Jerking problem and engine shuts off while being driven

Hi there.
A car that jerks when starting it, when accelerating or whilst you're driving is showing symptoms that something is wrong, though there can be many causes: it can be problems in the starting system, fuel, engine or the exhaust pipe. You may even notice that your car engine light has come on to warn you of a problem. Getting to the problem at the first symptoms can avoid more serious break-downs. In one HOWTO we'd like to give you some advice so you know all the possible reasons and answer your question: why is my car jerking?
Contents

1. Car jerking caused by a blocked catalyst
2. Jerking caused by a fault in the spark plug
3. Car jerking because of a drained acceleration cable
4. Car jerking because of dirty injectors
5. Car jerking because of the motor winding
6. Accumulated waste can cause the car to jerk
7. Car pulling.
8. Car jerking caused by a blocked catalyst Car jerking can be caused by a blocked catalyst, which leads to gases not being ejected as they should be. The result is that, until the car doesn't rev, the car jerks. If your car has a blocked catalyst you will also notice the following symptoms apart from the jerking.
   

   Symptoms

   • The 'Check engine' light will turn on
   • Your car jerks when accelerating
   • The car's fuel efficiency will have dropped
   For more extended information, take a look at our article on the symptoms of a blocked catalyst. The best you can do if your car is jerking due to a blocked catalyst is to visit a trusted mechanic to fix it.
   Jerking caused by a fault in the spark plug Another cause for jerking can also be a fault in the spark plug or one of its cables. You will know this is the case if your car jerks when you start it in the morning. The symptoms are very similar to a blocked catalyst, but if it's a problem with a spark plug, you'll notice the following too:
   

   Symptoms

   • The engine will make even more noise than it usually does, like that of an airplane.
   • It jerks when accelerating but also when you start the car
   In this case, you can solve the problem yourself by changing the spark plug. If you don't have the skills to change the spark plug yourself make sure a professional solves this problem.
   It is very important to keep the spark plug clean, so you can avoid car jerking and other more problems.
   Car jerking because of a drained acceleration cable A car jerking can also be a result of the acceleration cable being very worn out. You will notice because of the following symptoms apart from the jerking:
   

   Symptoms

   • Your car takes extra time to respond when you press the accelerator and starts jerking.
   • If you take a look inside, you will also notice that the outer covering of the acceleration cable will be damaged.
   The best you can do is change it as soon as possible, as the car will stop at any moment if you leave it to break. Take the vehicle to a mechanic to solve the problem. If your car has this problem, take a look at our article to know all the reasons why your car jerks when accelerating to find out what it may be or try adjusting the acceleration cable if you are handy with cars.
9. Car jerking because of dirty injectors Another cause for car jerks are dirty injectors. This is not such a serious problem but should know it needs solving too. You will notice your car is jerking for this reason if:
   

   Symptoms

   • Your car also loses power
   • Your engine misfires frequently and jerks and stutters frequently and/or continuously while driving normally.
   It's best to clean them regularly to avoid costly reparations. You can do this yourself using a specific cleaning kit, which are quite cheap and can be found almost everywhere.
   Car jerking because of the motor winding The car's engine/motor winding can be another reason for car jerking. Wear of the engine's winding is most likely caused by the engine being put under stress - i.e. through hard acceleration.
   

   Symptoms

   • If your car has more than one winding and one of them is broken, the car will jerk.
   • In the case there's only one winding, the car will not start.
   The only way of knowing if this is the case is through the use of an Ohm meter, so if you don't own one it's best you check with a mechanic to know if this is the reason your car is jerking.
10. Accumulated waste can cause the car to jerk Jerking can also mean the fuel filter is blocked because too much waste has accumulated. To make sure this is the case you can learn how to tell if your fuel filter is bad. If this is your case,go to your mechanics to solve the problem or you can also try to clean your fuel filter at home.
    These are the most common causes of a car jerking, however, your car could have another problem that needs the help of a specialist. If you're not sure of what is happening to your car it's better to bring it to a mechanic. The specialist will find the root of the problem.
11. If you'd like to read similar articles to Why is my Car Jerking - All Possible Reasons, we recommend you browse around our Car Maintenance and Repair category.