What Makes a Car Jerk?

There are a number of reasons why a car might jerk while driving. Most of these are not serious problems and can be fixed with a proper tune-up or exchanging parts. If you are ever unsure and cannot pinpoint the cause of your car jerk problem take your vehicle to a professional mechanic.

Fuel Injection

It is possible for the fuel injectors in your car to get clogged. This may cause a temporary jerking while driving or when in a motionless state. Using a fuel additive specifically designed for proper fuel injection will normally help your problem.

Fuel Filter

A dirty fuel filter could also be the cause of a car jerking problem. This is very similar to having clogged fuel injectors, but the source of the problem lies in the fuel filter. When it becomes overrun with dirt and gunk, it begins to stop functioning correctly, causing a car to jerk. If the fuel filter is dirty, replace it with a new one.

Bad Transmission

In more extreme cases, if the car is jerking badly, the car's transmission may be waiting to give out at any time. This becomes even more a possibility in older car models and when the vehicle has high mileage. If you suspect this might be the case, take the car into a mechanic as soon as possible. A bad transmission can lead to serious problems for your car and wallet.

References

• Ford: Asia Pacific: Filters
• AA1Car: Troubleshooting And Cleaning Dirty Fuel Injectors
• Utah State University: Buying A Used Car