Car Jerks When Accelerating? Here’s Why and How to Fix It.

You never thought the car jerks when accelerating would happen to you, but it did. Your trusty sedan has started puttering when you try to accelerate. Just like that car sold by a scamming salesman from a used car shop in a comedy movie you saw.

But this is no joke. When your car jerks as you accelerate, it’s usually a sign of an impending issue.

The earlier you are able to know the reason behind the jerks when accelerating, the more you can minimize the damage and the costs of repair.

There are several reasons why car jerks when accelerating.

Most of the time, the jerking issue would just go away after you have driven it a few miles, so most people tend to ignore it.

1. Are You Driving a Stick?

If your car has a manual transmission or if you have driven a stick shift car before, it’s highly likely that you have experienced the car jerk followed by the engine stalling.

manual transmission

This type of car jerk is very common in a manual transmission, especially for those who are just starting to learn how to drive and mostly happens when you are trying to shift from the first to the second gear while you speed up.

A stick shift car gets you more involved than an automatic one. It requires the use of all your limbs and the proper coordination.

You need to be able to feel when it’s time to press and let go of the clutch, and when to upshift or downshift.

If you miscalculate, you’ll experience a jerk as you accelerate or decelerate. This usually occurs if you abruptly release the clutch pedal after changing gears or you shift to another gear with a half-depressed clutch.

2. Check for Blockage

Your car jerks while driving means your car’s engine does not get enough mixture of fuel and air to do its work, and gas mileage could become higher. A block in the fuel line or air intake can make the car jerk during acceleration as it loses one, or even both of the essential factors in keeping the engine running. So the blockage is one of the most common reasons why a car jerks when accelerating.

The air mixes with the fine spray of fuel inside the engine and is then lit by the spark plug causing a controlled explosion, which moves the pistons. This goes on and on and this cycle is what makes the engine run and your car move.

If you see that ‘Check Engine’ warning light turn on or blink, don’t ignore it. Take your car to the service center immediately and have a professional take a look. Sure, you should not ignore the check engine light Meanings.

engine-lit-by-spark-plug

3. A Faulty Fuel Line

Fuel lines are responsible for the flow of gas throughout the engine system.

If it is faulty or if there’s a leak somewhere, pressure is lost, thus causing the car to jerk. Faulty fuel lines can even cause a fire in your engine or worse, an explosion.

A disruption in the flow of fuel from the tank to the engine will cause the car to hesitate during acceleration, which will then cause a jerk.

Check for leaks that may have been caused by rats chewing off the fuel pipes. Older cars are also susceptible to faulty fuel line issues.

A-Faulty-Fuel-Line

4. Moisture Accumulation

Moisture in the car’s distributor cap can cause a car to jerk during acceleration. This is a common scenario when the car is parked outdoors and the weather is cold.

Moisture can accumulate inside the distributor cap that can cause the engine to misfire, which in turn causes the jerking.

You cannot skip on physics on this one so prevention is the way to go.

distributor cap

Unless you keep the engine running idle when you park and waste money on precious fuel, but keeping the engine warm and warding off moisture, you better find a warmer, enclosed parking spot.

5. Dirt in the Fuel Tank, Filter, and Injection System

Having dirty fuel injectors is another common factor why your vehicle jerks as you try to accelerate. Any dirt build-up or gunk in fuel injectors can cause an issue in your car’s engine to obtain the fuel, and this is why is your car jerking when you give it gas.

Also, there are several points where dirt can accumulate in the car’s engine system. Fuel from the filling station can become dirty due to the sediments in the fuel storage. The sediments may then settle in your fuel tank. The fuel filter’s main job is to keep dirt from the fuel from entering the engine, so it takes all the beating.

Fuel Tank_Filter_Injection

Regular checking, maintenance, and replacement are the key.

When the fuel filter is not doing its job, the fuel injection is the next one to get the dirt. Making sure that these three items, the  fuel tank, filter, and injectors clean can prevent car jerks.

6. Dirt in the Air Filter

As previously discussed, air is needed for the internal combustion engine of your car to work. Clean air and clean fuel mean hassle free driving. Keeping the air coming into the engine clean is the air filter’s job.

Dust, bugs, road debris, and dirt may accumulate over time making the filter less efficient.

Dirt in the Air Filter

When the air filter has become too dirty, there may not be enough air coming into the engine that can cause the vehicle to jerk because of inefficient combustion of the fuel.

Air filters are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace so there’s no need to cheap out on this one.

7. Faulty Spark Plugs

As discussed before, the spark plug is what lights up the combined fuel and air inside the engine causing them to combust and move the pistons. Therefore, an engine requires fully functional spark plugs to work efficiently.

Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly.

Spark Plugs

You also may need to check on the spark plug wires for signs of wear and tear.

8. Faulty Ignition System

If the car’s spark plugs are new and working fine and the wires are all good, then it might be time to have your ignition system checked.

Newer cars have computer controlled ignition systems, which will need to be checked by your service center.

YouTube Video shows how to detect a malfunction in the ignition system

9. Clogged Catalytic Converter

As the catalytic converter is clogged, it won’t allow the engine to quickly supply the power it needs. Your engine may not work properly.  The clogged catalytic converter could cause the car jerks when accelerating.

If the catalytic converter is dirty and not working efficiently, try to use the catalytic converter cleaners.

Otherwise, you need to change your catalytic converter or have your car serviced.

10. Faulty Mass Airflow Sensor

The car jerking during acceleration is more obvious when the car needs more power. It may be a mass airflow sensor issue.

A fault mass airflow sensor will cause the wrong air mass value and lead to poor engine power.


Wrapping it All Up

Any one or a combination of these factors can be the reason why your car jerks when accelerating.

Making sure that these are checked will ensure the longevity of your car and a hassle-free driving.

6 thoughts on “Car Jerks When Accelerating? Here’s Why and How to Fix It.”

  1. I did a complete tune up.jusy put in a new gasoline pump.and gas filter.i thought it was time to change timing belt and water pump.i did that.i put fuel injector cleaner and she still hates on idle.and when driven it even gets worse.it a dodge caravan 3.0. V six 2000.automatic.i put in a new battery.and she is still acting up.wadtes too much money.in her if need help

    Reply
  2. I take the dodge caravan to several auto parts for scanner.and I don’t get no reading.of course there’s no check engine light on.

    Reply
  3. i have a 1998 toyota camery, recently my check engine light comes on, and will stay on whle driving but some time it will go off and stay off for about 2 days or more but enentualy comes back on. however, while driving every so often it jerks as if it is changing gears. is this transmission problem or some other reason?

    Reply
  4. on another internet discussion, the transmission control module was mentioned for Jeep liberty and Compass. Please comment.

    Reply
  5. My 2001 Infinity has a problem when it shifts from 2 nto 3 gear it jerks the wheel really hard and has a lot of play in that jerk to the right

    Reply

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