Other than an alignment, I don't know quite what to tell them. And I don't have a mechanic, anyways.

It jerks, with vary degrees of severity, like I'm going to slow for the gear...as I accelerate through the gear's range, my car shakes a little violently, like it would if I were going too slow. Now, this could all be attributed to me still being new to a stick, but since it hasn't always been doing this (started early December; I've had the car since October), I'm not inclined to think so.

It's also started shuddering while idling in the past week or so
And is a 'tune up' just kind of code for 'fix anything that's slightly awry, but not worth its own trip in, and make my happy'?

93 Ford Escort with just under 100K

1/28/2008 9:35:42 AM

is the shake accompanied by loss of power (like if you were going too slow for that gear) or just a shake by itself.

I'm going to say something with the clutch assembly, possibly the pilot bearing gone to hell.

1/28/2008 9:50:51 AM

Just the shake.

[Edited on January 28, 2008 at 9:53 AM. Reason : I went ahead and got a ref from my grandfather, and I told the guy, and I go in next thursday]

1/28/2008 9:52:45 AM

why don't you let somebody who knows how to drive a stick drive it, and see if it still shake then?

1/28/2008 10:00:24 AM

Quote :

"93 Ford Escort "

theres your problem right there

1/28/2008 10:07:56 AM

[Edited on January 28, 2008 at 10:20 AM. Reason : being nice]

1/28/2008 10:19:17 AM

a couple of key things you mentioned lead me to believe you might have a cylinder not firing (miss). the vibration is just a side effect of that.

from what you're describing, it was probably intermittent at first, and now a cylinder isn't firing (missing) at all for one reason or another. as to what's causing it, that could be a lot of different things...

it could also be something completely different, it's hard to diagnose such a thing over the internet. so, i'll ask a couple of questions that might narrow it down:

1. does it smooth out when you let off the gas or are slowing down?

2. have you noticed any decrease in power or difference in gas mileage?

3. is the frequency/severity of it affected by vehicle speed or engine speed (rpm's)?

as for a tune up, it basically just consists of replacing basic/simple wear parts. it's what other people might call general maintenance also. it can include replacement of the following, but isn't limited to them:

-spark plugs
-plug wires
-distributor cap and rotor button (if applicable)
-air filter
-fluids change or at least check levels
-belts

it's definitely something worth doing every so often. especially on older vehicles that don't have the extended service intervals of newer vehicles. it helps with driveability, gas mileage, and reliability.

1/28/2008 10:26:02 PM