If you’re starting to notice that your vehicle starts to jerk during acceleration, this is an issue that you should never ignore. When your car jerks, this is often a sign that your vehicle may potentially develop serious problems if you don’t get it resolved immediately. The jerking motion can be unsettling and challenging to handle especially when you are on the road. To avoid a problem such as this, it’s always important to learn about its most common causes.
- Dirty Fuel Injectors
Dirty fuel injectors are common when fuel courses through the lines. When it gets overly dirty , this can negatively impact the performance of fuel injectors, as evidenced by poor acceleration, reduced fuel flow efficiency, and jerking experience.
- Dirty Air Filters
The air filters can get clogged or filled with dirt as a result of regular use. When your air filters become dirty, this is usually revealed by the car stuttering or malfunctioning altogether. The best method to fix this issue is by replacing the filters to resume normal functioning.
- Blocked Catalytic Converters
Catalytic converters begin to malfunction as a result of wear and tear. If your catalytic converter suffers from blockages, this issue needs to be rectified immediately by an expert automotive mechanic. Depending on the severity of blockage, your catalytic converter may need to be repaired or replaced altogether. Once the blockage is resolved or the catalytic converters are replaced, your vehicle acceleration will become smooth and efficient.
- Worn Out Spark Plugs
When your spark plugs start to wear down, you will need to replace it right away to avoid power shortages of your vehicle. If you leave the worn spark plugs in your vehicle, you will start experiencing jerking during acceleration.
- Damaged Gas Lines
In many cases, gas lines suffer from damages which in turn slows down the flow of fuel through your vehicle. Damaged gas lines need to undergo necessary repairs as soon as possible to ensure they work optimally over time.
- Damaged Acceleration Cables
Your vehicle features specialised acceleration cables that aid in its acceleration. When these cables suffer from damage, it can get challenging for your vehicle to perform optimally leading to a jerking experience during acceleration.
- Defective Carburetors
The primary role of a carburetor is to supply air and fuel to your car engine. If the carburetors fail, your car engine won’t perform as intended, as evidenced by reduced acceleration. A malfunctioning or defective carburetor needs to be repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
- Damaged Cylinders
When your car cylinders get damaged, it will start behaving abnormally. In some cases, a damaged cylinder can manifest as jerking when you begin to accelerate. The best course of action is to repair or replace the cylinders straight away.
More specific situations in which your car goes through jerking experience and what causes this issue in the first place:
- When a car jerks at low speeds
It can be extremely frustrating when you start to jerk at low speeds. This usually happens when you drive out of your driveways slowly. In most cases, a car jerks at low speeds because of spark plug issues. A simple tune-up by a skilled car mechanic will stop the jerking experience once and for all. Other causes of your car jerking at low speeds is catalytic converter damage or air intake issues.
- When a car jerks when accelerating at high speeds
One good thing about jerking at low speeds is that you don’t have to worry about totally losing control of your car. Since you aren’t driving at top speed, you still have the ability to control the cat even when it jerks. Jerking when accelerating at high speeds is a totally different story as you may find it harder to control your vehicle altogether.
If you’re dealing with this type of jerking experience, you need to have it resolved sooner than later to avoid road accidents. The most common cause of a car jerking at high speeds is that your vehicle is not receiving the air that it needs. Fixing this issue will involve clearing clogs or blockages of the air intake or replacing the malfunctioning or defective airflow sensor completely.
- When a car jerks when accelerating from a stop
Are you worried every time you step on the gas after coming from a full stop even for a few seconds? This can make stopping at a red light or stop sign all the more stressful for car owners. If your car jerks from a full stop, it can be very dangerous especially for motorists behind you as they do not realise that your car is merely jerking and not in motion.
When your vehicle jerks when accelerating from a full stop, this can be caused by dirty fuel injectors or blocked fuel intake. This means that your car’s engine gets insufficient fuel supply that it needs to operate properly.
To stop the annoying and stressful jerking experience altogether, we highly recommend that you seek the help of a skilled auto mechanic for an accurate diagnosis and resolution. HP Automotive is a leading car mechanic shop in Sydney, serving commercial and private vehicles. To schedule an appointment, call our direct line on 02 9979 8372 today.