Car shakes when stopped?

When I'm driving my car, it's fine, doesn't shake, and rides smoothly. As soon as I brake it starts shaking. By the time I'm completely stopped, the steering wheel is locked, and it shuts off. The lights, and radio stay on. It will recrank, but I need to get this fixed and soon. Any ideas what this could be? Cost to fix? I drive a 98 ford escort.

2 possibilities: Brake rotors out of round. Lock-up torque converter not releasing from locked mode. Or a combination of both.

Perhaps idle is too high or transmission is getting too much power. American car that last longer than 10 years probably should not be repaired for more than $200.

Sounds exactly like an idle air control valve sticking. If other-wise the car drives fine there's nothing wrong with the fuel filter (which should be changed every 30,000 miles) or the fuel pump. We have no clue what a new one would cost because we don't know the year make or model of car.

Check price yourself @ rockauto.com, partstrain.com or autopartswarehouse.com. Buy a new one locally at the dealer of your car.

Check fuel pressure.

  • Car shakes still? My 94 Ford Taurus shakes on the highway. 65-80 mph and after 80 it stops? I've gotten new tie rods, a realignment, new breaks, and resurfaced rotors, and it still happens to shake even though the mechanic said that the problem was the rotors being warped. Before I spend more money on the damned thing I was wondering if anyone here had some insight to why it's still shaking on the highway. One thing I've noticed is that when I accelerate a chirping sound ensues and chirps faster as I go faster? Any ideas? Please?
  • I was driving the car, it stopped, the Radio, the AC, the lights, for seconds and worked again? The car Ford Expidition 2004 this accident occurred 5 times every thing stopped and returned in seconds Many thanks I tried to fix the battery wires I will visit the dealer tomorrow I will let you all know about it
  • My car shakes violently when the AC is on. What's wrong with it? Whenever the AC button in my car is on it shakes violently. It only does it when the AC button is on, not when the heat is on or when the fan is set all the way cold. What's wrong with it? It's a 2002 Ford Focus ZTS with 150000 miles on it
  • Car shakes and rattles when accelerating? I bought a brand new 2013 ford focus se last April. In the last month or so it has started rattling and shaking when I first accelerate. After a moment it stops making any noise or rattling completely. The oil changes are up to date. It doesn't stay in a garage, though I don't know if that has anything to do with the problem, just throwing that out there. There are only 12,000 miles on the car. Any thoughts?

Add Comment