Reasons why car jerks when accelerating

You shouldn’t dismiss the problem if you notice that your car jerks when accelerating. Being a car owner, it can be annoying when your vehicle begins to display odd symptoms. Your automobile jerking while you accelerate is one of the most typical problems we encounter. It’s critical to have this diagnosed and corrected as soon as possible because it could be a sign of a number of various existing or potential issues.

There are more signs that can imply different things as vehicles get more complicated over time. Fortunately, a lot of these symptoms can be identified and treated without specialized tools. Thus, in this article, we’ll be discussing the reasons why car jerks when accelerating.

So, let’s dive in!

Reasons why car jerks when accelerating

When you accelerate, your car can also seem like it’s dragging something, and it might even jolt or jump when you let up on the gas. With all of them, the cause is frequently a lack of spark, air, or fuel during the combustion process. These are the potential causes;

Dirty Fuel Injectors

One of the most frequent causes of jerky acceleration is dirty fuel injectors. Your automobile will lose power if you try to accelerate from a stop or maintain a constant speed because of the filthy injector. The cause of this is an engine misfire.

To prevent this issue, the injectors should be cleaned frequently. Fortunately, employing a fuel injector or fuel system cleaner makes this procedure quite simple.

Even the greatest fuel injector cleaner might not be able to clean injectors that are so heavily carbonized. In those circumstances, you’ll either need to remove the injectors to try to manually clean them or just replace them.

Blocked catalytic converter

The catalytic converter in your vehicle can have a clog. Your catalytic converter may become blocked if the air-fuel mixture is allowed to become too rich. When the driver steps on the gas, the car frequently jerks as a result. With the help of a decent catalytic converter cleaner, you might be able to clear it out. If not, you’ll require a mechanic’s assistance.

When you press the gas, this may cause stuttering, jerking, and a general delay in responsiveness. The check engine light might illuminate, there may be a rotten egg smell (hydrogen sulfide), and there may be jerking in addition to other symptoms.

Using a decent catalytic converter cleaner first may help you clear minor obstructions. If it doesn’t solve the issue, you’ll need to take it to a shop for vehicle repair, where the catalytic converter will probably need to be replaced.

Faulty Fuel Pump

When your automobile jerks when accelerating, a gasoline supply problem is frequently at blame. It is frequently advisable to start from scratch when the engine is not receiving the proper amount of fuel.

It would be the car’s fuel pump in this instance. Your car would lurch or rush forward while you were driving if your gasoline pump failed because it would be unable to keep up with fuel demands.

Another possibility is that your fuel filter is clogged, which is impairing the flow of fuel and contributing to your problems by causing inconsistent fuel supply. The method of replacing the gasoline filter is reasonably easy and inexpensive.

Worn Out Spark Plugs

It’s possible that your spark plugs are worn out and unable to ignite the fuel in the piston quickly enough. Your automobile may not accelerate as rapidly as a result of this. Fortunately, spark plug repairs and replacements are not very expensive.

Replacing the damaged plug is all that is required to solve this issue. It could be a good idea to get all of your spark plugs changed out if you can’t recall the last time you did so. This is a simple and affordable fix.

Dirty Air Filters

Pollutants are kept away from your engine in part thanks to the air filter. But with time, these impurities may accumulate and impair your car’s acceleration.

The air filter in your car is the first line of defense against debris and other foreign objects. A clogged air filter will allow certain particles to enter the engine, affecting performance and causing jerking. The longevity of your car’s engine can be greatly extended by maintaining a clean filter, which also helps to lessen or even eliminate acceleration jerks.

Damaged Gas Lines

Gas lines carry gas throughout your engine. However, if there is a problem with a gas line, it may result in a loss of pressure in your car, which could cause it to jolt forward. In extreme circumstances, a damaged gasoline line could potentially ignite your engine. Make sure the gasoline line is intact by inspecting it for holes.

Faulty acceleration cables

Although the majority of automobiles on the road have drive-by-wire electronic throttle control, many still use physical accelerator cables (also known as throttle cables). It serves as a mechanical interface between the throttle plate and gas pedal.

This accelerator wire may deteriorate over time. When you press on the gas, the car will react more slowly as a result, lurching instead of accelerating smoothly. Examining the cable frequently reveals damage to the outside coating, making this issue simple to identify.

As the cable can break and cause the car to cease working, a broken cable needs to be repaired right away. Take it to a reputable mechanic to make sure the replacement is done correctly.

The faulty transmission control module

You may have a bad transmission control module (or solenoid) if you drive an automatic transmission car and observe your vehicle jerking or bucking just as your gearbox shifts gears.

When you accelerate, this component is in charge of changing gears. The car may jerk as a result of abrupt or unplanned gear transitions, which are frequently severe. Even though it’s a rare point of failure, it’s something to keep in mind while you troubleshoot.

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Watch the video below to learn more

FAQs

How do you fix a car jerking when accelerating?

You should routinely clean the injectors to resolve this. The issue of automobile jerking could be resolved by using a fuel injector cleaning solution. Injectors may need to be removed, cleaned, or replaced by a mechanic if the obstruction is too bad.

Why is my car jerking when I press the gas?

The most frequent cause of a car jerking while accelerating is that one or more spark plugs may be failing. If the issue persists, performance will be reduced. Have a professional check them and replace them if necessary if you suspect this may be the case.

What does car jerking mean?

When your automobile jerks, stumbles, or stutters while you’re driving, it usually signifies that something is obstructing the transmission’s ability to distribute and transfer power properly. Another scenario is if you haven’t developed the feel of shifting for your specific car while using a manual transmission.

Does a dirty air filter cause your car to jerk?

The purpose of the air filter is to keep airborne dirt and debris from entering the engine. If it’s unclean, it might prevent air from reaching the engine, which would reduce the amount of oxygen the engine receives. Due to the imbalanced oxygen-to-fuel ratio caused by this, the engine misfires, and the vehicle jerks.

Can low oil cause the car to jerk?

Your automobile may jerk or hesitate while you are driving if the oil is dirty or low. This is a result of the engine not receiving the lubricant it needs to function properly. It’s crucial to have your car evaluated by a mechanic if you detect any jerking or hesitation while driving.

How do you diagnose car jerking?

• Dirty Fuel Injectors.
• Blocked Catalytic Converters.
• Worn Out Spark Plugs.
• Dirty Air Filters.
• Damaged Cylinders.
• Damaged Gas Lines.
• Damaged Acceleration Cables.

How do you know if spark plugs are bad?

Start-up issues, rough idling, sluggish acceleration, declining fuel economy, engine misfiring, and engine knocking are some of the most typical symptoms of faulty spark plugs.

What causes an automatic car to jerk?

There may be a jerk, clang, or thud sensation. This is frequently brought on by issues with the transmission fluid, vacuum, or malfunctioning sensor. Older automobiles use the vacuum modulator valve to help them choose when to change gears. The valve and the intake are linked together by a hose.

How do I stop my transmission from jerking?

• Check and top off if there is a low fluid level. If you drive a lot, you should check your transmission level every two weeks or once a month.
• Drain and refill any worn-out or burned-out liquid. It’s recommended to leave replacing the transmission fluid to a professional because it can be dirty.

Can low fuel cause a jerk when accelerating?

When you accelerate, your car can also seem like it’s dragging something, and it might even jolt or jump when you let up on the gas. With all of them, the cause is frequently a lack of spark, air, or fuel during the combustion process.

How do I know if my transmission is bad?

• Refusal to Switch Gears.
• Burning Smell.
• Noises When in Neutral.
• Slipping Gears.
• Dragging Clutch.
• Leaking Fluid.
• Check the Engine Light.
• Grinding or Shaking.

That’s all for this article where we discussed The Reasons why car jerks when accelerating. Hope it was helpful. If so, kindly share. Thanks for reading.