What Causes Car Jerking?
5 Answers
The reasons for car jerking are: 1. Engine oil passage blockage; 2. Dirty transmission oil clogging the oil passage; 3. Damaged transmission solenoid valve; 4. Forgetting to release the handbrake; 5. Irregular wear of the clutch; 6. Damaged solenoid valve; 7. Some engine cylinders not working; 8. Poor volatility of low-quality fuel. The solutions for car jerking are: 1. Check the transmission temperature and cooling system; 2. Replace the transmission oil; 3. Check if the internal valve body of the transmission is damaged and needs replacement; 4. Check for carbon deposits in the engine valves and intake pipe that need cleaning.
As a seasoned driver with 30 years of experience, I've encountered plenty of issues with car jerking, mainly stemming from the engine or transmission. If the transmission fluid hasn't been changed for too long, it gets dirty and clogs the oil passages, causing rough shifting. Worn or dirty spark plugs lead to uneven engine power output, resulting in jerky acceleration. I often come across faulty mass airflow sensors, which cause the computer to incorrectly adjust fuel injection, making the car behave erratically. Don’t overlook the fuel system either—low fuel pump pressure or a clogged filter reduces fuel supply, especially noticeable when going uphill. Fixing these isn’t too hard; regular oil changes and spark plug checks can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems. Ignoring them long-term accelerates component wear, costing more in the long run.
As an average young car owner who drives a manual transmission vehicle for daily commutes, I find it particularly uncomfortable when the car jerks. The most common causes are improper clutch operation or wear, especially when the clutch isn't properly engaged during semi-engagement, making the car shudder. For automatic transmission vehicles, a faulty transmission control unit or low fluid levels can also lead to sluggish gear shifts. Another issue is carbon buildup—too much carbon deposit in the engine's intake system can cause unstable idling and affect acceleration. One easily overlooked factor is poor fuel quality, such as using gasoline with excessive impurities, which can clog the fuel injection system and destabilize the engine. I recommend starting with simple fixes like switching to higher-quality fuel and cleaning carbon deposits—these minor adjustments can significantly reduce jerking. After all, as beginners, we'd rather avoid frequent trips to the repair shop to save both money and hassle.
An elderly person who has been driving for decades wants to tell you that car jerking is mostly related to engine issues. For example, if the spark plugs have been used for too long without replacement, electrode wear can cause discontinuous ignition, making the car bumpy during acceleration. A faulty throttle position sensor can also cause the computer to misjudge the throttle opening, resulting in erratic power output. Severe carbon buildup in the fuel injection system, leading to poor fuel delivery, exacerbates this problem. Simply put, these issues are all related to the aging of the car. Regular maintenance is the most effective solution, such as checking the spark plugs and air filter every 20,000 kilometers to reduce unnecessary repair costs.
I'm passionate about car modifications, but after modifying the engine, the car started to jerk. The reason is often improper ECU tuning, where aggressive parameter settings lead to inaccurate ignition timing, resulting in unstable power during acceleration; spark plugs that don't match the factory specifications, or a suspension system that's been stiffened, affecting balance, can also make the car run unevenly. Fuel pressure regulator issues are common after modifications, where significant changes in fuel supply make the engine struggle to breathe. It's recommended to use certified parts and test several times during modifications, not just focusing on boosting power but also ensuring smoothness, to avoid the headache of repeated repairs later on.
