I'd like to add that I might have noticed a few moments of rougher idle while standing at a light. Maybe a little rougher than normal?

Once again, I wanted to add that the spark plugs have been replaced with the OEM plugs recently, without any issues...along with a new PCV.

 

I'm guessing you have a miss that comes and goes, probably under load. The codes will tell you more.

 

Well, I guess California and Hawaii Autozones are not allowed to check for codes anymore. Looks like I'll have to find my own scanner.

Anyways, the "rougher" idle might just be a possible coincidence. I'm driving it now and no issues. Hopefully I'm wrong but the car jerking side to side while driving doesn't start until I'm already rolling a steady 30+Mph and add gas. Personally, it feels a bit more of a mechanical issue to me than a simple misfire. Maybe I'm wrong but with the car being at high mileage with AWD, I hope it's not another CVT issue or TC/Rear diff. I'll try to get it check for codes but until then I would like anyone to comment if they have had similar symptoms. Any ideas will help, thanks.

 

You're handy enough that you would benefit from buying your own code reader at a parts place. You'll be able to use it for years, and avoiding ONE dealer code read will pay for it.

 

Yes I agree, it will always come handy in the future I'm sure. Until I can get my hands on a scanner, I'll be looking for possible answers to the issue from other members. I guess anything will help, as I previously mentioned.

Any scanner recommendations?...or maybe more of what I should stay AWAY from?.. I'd prefer to spend as least as possible for an acceptable home scanner.

 

srT4URBO, here is a link for a very popular scan tool. I have used this model for years on a number of vehicles. Highly recommended!

www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3100-Diagnost...f=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1450271268&sr=1-1&keywords=innova+code+reader

 

That should be a good one.

Check Ebay, there are at least two used ones for sale; current bids from $50 to $90. Nothing wrong with a used code reader. I just saved $100 yesterday on a used BMW code reader found on Ebay.

 

So here is an update.....

I forgot to mention that my sway bar endlink popped out on the front driver's side recently...but I drove around a little before removing it today. I then also at times, heard some metal clicking during turns...sometimes more than others. I was POSITIVE that the loose endlink was the cause of the clunking, as it was flopping around down there. Well today, I pulled it off. Guess what...the noise is still there as I drive the car. I got under the car for a second time to check everything in the way and seen no issues. As I went to grab for the axle, I felt that it was loose and believe the noise could be coming from this axle during turns. Anyways, NOW I'm wondering if the shaking up hill was the cause of a bad axle and only really holding up on the remaining 3, since it is AWD.

Well here is a video of the axle and how it sounds....I decided that I'll be replacing it first thing tomorrow morning, along with a new axle seal (just noticed a very small leak from that, as well). So I might be lucky hitting two birds with one stone. Maybe a new driver's axle will fix my car and the horrible jerking uphill?

 

Whoa. As they say in the movies, "that ain't right!"

Good luck with the job.It sure won't be wasted work.

 

Alright, axle and axle seal were replaced earlier today. Not only did I get the clicking/knocking fixed, as well as the small axle seal leak, but the shaking is ALSO gone! I am extremely happy with the fix/result and love how smooth it's driving again. Just wanted to update the thread in case anyone else is having similar symptoms and can't figure out their issue. Thanks for the input!

 

I also wanted to add that the jerking I mentioned I felt 2-3 years ago was something different than the shaking now. That was more of a hesitation up a certain inclined street, this was back in Chicago on one specific road only...maybe just the CVT reacting to the specific road? Not sure, but this was totally different. I will still be getting a code scanner in the near future. Maybe it will pull up a code for me due to the extreme shaking I experience the other day but regardless, it's a great tool to have for any future maintenance.