What would cause my car to shake when I start it?

Question

When I start my car and if the engine is cold (like if it sits overnight), it shakes really bad for the first 10 or 15 seconds and it is very loud. Then it stops and is fine. What might cause this? I have a 2007 Saturn ION 3 with only 5400 miles on it...its been doing this for almost a week now.

Answer 1

sounds like a broken motor mount.  Sometimes a bolt holding the motor will work loose and when you start the motor have someone watch the motor and if it rotates more that looks normal when starting up then you found the problem. Good Luck...

Answer 2

Idle could be low. But your problem sounds like normal to me. In cold weather the engine starts in a higher rpm to warm the engine up.

Answer 3

probably a bad thermostat.... therefore it takes longer for your car to heat up

had the same problem.... mine was about 80 bucks for my infiniti but my car requires a custom thermostat.You could probably get one for 20-50 bucks or so.

Might also be a bad crank sensor or fuel injectors. Had that problem with my truck. Might also be the motor mounts but that wouldn't be specific to the cold.

Answer 4

I WOULD CHECK FOR WORN ENGINE MOUNTS

Answer 5

An old man under the hood. They shake something awful.

Answer 6

It called take to the dealer> It sick>

Answer 7

It shakes because it`s affraid of you.Really I think the battery is going bad and the computor steps up idle until the battery gets charged back up.

Answer 8

the transmition  

Answer 9

Your auto just recently started doing this?  Is your engine fuel-injected? If so, it sounds to me like something has gotten into your fuel injection system to s***w it up for a little while on a cold start.

Answer 10

My dad's car shakes when he starts it and his air conditioner went out the week before it started.