What Causes Jerking When Accelerating at Low Speeds in a Car?
2 Answers
Car jerking when accelerating at low speeds can be caused by: 1. Malfunction in the vehicle's ignition system; 2. Loose components in the ignition system; 3. Severe engine carbon buildup; 4. Aging engine components; 5. Excessive carbon deposits on the throttle body; 6. Untimely replacement of the air filter; 7. Excessive carbon buildup on the fuel injectors; 8. Unstable fuel pressure. The throttle, also known as the air valve or throttle valve, is a control device that regulates engine power. The throttle position is controlled by the driver via the throttle lever in the cockpit, transmitted through control system components such as rods, rocker arms, torque tubes, cables, pulleys, and sector gears to the carburetor or fuel regulator on the engine.
My old car has been jerking at low speeds when accelerating, and the mechanic said it's an ignition system issue. The spark plugs haven't been replaced for 40,000-50,000 kilometers, with excessive electrode gap or cracked ceramic, leading to insufficient ignition energy. Coupled with aging ignition coils, the air-fuel mixture burns unevenly at low speeds, causing the car to jerk. It's even more noticeable if there's high-voltage wire leakage. Last time I replaced the spark plugs and cleaned the throttle body, and now it runs much smoother. Actually, a dirty mass air flow sensor can also cause the ECU to miscalculate the air intake, indirectly leading to jerking. Don't delay fixing such issues—it wastes fuel and damages the engine.
