
Car starting jitter and jerking reasons are as follows: Excessive carbon deposits: When there is too much carbon buildup on the throttle body, fuel injectors, or intake manifold, or when there is excessive carbon inside the engine, the gasoline sprayed by the cold start injector will be largely absorbed by the carbon deposits, resulting in an overly lean air-fuel mixture during cold starts, causing the engine to shake. Low cylinder pressure: After prolonged engine use, the gap between each cylinder liner and piston may become inconsistent. During cold starts, without proper oil lubrication, cylinders with larger gaps are prone to leaking a certain amount of high-temperature gas, thereby reducing power output, lowering oil and cylinder pressure, leading to insufficient power and causing the engine to shake. Faulty ignition coil: Once the ignition coil fails, such as cracking and leaking electricity, it will result in insufficient or lack of spark plug ignition capability. Consequently, the air-fuel mixture in that cylinder will not combust properly, leading to engine misfire, difficulty starting, and acceleration jitter.

I've been driving a Volkswagen Magotan for several years and have encountered the jerky start issue multiple times. It's most likely caused by dirty or deteriorated transmission fluid leading to rough gear shifts, especially common in automatic transmission models. For manual transmissions, worn clutch plates or faulty pressure plates can also cause noticeable shaking during starts. Additionally, ignition system issues like spark plug carbon buildup or aging ignition coils can cause unstable engine power output. Clogged fuel injectors or dirty throttle bodies similarly affect smooth starts. I recommend starting with the basics: check if the spark plugs need replacement and try cleaning the throttle body. If the problem persists, it's more reliable to visit a professional shop to read fault codes with a diagnostic tool. Don't ignore minor issues - regular transmission maintenance can prevent this problem.

Starting hesitation is often closely related to the ignition system. Excessive spark plug gap or ignition coil leakage can cause sudden loss of engine power, making the car feel jerky. Insufficient fuel pump pressure can also lead to uneven fuel supply, especially during initial acceleration. Transmission tuning issues such as torque converter slippage or control module abnormalities are also common, with Volkswagen's DSG transmissions being more prone to this problem. I recommend checking for engine carbon buildup as soon as possible - cleaning it can make combustion more stable. Using an OBD scanner can quickly locate sensor faults; for example, a malfunctioning mass airflow sensor can affect the air-fuel mixture ratio. Don't wait until the hesitation becomes frequent before addressing it.

My Magotan also often does this, it's particularly uncomfortable when the car jerks at startup. It turned out that one or two spark plugs were faulty, and after replacing them, it became noticeably smoother. Or, if the clutch plate is worn, a manual transmission will shake strongly when releasing the clutch. My habit of accelerating aggressively can also easily cause problems, but trying a gentler start helps. Cleaning the carbon buildup in the throttle body improved the situation significantly; getting it done during the 20,000 km maintenance can save a lot of hassle. A clogged fuel filter is also a hidden danger, and it's not expensive to replace. Remember not to overlook minor repairs, as bigger problems can be costly and labor-intensive to fix.
