Car jerky when driving - it may be because of it
If you notice that your car is jerky while driving, there may be different reasons. You don't always have to assume the worst case scenario when the car jerks when accelerating. From time to time a look under the hood is enough and worthwhile.
Car jerky when driving - check the ignition coils or distributor
The cause of a jerky car can also be a loose cable. As soon as it is not inserted correctly, there is a misfire - and the car jerks. There are different points on the entire ignition system that you can check for errors, such as the ignition coils or, in older cars, the distributor.
- The ignition coils or the distributor is located in a different place in each car. It is therefore best to track the ignition cables away from the engine. The ignition coils or distributors are usually located where they end. In rare cases, it can also happen that the ignition coils are on the individual spark plugs.
- If you have now found the desired component, you must first remove the ignition cables from the plugs. Then you can easily unscrew the coils.
- Now you can check the contacts of the coils or the distributor on the front and back for corrosion. If the contacts are oxidized, you must clean them. The DIY tool "Dremel" is best suited for this, of course any other tool that grinds the contacts is also possible. It is best to spray the contacts of the coils with WD40 after grinding so that the contacts remain corrosion-free for as long as possible and good electrical conductivity is guaranteed.
- If cleaning the coils or the distributor did not help, an exchange of the relevant parts also helps.
- Electronics can be very susceptible to faults - it is therefore best to check the relays for the ignition in this context. The fuse box is usually found in the driver's footwell, but there is often also a second fuse box in the engine compartment. Clean the contacts of the relays and put them back in the same places as before.
Car jerky when driving - check the ignition cables
An incorrectly inserted cable can also be the root of all evils and lead to a jerky car. However, the check is very simple. First check whether all ignition cables are properly and firmly seated in their places. If not, this is often the fault, since the spark plug does not receive any current and the cylinder concerned cannot ignite.
- To make it as easy as possible, it is best to completely remove the ignition cables to check for visible damage. It is important that you remember which cable is where on the ignition coils or spark plugs. If you swap the cables, this can have serious consequences. It is best to number the cables.
- You can often determine that the graphite cable is damaged internally by carefully scanning it.
- The contact points to the spark plugs or the coils can also be oxidized here. But since these are not easy to clean, it is not worth it in most cases. A new set of ignition cables costs around 25 euros, depending on the model and brand.
Car jerky when driving - check the spark plugs
If you have now removed the ignition cables, you can directly check the contacts on the spark plugs.
- Loosening or unscrewing them is a bit more time-consuming and requires a little tact. You often need a special spark plug socket, which, depending on the size of the spark plug, must have the right size. If you cannot solve them directly, something WD40 will help you.
- If you have now removed the spark plugs, you can usually see with the naked eye what condition the candles are in. As you can see in the picture, the left spark plug is unusable. The ignition cable was not properly plugged in here, which meant that the ignition was not correct.
- If you can not see any major signs of wear, you can clean the contacts of the spark plugs, as with the coils.
Car jerky when driving - check the air mass sensor
The air mass sensor tells the engine of your car how much air is currently being sucked in. If the values are falsified, for example due to sensor contamination, uneven gasoline injection may occur. It is worth checking.
- The sensor is usually located between the air filter box and the throttle valve in the intake hose. You can often simply unscrew and remove it.
- Heavy soiling can often be seen with the naked eye. Now it is advisable to clean it. However, you may only use special air mass sensor cleaners for this. WD40 or brake cleaners often do not dry completely and can therefore be sucked in and cause damage to the engine.
Tip: Find a cheap workshop near you now
If the initial measures do not help, the only thing left to do is go to the workshop. With the Caroobi web service you can find suitable companies in your area - and get the repair at the best price.
Latest videos
Seen here: three ignition coils on the distributor. From this, a total of six ignition cables to the respective spark plugs.
Three ignition cables between the manifold on the right in the direction of travel.
The left spark plug has been badly affected. On the right is a brand new candle.
Fuse box in the engine compartment. Here you will find different fuses and relays for the ignition, the petrol pump, etc.
Air mass sensor, removed. In this Camaro, it sits directly in front of the throttle valve.
