Engine shaking on idle

[scorpion]

I've had my 05 MK5 for a few weeks now, and have noticed when i stop at a light or whatever, the engine will randomly start shaking, so much so i can feel it inside the car.

It's totally random, however the longer it's idling the more often it will happen. It can vary from very light shaking to a few shakes that makes me think the engine is about to drop lol.

It's not an idle issue, just a shaking of the engine that i only seem to notice while the car isn't moving.

It doesn't matter whether it's warming up or fully warmed up.

I've done a Google search, some have said this is normal, others don't seem to know what it is, so there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer.

My first thought was engine mount, however seeing as how it doesn't do it every single time the car is idling i was thinking that couldn't be the reason.

Any help/ideas?

[team_v]

I've had my 05 MK5 for a few weeks now, and have noticed when i stop at a light or whatever, the engine will randomly start shaking, so much so i can feel it inside the car.

It's totally random, however the longer it's idling the more often it will happen. It can vary from very light shaking to a few shakes that makes me think the engine is about to drop lol.

It's not an idle issue, just a shaking of the engine that i only seem to notice while the car isn't moving.

It doesn't matter whether it's warming up or fully warmed up.

I've done a Google search, some have said this is normal, others don't seem to know what it is, so there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer.

My first thought was engine mount, however seeing as how it doesn't do it every single time the car is idling i was thinking that couldn't be the reason.

Any help/ideas?

Is the aircon on?

Mine has a bit of a shake when the aircon is on and i am stopped at traffic lights.

[scorpion]

Both heating and cooling are off.

[NabzGTI]

I was having the same issue... and was thinking that possibly when more electrics in the car are being used, it seems to happen (headlights, sterio, heated seats, even radiator cooling fan). However, now that ive got a stiffer engine mount, the vibrations have become second nature.

Could also be your transmission? Are you DSG or manual? If DSG, when you come to a complete stop put the car into Neutral and see if it continues.

[scorpion]

Manual transmission. The only electrics that are on all the time when the car is on is the stereo. So middle of the day, lights, heating all that jazz is turned off except for the stereo.

[anthony_VWJET]

I had this issue before, my suggestion would be to get a carbon clean. The FSI engines have a massive issue with carbon build up which restricts flow through the engine and can result in misfires and heavy engine shaking. I recently had my 60k service + carbon clean, all done by Seb, and now its smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooth as. For more info/pics, click here.

[scorpion]

Seems like a costly exercise. My next service isn't for another 10,000Ks.

Edit, i forgot to mention, you mentioned your car would misfire, i've never had that happen.

[seangti]

Do you nurse the car or flog it? If you nurse it, go find you faviourite mountain run or quiet streets wiithout cops and pedestrians and give it a boot full for 5mins. That'll also help blow some carbon build up out of the system. I believe you can also use other upper engine cleaners to break down the carbon, might be a $15 bottle from supercheap.

[scorpion]

My days of hooning are over when i sold my modified Pulsar. All this car mainly does is take 2 20 minute trips to and from work, so very easy driving.

I might try the spirited driving suggestion at some point, and will give the engine cleaners a shot. Do they really work? or just a gimmick?

[noone]

Engine Mounts? How many kms on the vehicle?

[scorpion]

Car has 94,XXX Km's on it.

[Scott84]

That's strange. I just bought a 2008 Model Golf GTI about 3 or 4 weeks ago and I notice the engine shake on idle. More so when I'm stoped on a hill. Mine has about 69,000 on the clock, driven mostly country highway ks (with a million stone chips on the bonnet to show for it ). I wonder if the previous owner has been using 95 RON in it (I will only use 98 RON unless absolute nessicary to use lower with octane booster). It's a really minor shake on mine, I'd be interested if you solve it though.

Thanks,

Scott

[anthony_VWJET]

Seems like a costly exercise. My next service isn't for another 10,000Ks.

Edit, i forgot to mention, you mentioned your car would misfire, i've never had that happen.

The cost is basically all labour cost since its bit of a b*tch to do.

Before the clean, there were no misfires, I was under the assumption that my car was fine and that the carbon build up would be minimal, i just thought of doing a carbon clean as part of my 60k service to avoid problems in future. Once i had dropped it off and the engine was opened, I was glad that i did...

[soulman86]

I'm having the same issue. Intermittent/random at best but definitely there and a cause for concern. Only picked my car up a week ago.

Would this be covered under a statutory warranty?

[gerhard]

Have you had the ECU checked for any fault codes?

It could be a coil pack, it could be the fuel pump cam bucket is worn through, it could be a faulty injector, etc, etc, etc.

But at 94ks, it's highly likely to be due to gunge buildup in the inlet tract, as already mentioned.