Driving is all about reaching your destination while enjoying a smooth ride. But what if, during accelerating on the road, your car starts jerking. Then let me tell you, you are not alone. This is the most common problem car owners face and one of the most difficult to identify as many variables can cause it. Let’s have a look at what car jerking is and what are its common causes and how to fix them.
Why does the car jerk while accelerating?
An internal combustion engine is a complicated price of machinery with many moving parts that need to work together to provide a smooth driving experience. So if you notice your vehicle working fine while standing still and car jerks when moved, it means that the problem is in the car’s combustion chambers.
A car engine requires the right combination of air and fuel to run efficiently if there is any imbalance, the car engine fires and leading to the jerking movement.
In this case, the problem is mainly related to the following reasons:
- Bad spark plugs
- Faulty sensors
- Blockage in the air intake
- Clogged catalytic converter
Causes Of Rough Acceleration
Bad spark plugs
In the car jurks, spark plugs are responsible for igniting the fuel and air mixture inside the combustion chambers. This is the case in the ideal scenario. But if they are not working at their total capacity, the plugs may not ignite the air and fuel mixture or do it prematurely.
If this happens, the cylinder may misfire, which leads to jerking movement for the car. Along with sharp movements, if the spark plugs are bad, there will be other signs such as:
- The check engine light will be on
- You will notice higher fuel consumption as it’s not being used up efficiently in the car
- The car will be rough idling
The fix: To fix this issue, change your spark plugs every 30,000 miles. You can find a premium pack of spark plugs below the range of $50.
Faulty Car Sensors
In the vehicle, there are two sensors that are responsible for jerking movement, and they are Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF) and Fuel Pressure Sensor (FPS). Both of them affect the air and fuel mixture within the engine. So if these sensors stop working, they can send the wrong value to the engine control unit, which can lead to problems in many areas of the vehicle, especially the engine.
They can also cause problems such as:
- Vehicle stalling
- Difficulty starting the car
- Low power while driving
- Bad fuel economy
The fix: There is little to fix or clean in the sensor. So if the sensor losses its calibration due to use, heat damage or mechanical faults, the only repair for them is to be replaced. A car has many different types of sensors installed and mainly costs somewhere between $50 to $100. If you include the labour cost, changing one sensor can cost you around $150. Even though this seems a bit costly, it can save you from major repairs in the long term.
Blockage in the air filter
Air is an essential component for the car to function. The air and fuel mixture is the reason the vehicle can generate enough power to move. The air filter plays a role to provide the engine with clean air. It filters off debris, dust, insects, and other particles and offers a correct ratio of air to fuel into the combustion chambers.
If not changed regularly, these filters can block up and, in turn, choke the engine. If the engine is choked, it won’t function properly and can lead to symptoms like:
- Engine misfires
- Reduced power
- Check engine light turns on
The fix: The easiest and most straightforward fix is to change the filter regularly to avoid this problem. It is recommended that you change it every 12,000 to 15,000 miles with a brand new one. These filters can cost you around $35 to $50, depending on the model of your car.
Clogged catalytic converter
A catalytic converter receives toxic gasses from the combustion chambers and converts them into less harmful gasses that are safer for the people and the planet. In most cases, the clogging of the catalytic converter is the secondary symptom; the main cause is usually contaminated fuel or bad sparkplugs. These can end up overheating the engine and also melt the honeycomb structure of the converter.
Symptoms of clogged catalytic converter include:
- Reduced acceleration of the vehicle
- Black exhaust smoke
- Engine shows a sluggish performance
- The noticeable smell of sulphur from the exhaust
The fix: Therefore, if you are having catalytic converter troubles, first try to identify the primary cause and fix it. Otherwise, when it comes to cleaning, if there is light clogging, it can be easily cleaned, and it would cost you a max $40.
But if there is severe damage to the converter, it would need to be replaced. And the cost for the part and labour cost can result in expenses anywhere from $500 to $2500.
What to do with a damaged car?
If your vehicle’s repair cost is more than its value, the best thing to do in this situation is to sell it. There are many car buyers that purchase these scrap, damaged, wrecked vehicles for scrap metal in Gold Coast and pay the car owners to top cash. One of such companies is MetalBiz. If you are looking for a reliable business to sell your unwanted car for cash to, they are the right choice. They offer customers a hassle-free way to get rid of old vehicles and also pay cash up to $9,999 for it.
All you have to do is visit their website and request a quote for a car. Their customer service teams are always available and will guide you through the whole process. The best part, with MetalBiz, you will receive free car removal service from anywhere in Gold Coast.
