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Engine shakes at idle

Engine vibration at idle; misfire, mounts, or fueling.

MEDIUM RISK

Common symptoms

  • See page for quick checks

Cost expectations

Typical costs vary by car and region. Use this as a ballpark.

  • DIY / parts: £20–£80
  • Garage / labour: £80–£250

Most likely causes (ranked)

Start at the top. Rule out the common, cheap causes before expensive ones.

  1. Misfire
  2. Worn engine mounts
  3. Vacuum leak
  4. Low fuel pressure
  5. Injector imbalance

Quick checks (fast, low-cost)

Fast checks you can do with basic tools before buying parts.

  • Scan misfire counters.
  • Inspect mounts for tears.
  • Check fuel trims.
  • Check for vacuum leaks.
  • Consider injector balance test if available.

Recommended tools

These tools make diagnosis faster and stop you buying random parts.

Related fixes

If your symptoms don’t match perfectly, check these next.

What to do next

  • Fix misfires first, then mounts.