This article explains to you in simple words why your car jerks when accelerating. This is an unusual sign which cannot be left unchecked. Ignoring this problem can further complicate the situation and create new problems for your vehicle.
4 Reasons Your Car Jerks When Accelerating
Some of the common reasons causing your vehicle to stop are a shortage of fuel, air, or spark during the ignition. But there could also be other possible reasons.
1. Bad fuel pump or filter
An adequate amount of fuel needs to be supplied to the engine to work efficiently. It is also one of the possible reasons why your car jerks when driving, even at a constant speed. In such cases, it is often a faulty or broken fuel pump causing the shortage of fuel to the engine.
On the other hand, the filter might have been jammed or blocked, making the fuel delivery uncertain.
2. Dirty Air Filter
Your car’s air filter is the primary protection line against dust and different foreign debris. A grimy air filter will permit small debris to get into the engine, which will consequently affect overall performance and be the cause of why your car jerks when accelerating.
Check if your filter is clean, and clean it if not. If it’s filled with dirt, clear it out.
You can also purchase a cost-efficient reusable air filter such as K&N, which does the cleaning in the future rather than replacing the filter.
A smooth and clean air filter can notably enhance the lifespan of your car’s engine, lowering or removing the acceleration jerks.
Also read: Brake Master Cylinder – Replacement Cost & Symptoms
3. Faulty Spark Plugs
Perhaps the most widely recognized cause is additionally one of the simplest to distinguish and fix. Without a good spark, the fuel cannot be ignited in each cylinder during ignition.
A dirty spark plug is often responsible for an improper ignition and will cause the engine to stall.
If the spark plug is permanently damaged, then you have to replace it with a new one.
4. Bad transmission control module
Sometimes cars jerk while driving at a constant speed, but cars can also jerk when accelerating at low speeds.
Another possibility of your car jerking could be in the case of an automatic vehicle while changing gears. This is because you may have a spoilt or broken transmission control module.
The process of transmission of gear can be untimely and can happen suddenly. This could make it feel like car jerks when it happens. To solve this issue, you must visit the mechanic for replacement or repair.
The reason that a car jerks when accelerating from a stop is because of a problematic clutch. It could be because an oil leak has contaminated the clutch plate.
Only a professional can pinpoint the exact extent of a problem, whether mechanical or the clutch plate is contaminated. Since replacing the clutch with a new one is a specialized repair, you must take the car to a garage or the owner’s outlet.