Car shaking

[Mywhip]

My car has had this problem since i have gotten it, but figured i would see what might be the problem.

Whenever i am stopped, and have the car on my car will shake. Not violently, but enough to get on my nerves. The spark plugs/wires are new, oil changes have been done.

184k miles, ATX, Contour GL.

Anyone happen to know what could be wrong with it?

 

[BrApple]

does it do the same while in neutral or park? I would suspect something with the atx.....when was the last time you changed the fluid?

 

[zorrex]

I'd wager that at the least your roll restrictors are bad. East way to check: Look straight down behind the radiator toward the driver's side. This is where your roll restrictor is. Watch it as someone starts the car. If there is excessive movement then it is bad.

 

[Mywhip]

does it do the same while in neutral or park? I would suspect something with the atx.....when was the last time you changed the fluid?

Just had a new used tranny put it, but did it before i got that in there. So the fluid is new.

I'd wager that at the least your roll restrictors are bad. East way to check: Look straight down behind the radiator toward the driver's side. This is where your roll restrictor is. Watch it as someone starts the car. If there is excessive movement then it is bad.

Ill have to look at it tomorrow.

 

[Tony2005]

You have a broken engine mount (roll resistor) when you put in in D and it shakes real bad. If you put it in P or N and it is better, that would be your confirmation.

 

[Mywhip]

You have a broken engine mount (roll resistor) when you put in in D and it shakes real bad. If you put it in P or N and it is better, that would be your confirmation.

the car is perfect in neutral and park, so thats probably it.

Is it bad to replace it? Like i have no garage and no real big auto experience. so was wondering if it hard to do. I know where it is at also.

 

[Tony2005]

.........Is it bad to replace it? Like i have no garage and no real big auto experience. so was wondering if it hard to do. I know where it is at also.

You probably don't have the tools too. If both the front and rear are broken, parts are probably $100 and labor would be about 3 hours $300. You should replace them as it will only get worse if you don't replace them.

 

[zorrex]

If the rear in the Zetec is anything like the Duratec, it is REALLY easy to swap. The front is a bit harder because the bolts go downwards into the subframe from the top, I think.

 

[pipedsvt]

I talked to a friend/mechanic and he said it would be around 350 to completely fix it.

 

[Mywhip]

What is the worse that will happen if i dont get it fixed?

I really don't have the money to fork over, and im in debt for this car anyways. Just spent 600 on the thing last week. over 1k in total

 

[zorrex]

You'll be putting a lot of stress on the two mounts. I wouldn't be *too* worried, but I'd get both fixed at once. If you replace one, it could go bad really quickly with the other one still busted.