Your Car Jerks When Accelerating? Here’s The Potential Issue

in Service and Maintenance
mercedes car interior

Photo by Arteum.ro on Unsplash

A car should accelerate without excess movement on the road. If your vehicle jerks when accelerating, it shows deeper troubles with the system. What are some of the reasons your car jerks when accelerating? Are there serious issues that should receive expert opinion as soon as possible?

If you’re interested in learning why your car jerks when accelerating, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn about the top reasons why a vehicle might lurch when you hit the gas. The more aware you are of the causes, the better prepared you can be to address the trouble. What causes this fault? Let’s talk about it.

Nasty Fuel Injectors

Dirty fuel injectors are one of the most common troubles with a jerking car. They can cause all kinds of issues, along with jerkiness. If the injectors are covered in filth, they can cause the engine to lose power. The component will shudder or even stop in the worst cases. There are typically noises that occur along with this power failure.

According to cartreatments.com, the best way to address this issue is to clean your fuel injectors. Use a fuel injector or a fuel cleaning system for the best results. There should be options online or at a local auto shop.

It may be impossible to clean the fuel injectors, even with the best possible cleaning system. You may need to remove the injectors for a manual clean or replace them with new injectors altogether. Carbon deposits can cause damage to your system and will build up if left ignored for too long.


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Tired Spark Plugs

Spark plugs are another part of your car that can cause trouble. If this is your problem, there’s good news. Spark plugs are one of the easiest troubles to fix in a car. You can replace them and can easily note if there is something wrong.

Dirty spark plugs can prevent the car from firing. The fuel won’t be able to ignite in each cylinder, causing the vehicle to jerk while accelerating. Your car jerks while accelerating because it doesn’t have the proper energy to move. 

If you feel like you haven’t changed your spark plugs in a long time, check them out. It may be time to clean or replace your old spark plugs instead of getting new ones. The change is fast and won’t cost too much money to complete if you know the right people.

Moisture Buildup

If your car jerks when accelerating, it could be due to moisture buildup in the system. This occurs when condensation builds under the distributor cap in chilly weather conditions. Most of the time, people run into this trouble when they keep their car outside in the colder weather.

The moisture buildup can cause the engine to misfire, leading to jerky motions in the vehicle. The odd movements typically happen when the driver attempts to move at a slow speed.

The water should go away in time. Unfortunately, repeated exposure to too much moisture can harm the engine in time. The best thing you can do for your vehicle is to keep it inside a dry space at night, such as a garage. You could also consider a thermal cover.


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Harmed Acceleration Cable

An acceleration cable could be another reason for troubles with acceleration. This item works as a connecting point between the gas pedal and the throttle plate. When it’s damaged, the car won’t respond as quickly as it once did. This delay can lead to the lurching feeling many are familiar with on the road. 

You should check the acceleration cable if you think that’s the trouble. If left alone for too long, it can cause the vehicle to stop. You don’t want to leave an acceleration cable along for too long. Talk to an expert mechanic for the ideal results with your car.

Poor Fuel Pump

The fuel pump is a crucial component in your vehicle. It’s in charge of delivering the correct fuel to the engine, which moves forward appropriately. When it’s broken, the car can stutter and fail to operate.

Unfortunately, an issue with a fuel pump is a cause to start from scratch. Get the component replaced as soon as possible to get back to normal on the road.

It’s also possible that the fuel pump is clogged. If this is the case, you can save money by replacing the fuel filter whenever possible. They are cheap online and in-store.


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Grimy Air Filter

A dirty air filter could be the reason your car jerks while accelerating. According to absolutecarcare.com, air filters become clogged after constant use over a period. When they become too dirty, the car may stutter and fail to work like it usually does. A grimy air filter can be problematic for any driver.

The easiest way to handle this trouble is to replace the air filters. You can get an expert to complete the process or save money by doing it yourself. You should be able to locate air filters at your local auto store or even online.

It’s critical to keep the components in your car clean. The grimier the air filter, the higher the risk of it jerking on the road when you hit the gas. 

Final Thoughts

It can be a problem when a car jerks while accelerating. It might feel like the vehicle is falling apart, but there are many potential solutions to this troubling event. It can be anything from moisture buildup to a poor fuel pump. With a quick fix from you or an expert, you can have your vehicle back to normal in no time.

We hope this information was helpful! It can be scary when your car jerks while accelerating. Luckily, the solution shouldn’t be too out of reach. There are plenty of people who know how to handle these troubles without too much cost on your end. The more you know, the better prepared you can be for any potential issues in the future.



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