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Imagine you are driving your Volkswagen on the highway, and you notice as you accelerate, your car begins to shake badly. Also, your EPC warning lights come on. What do you do?
This article will examine the EPC warning light, how you fix it, why your Volkswagen car is shaking.
In addition, we shall highlight the causes of the shaking and possible solutions to stop the underlying problem.
What Is The EPC Warning Light?
EPC warning stands for Electronic Power Control warning light.
It is one of the most popular among the 60+ warning lights that may appear on your VW variant, including Beetle, golf, Jetta, or any other Volkswagen model.
It indicates issues with the VW throttle system, body, traction, and cruise control.
The EPC warning light may indicate other serious issues, including Ess malfunction (engine speed sensor), airflow sensor malfunctions, faulty brake light switch, faulty accelerator pedal sensor, throttle system issue, etc.
All of which will affect the performance of the vehicle.
Can I Drive A Shaking Volkswagen Car With An EPC Light On?
The answer to this is yes! But should you?
No! Typically, you will experience a loss of power, making driving inconvenient.
We recommend getting your car to the nearest VW service center to get your vehicle fixed.
How To Fix The EPC Warning Light?
As discussed earlier, the EPC warning lights can be triggered by many factors. We recommend following these steps to fix it.
Firstly, car owners can quickly diagnose the cause of the EPC light through an OBD1 & 2 scanner tool. Plug the device into the vehicle and run a scan.
It will show error codes, issues with the vehicle system, and error codes that may be the leading cause of the EPC warning light.
Secondly, do a physical check of the car for damages which may result in the EPC warning lights. Physical checks include checking the brake lights. Ensure the rear light responds as you step on the brake.
Next, check the throttle body for clog of debris and carbons. If this is discovered, a quick clean of the throttle body cleaner should be sufficient. Make sure all connections are well fixed on the throttle body.
Finally, if any issues are discovered, try fixing or replacing the vehicle’s damaged parts.
Once the root problem has been identified and solved, the EPC light should automatically turn off.
Sometimes, you may be required to reset and clear error codes using the scanner tool for the light to turn off.
Why Is Your Volkswagen Vehicle Shaking?
The shaking or vibration you experience may be caused by numerous mechanical issues, including a bad spark plug, a misfire in the system, and a broken engine mount.
Here are five reasons why your Volkswagen vehicle may shake and possible solutions to solve them:
Faulty Ignition Coil
This kind of shaking is noticed when the car is idle or in slow motion. A faulty ignition coil will result in the engine misfiring or shaking.
You can find out which cylinder is misfiring by scanning using an OBD scanner.
Since the engine is running on fewer engine cylinders, there will be a loss of power and unresponsiveness to acceleration.
Another way to check which cylinder coil is faulty is to check for spark using a spark tester.
Solution
The best solution is to replace the faulty ignition coil with an aftermarket ignition coil. After this is done, the shaking should stop.
The Uneven Rear In Brake Pads
There are many causes of the uneven rear in brake pads. It may result from friction, loss of lubrication, and many other factors.
You can quickly identify the issue with the brake pads if the shaking happens when you apply your brakes.
Solution
Make sure to get your rotor checked and ensure it is within specifications.
If the rotors are not within specification, the next step is to adjust them to specification or replace the brake pad with a new one.
Unbalanced Tires
These are the most common cause of shaking in vehicles, including Volkswagen. They are most noticeable during high speeds.
Over time, the tires will lose specification. Signs of unbalanced tires include uneven air pressure, alignment issues, and so on.
Unbalanced tires mean that weight is not evenly spread across the car, resulting in shaking and other factors.
Solution
Get your tire to a professional tire service center to balance them and adjust the air pressure and alignments. You should notice a drastic reduction in shaking during high speeds.
Damaged Engine Mount
The engine mount acts as a support system for the Volkswagen engine. It helps balance and reduces engine vibration and torque movement within the car.
A damaged mount means that the engine moves violently within the vehicle, causing extreme shaking.
Solution
The solution is to repair or replace the damaged engine mount.
Replacing the support means that the engine is firmly attached to the vehicle, and there is a reduced vibration within the car.
Faulty Fuel Injector
The fuel injector is responsible for spraying fuel needed in combustion. The engine will misfire where there is a lack of fuel injected for combustion.
You can use the car scanner to check for fuel injection pulses and connections. Also, check for spraying power.
Solution
If, after inspection, you discover there is damage to the fuel injector, you may have to replace the fuel injector for proper performance.
Damaged Or Out Of Balance Driveshaft
A damaged or unbalanced driveshaft will cause the vehicle to shake aggressively. This shake is most noticeable when you are accelerating.
You will have to inspect if the drive shaft is broken physically.
Where the driveshaft is broken, it is best to see an expert check and replace the joint of the driveshaft. It doesn’t mean you cannot do it yourself if you want to get your hands dirty.
Solution
The best solution is to get a replacement for the damaged part of the driveshaft. Or better still, take your Volkswagen car to a VW service expert to get your vehicle fixed.
Worn Out/Tired Engines
Worn-out engines will result in low air level and compression and an engine misfire.
This low compression can be caused by leakage in the gasket, worn piston, worn valves, and many others.
A total replacement of the engine may be required, but a repair of the damaged part of the engine is usually sufficient to fix the shaking in your VW car.
Run a scan on your vehicle to discover the specific part of the engine that has an issue and try fixing it.
Final Thought
If you experience a shaking car, or an EPC light displaying your dashboard, sometimes it is not enough to just reset the error warning on your car dashboard.
We recommend that you take your car to a VW car expert to look at the car and fix more technical issues that may cause the EPC lights to come on or the shaking of your vehicle.
If you are a do-it-yourself person, then the steps and tips listed above should be sufficient to identify the cause and solution of the shaking or EPC light.
Patrick started his love affair with cars in his childhood. Over the years, he claims a sturdy hold on his driving skills, along with a thorough understanding of cars. We can expect some interesting, holistic, and pleasurable blogs with his flair for writing and his love for cars.
Being a car enthusiast, Patrick has experience comprising of two decades in which he has ridden some of the meanest and strongest machines in the automotive industry. His previous avatars include an automotive professional, photographer, and journalist, and you will certainly experience the roundness of experience in his piece on this site.
In his second decade of reviewing cars and analyzing tools, Patrick is all set to give you convincing, reliable, and the latest information regarding what’s happening in the automotive industry. Currently, he owns a BMW Z3 but cannot get his eyes off Aston Martin DB5. He is a car enthusiast; he loves cooking and listening to music, especially jazz. Here are some of the pieces written by our ace author.
