, you will have made my day, week etc :P

Also about to replace the fuel fliter. I feel like this also could be a clog somewhere, and that is my first suspect.

HATEnFATE · Feb 28th, 2007, 01:53 PM

keep us filled in.

notoriousbob · Feb 28th, 2007, 09:11 PM

Well the filter was definitaly clogged. I de-pressurized it before i took it out, but when i disconnected it, when i took the hose off the top part, only a little bit of fuel came out. When i took the bottom hose off, it practically sprayed. I remember last time I did it, there was much less, making me think there was a clog. I got a substantial gain in power from doing this, but i'm still getting a fair amount of noise/roughness. Think I'm going to check some other things tommorow. Also, wasnt sure exactly where to look for that pebble..

-Bob

oliverr87 · Mar 1st, 2007, 05:46 PM

your motor mounts could be shot

notoriousbob · Mar 1st, 2007, 05:56 PM

so here's the latest. I drove today some, and the car ran great. And then all of a sudden, it was bad again (same problems) And then back to good!

notoriousbob · Mar 5th, 2007, 08:21 PM

RIP 1993 Nissan Sentra XE

209k Miles

The transaxle snapped today, right as I was getting over the engine problems that I described in the above thread.

mrgoose · Mar 5th, 2007, 08:30 PM

Aw, that's sad. My condolences. I have exactly the same car. Only 130k miles though. I'll consider myself satisfied if I make it to 209k miles like yours did.

hksilvia · Mar 6th, 2007, 12:48 AM

Sorry about the loss may youre Sentra R.I.P.

any thoughts about bringing it back to life?