Jerks of the car when driving in most cases are a sign of problems in the power supply system of the engine, ignition, or transmission. In such a situation, it is worth finding out why the car is twitching on the go, and only then continue to operate the car. Some malfunctions that cause these symptoms may endanger the safety of passengers or cause more serious damage to the vehicle. If you hear grinding noise when accelerating and your car is jerking, then this article is for you as we will consider the causes of such problems.
The Main Causes Of Car Jerks During Acceleration
The smooth movement of the car is extremely important for car owners. When your car jerks when accelerating, it indicates certain technical problems or damage.
1. Poor quality spark plugs and/or coils.
Harsh jerks and grinding noise during acceleration can occur if there are problems with the ignition of the fuel. A faulty spark plug or a failed ignition coil will cause one of the cylinders to misfire. This can cause slight jerks, especially when you are trying to accelerate.
2. Dirty nozzles.
This is a fairly common problem that you should pay attention to in the first place. You should pay attention to the injection system if the jerks appeared a long time ago and gradually increase. For high-quality cleaning, you need to have professional tools.
3. Clogged choke.
Vehicle jerking may be the result of a dirty throttle body. The vehicle does not have enough power. If you step on the gas pedal and leave the car idling, the engine will stall. Excessive cleaning of the throttle body in older vehicles can result in high RPMs when the engine is idling due to wear on the throttle body. Sometimes minor repairs to this unit may be required.
4. Condensation on electronic components.
Condensation problems can be caused by cold weather and parking outside. A fairly large amount of condensate forms under the hood of a car. Part of it can get inside the engine, which will cause small jerks during acceleration. But such jerks will disappear as soon as the condensate evaporates.
5. Dirty filters.
The fuel and air filters should be checked first. The twitching may be the result of a shortage of fuel or air for the normal operation of the air-fuel system. One reason is dirty filters. It is best to follow the service recommendations to keep the filters clean at all times.
6. Dirty or clogged fuel and air systems.
The fuel supply system may be clogged due to poor quality fuel, a dirty fuel filter, or a rusty fuel tank. Air supply elements can be contaminated due to a bad air filter, or holes in the air ducts. You should find out if there are any obstacles in the path of air and fuel to the engine.
7. Faulty fuel pump.
Another part that can cause your car to jerk when accelerating is the fuel pump. With a serious malfunction, it may not provide the optimum level of pressure in the fuel injection system. This will lead to insufficient fuel supply and jerking.
8. Error in settings.
The ECU may send incorrect data, which is reflected in the gauges and sensors. In addition, the problem of car jerks occurs after chip tuning the engine at an unverified service station. This can lead to incorrect settings and poor ECU performance.
9. Perforation in fuel pipes.
The fuel pump is usually located in the tank at the rear of the vehicle. The pump delivers fuel through thin metal tubes to the engine, creating the necessary pressure. But if one of the pipes is broken, the necessary pressure is not built up, and this leads to poor idling and car jerks during acceleration.
10. MAF failure.
The functioning of the air fuel system may be distorted due to the fact that the MAF sensor sends incorrect data to the ECU. The car will stall, twitch, shake, and slow down the movement in every possible way. The MAF sensor can be cleaned, but it usually needs to be replaced if such failures occur.
11. Worn throttle cable.
If your vehicle has an accelerator pedal cable instead of an electronic pedal control system, this may be another reason why the vehicle may jerk when accelerating. The cable may be unusable, so you need to replace it.
The main reasons why the car jerks when braking
There are several reasons why a car jerks when braking. Among them are the use of new, not yet lapped, brake pads, air ingress into the braking fluid, the curvature of the brake discs, partial failure of silent blocks and/or steering tips, and problems with the pendulum bushings.
Let's look at the most common reasons why a car jerks.
- Airing the hydraulic brake system. This phenomenon occurs due to the depressurization of the corresponding system on hoses, cylinders, or in its other components. Jerks are already the final signal that the system needs to be pumped and brake fluid added to it.
- Curvature of the brake/brake discs. Such a situation may arise, for example, due to their sudden cooling. This situation is especially relevant for non-original or cheap low-quality discs.
- Rust on disc. When the car is parked for a long time without movement, a rust coating forms between the brake pad and the disc, which is subsequently perceived as shocks during braking.
- Incorrect disk installation. Inexperienced craftsmen could crook the disc, which causes friction on the block.
- The curvature of drums. Changes in the geometry of the drums can be caused by wear or sudden changes in their operating temperature.
Final Thoughts
If starting or stopping your vehicle is accompanied by strange noises or jerks, it is worth checking the vehicle, as some malfunctions can be life-threatening. If you are desperate to repair an old car, we recommend that you use the services of JunkCarsUs. The company buys cars in any condition, including cars with grinding noise when accelerating, as well as vehicles after an accident, fire, or drowning. You can use the calculator on the company's website in advance to calculate the possible cost of your car.