dear all - my dear subaru named “saby” with 271,000 miles shakes when i am at a stop sign/light and when i am in park. the check engine light has been on for about 6 weeks, too. any ideas on what it can be? i would like to have a head start before i go to the mechanic so that i will know approximately how much it will cost. thanks!
It might be a bad motor mount causing the shakes. That probably wouldn’t account for the CEL, though. Take it to an Autozone/NAPA/Advanced Auto Parts and have them run the codes. I don’t know the codes myself, but if you post it back on the forum then others would be able to give you an answer.
That CEL (check engine light) is just a kid in class waving her hand trying to get you attention because she has the answer. You need to have the codes read. Some places will read them for FREE. Try Autozone or Advanced Auto Parts. Get the exact code (like P0123) not just their translation into English and post it back here.
Regarding warning lights:
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if the coolant temp light comes on, shut off the engine ASAP
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if the oil warning light comes on, shut off the engine ASAP
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if a FLASHING MIL/CEL comes on, shut off the engine ASAP
ASAP means driving to the berm of the highway right now and not waiting for the next exit.
But if the MIL/CEL is not flashing, then it’s not an urgent indicator.
Of course the CEL may be for something else totally.Some fresh spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor, air filter could cure Saby’s shakes. This would be about $75 in parts. There may be other scheduled maintenance that their time has come; such as transmission fluid change and the like.