3/23    Car experts, I need some advice/help. Steering wheel vibrates
        slightly when car is stopped (after warming up), but vibration
        goes away as soon as I hit the gas padel. also at speed around
        75+ mph, does not seem to run as smooth as it did before
        (steering wheel vibrates very slightly) what could be the cause? i
        am fairly certain it is not the tire balance as these are new
        tires and I have another place check the tire balance and all
        4 are pretty good. so is this: idle speed adjustment needed?
        fuel injector cleaning? (dealer recommends it but i never did
        it, car is around 65k, 5 years maxima) all maintenance and
        service was up to date. thanks a lot. Engine tune up?? Thx!!
           \_ I suppose you think homeopathy doesn't work, right?
        4 are pretty good. so is this: idle speed adjustment needed?
        fuel injector cleaning? (dealer recommends it but i never did
        it, car is around 65k, 5 years maxima) all maintenance and
        service was up to date. thanks a lot. Engine tune up?? Thx!!
        \_ Are you sure that only the steering wheel vibrates or does
           the rest of the car too. I think the only link between the
           steering and the engine is the power steering pump. Vibrating
           steering wheel during braking is usually an indicator of
           a warped brake rotor which you would need to have replaced
           or refinished. Vibration during acceleration on a front-wheel-
           drive car is an indicator of a bad CV joint.
           \_ it does not vib on breaking, nor on accelerating.
        \_ easy first test - buy a pack of the chevron fuel injector
           cleaner from costco or grand auto (much cheaper at costco),
           and see if that helps.  Oh, and check your power steering
           fluid level.  Check ALL of the fluid levels, since it's easy.
           \_ dumb question, so i put the fuel injector cleaner into the gas
              tank and just drive as normal? my dealer wants $100 to do the
              fuel injector service. would the cleaner do the job equally good?
              \_ No, but probably 80% if you've never used it before.  Note
                 that it's a bad idea to overuse the cleaner as it can
                 corrode the rubber seals.  Since you're asking, I'd
                 \_ that's interesting, I didn't know that - where did you
                    hear about that? - injector cleaner recommender from above
                    \_  Various mechanics, as well as the warnings written on
                        bottles (varies from product to product).  One guy told
                        me I could double up on the regular "fuel treatment"
                        stuff (2 bottles/tank) for my older model car and it
                        wouldn't hurt, but I believe fuel injector cleaner is
                        somewhat harsher, and should only be used every
                        few years or so.  It's not as bad as those "seal
                        conditioners" or "stop leak" treatments, (which soften
                        the rubber and cause it to expand-- stops the leak but
                        the rubber will then rot away much faster), but
                        somewhat corrosive nonetheless.
                 recommend the cleaner over the dealer this time around.
                 Also, a little vibration is not a cause for alarm; I've
                 noticed this in a lot of cars.  If you're at a stoplight
                 for awhile, you can shift in and out of neutral without
                 pressing the button on the "shifter".  Oh, and as for
                 usage: pour in the bottle on a nearly empty tank, then
                 fill it up with gas. It helps to do this prior to a long
                 drive, because the additives can evaporate.
        \_ thanks a lot for all the answers. someone also suggested checking
           the spark plug gap, could the gap cause engine performance problem?
           \_ Depends.  Have you been following the normal maintenance
              schedule?  Have they changed the spark plugs as
              described in that schedule?  What brand car is it?
              \_ yes. yes, the spark plugs was just changed at 60k (car
                 now at 65k). one of my car friend mentioned this to me, not
                 that I really know what it means. the car is a Nissan Maxima.
                 \_ it means that the gap between the anode and the cathode
                    (where the spark fires) needs to be the right size.
                    You can find the proper gap size in your owner's manual,
                    and there are tools for bending the prong to the right
                    position if it's not there already.
                 \_ Not likely. A gap problem would be occuring during
                    acceleration or coasting. This sounds unrelated.
        \_ Perhaps a mount has broken. This is usually more obvious at
           idle and low speeds than high speeds.  --dim
        \_ This problem could be caused by several problems.  As you mentioned
           idle speed adjustment, spark plug gap-ing, but it could also be
           valve clearance, fuel flter, timing belt/timing, etc...also, you
           should read the manual on using gas treatments and fuel injector
           cleaners. I remember my friend's maxima manual specifically said
           try not to use any gas treatments.
        \_ tighten the steering wheel.