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The reason your car vibrates in drive but not in neutral could be a sign that you’re having a bad transmission or damaged motor mounts. Notwithstanding, there are several other things that could cause a car to shake or vibrate while in the drive gear.
Modern vehicles are very sensitive and all the components work hand in hand. When a component is faulty, it can directly or indirectly affect the performance of other components; thus, causing you to experience different unusual signs while driving.
If your car shakes or vibrates when in the drive mode, it calls for serious attention because whatever is causing the anomaly is directly connected to the engine. Interestingly, we’ve got some handy tips below that would help you navigate such situations.
Why Does My Car Vibrate In Drive But Not In Neutral?
The reason why your car doesn’t shake or vibrate while in “Neutral” is because the transmission is free (not engaged) while the gear is in neutral.
In contrast, once you switch from neutral to drive, the transmission is engaged, and if any drivetrain component is faulty, your car is likely to vibrate or shake.
There are a couple of places to look into when you start noticing this issue. Mainly, it is faulty or damaged motor mounts that cause a car to shake once the transmission is engaged (in the drive mode). But then, asides from the mounts, some other things are to be checked too.
1. Bad Motor Mounts
Motor mounts are what are used to hold the engine onto the car itself. When the mounts are bad or loose, it causes the engine to shake and vibrate as you drive or while the car is idling.
So, the first thing to check is the mounts that hold your engine and transmission. Well, you may not be able to tell if a motor mount is bad or not; thus, you should engage an auto mechanic to do the checking.
2. Faulty Fuel Intake
A faulty fuel intake channel would cause the engine not to receive enough fuel to keep running smoothly all the time. If the engine doesn’t get sufficient fuel intake at intervals, it is likely to shudder, shake, or vibrate when the transmission engages the drivetrain.
3. Clogged Fuel Injectors
Yes, clogged fuel injectors would restrict seamless fuel delivery into the engine cylinders; thus, causing the engine to shudder at intervals due to lack of sufficient fuel. There are many things that could clog fuel injectors, and that includes dirt.
4. Spark Plug Issues
Just like the fuel injectors, spark plugs also play an important role in the seamless performance of motor engines. If the spark plugs are not functioning as they should, you may experience shaking and vibration when you switch from neutral to any other gear.
What More?
The components mentioned above are what you need to check if your car vibrates in drive but not in neutral.
Most definitely, if you fix the issues with the indicated components above, your car won’t shake or vibrate anymore. It is advisable to have an experienced mechanic fix this issue for you.