
Remove the air filter tube connected to the throttle body, but do not touch anything else, avoid pulling any wires randomly, and especially do not remove the throttle body. To prevent high idle speed after cleaning, have someone inside insert the car key and press the throttle to open the throttle body. Once the throttle body is open, proceed with the cleaning. After wiping it clean, reinstall the air filter tube. At this point, the throttle body is already clean, and you can start the engine and let it run for a while.

Just fixed the jerking issue with my old car last night! When releasing the throttle, it made clunking noises. After hours of troubleshooting, found these common culprits: the chain was so loose it could swing like a hammock—try tightening it; pulled out the spark plugs and they were black as charcoal—replacing them made an immediate difference; cleaning the carburetor does wonders, as incorrect air-fuel mixture causes rough acceleration; for fuel-injected cars, watch the throttle position sensor—if faulty, throttle signals go haywire; also noticed the ignition coil was scalding hot—sign it's aged and needs replacement. If DIY isn't your thing, take it to a shop. Paying for a diagnostic fee to let the mechanic scan trouble codes is the easiest solution.

I took the car straight to Old Li's Garage to get it fixed. The mechanic gave it a couple of bangs with a wrench and said it was just a loose small chain. After tightening it, the jerking reduced by more than half. He casually pulled out my air filter to shake off the dust—good grief, it was as grimy as an old rag! After replacing the air filter, the throttle felt much lighter. If the jerking persists after adjusting the chain, there’s an 80% chance the throttle body needs cleaning—those black, greasy deposits clogging the intake valve would definitely slow throttle response. If that still doesn’t fix it, check the clutch plates. Once, I saw a fellow car enthusiast whose clutch plates were completely worn out—letting off the throttle felt like slamming on the brakes and lurching forward.

Last time when shifting gears and releasing the throttle, the jerk was so severe it almost threw me off. The veteran mechanic at the repair shop pinpointed the issue in three minutes: the gear oil hadn't been changed for two years and had turned into syrup. After replacing the oil, it became smooth immediately. If the oil filter in the oil line is clogged, causing unstable oil supply, it can also lead to jerking—replacing the filter is just a matter of a few dozen bucks. The carburetor's mixture ratio screw was set too rich from the factory; turning it counterclockwise half a turn to lean it out makes it smoother. For fuel-injected cars, watch out for water getting into the sensor connectors. Last time after heavy rain, the connectors oxidized and had poor contact—sanding the pins with sandpaper fixed it.


