Over time, as cars have gotten more complicated, there have also been more symptoms that can imply various things.
Fortunately, many of these symptoms can be identified and treated without specialized tools.
When your car stops erratically, there may be several existing or potential issues. Here, we’ll discuss the most frequent culprits!
Car Jerks When Stopped At Light?
Your car jerks when stopped for many reasons, including dirty fuel injectors, blocked catalytic converter, and broken mass air flow sensor, where your check engine light will signal an error code. In addition, these factors could also be the reason for your car jerking, dirty air filter, damaged spark plugs, and moisture accumulation, among other things.
Learn more about why your car jerks when stopped. Here are nine reasons why. Continue reading!
1. Dirty Fuel Injectors
It is a widespread, irritating condition that may cause several problems.
Due to constant engine misfires, dirty injectors might make your car lose power and jerk, traveling at a consistent speed or from a stop.
The engine’s stuttering due to erratic fuel input is also audible. To prevent the issue, you must clean the injectors frequently.
Fortunately, employing a fuel injector cleaner makes this procedure quite simple. Even the most excellent fuel injector cleaner might be unable to clean so heavily carbonized injectors.
When that occurs, you’ll either need to remove the injectors and try to clean them or just replace them manually.
2. Blocked Catalytic Converter
The level of pollutants that escape from your car’s exhaust is decreased due to a catalytic converter.
Whenever the air/fuel ratio in your vehicle’s engine is excessively rich, a blockage might eventually form in the catalytic converter, interfering with the exhaust system’s outflow.
The check engine light might illuminate, there may be a rotten egg smell (hydrogen sulfide), and there may be jerking in addition to other symptoms.
Using a decent catalytic converter cleaner first may help you clear minor obstructions.
If it doesn’t solve the issue, you’ll have to take it to a shop for vehicle repair, where the catalytic converter will probably need to be replaced.
3. Broken Mass Air Flow Sensor
A malfunctioning mass airflow sensor (MAF) may be to blame when your automobile stops quickly and jerks.
Its responsibility is to gauge the volume of air entering the engine and transmit this information to the vehicle’s computer.
The computer then tells the fuel injectors to deliver the correct amount of fuel at the proper time for the optimal air/fuel mixture.
You might notice your car suddenly jerking when stopped or pushing forward when traveling at more incredible speeds, such as on the highway, where it would be most apparent if your MAF sensor is malfunctioning.
Whenever your vehicle’s mass airflow sensor is damaged, the check engine light should be on, but you could still simply verify using an OBD2 scanner.
4. Faulty Fuel Pump
A gasoline supply problem is frequently blamed when your automobile jerks when accelerating.
However, it is often advisable to start from scratch when the engine is not receiving the proper amount of fuel. It’d be the car’s fuel pump in this instance.
Your vehicle would jerk or rush forward whether you’re at a stop or were driving if your gasoline pump failed because it would be unable to keep up with fuel demands.
Another possibility is that your fuel filter is clogged, impairing fuel flow and contributing to your problems by causing inconsistent fuel supply.
The method of replacing the gasoline filter is reasonably easy and inexpensive.
5. Dirty Air Filter
If you observe that when your automobile jerks or sputters when you stop, a poor air/fuel ratio is frequently to blame. Proper air intake is the opposite of the fuel side of things.
You frequently see the same problems when insufficient fuel is used because not enough air enters the combustion chamber.
The air filter is the first line of protection against the dirt and other foreign particles in your vehicle. When particles enter the engine through a filthy air filter, performance is impacted, and jerking results.
6. Damaged Spark Plugs
Among the most frequent causes is the simplest to locate and address. A vital spark is necessary for proper fuel ignition within every cylinder during the burning process.
The engine will misfire if a faulty or filthy spark plug prevents this proper ignition. When you accelerate or stop, your vehicle will jerk or shutter.
Replacing the damaged plug is all that is required to solve this issue. Changing all your spark plugs could be a great idea if you can’t recall the last time you did so. It is a simple and affordable fix.
7. Moisture Accumulation
Condensation may develop under the distributor cap on chilly days. Generally speaking, this happens when you leave your automobile parked outside all night.
Your car will jerk when stopping slowly because the moisture will lead to the engine misfiring.
Fortunately, the issue will disappear when the water is removed, but persistent moisture accumulation might wear down your engine over time.
If you put your automobile in a garage or secure area, you can altogether avoid this problem.
When a shelter is not an option and you anticipate colder weather, a thermal covering can also assist lower the risk of condensation.
8. Warped Rotors
Disc brakes heavily depend on friction between a pair of brake pads and the accompanying rotor to slow down a moving vehicle.
Unfortunately, you should eventually replace these parts because they do not endure forever.
Warpage is more likely to occur in brake rotors that are getting older wildly if they have previously been spun on a brake lathe.
In addition, thermal shock from overheating or quick cooling can provide a jerking sensation while using the brakes when a rotor thins.
9. Air From ABS System
In the case of a panic stop, modern vehicles use an ABS module to modulate the brake pressure, minimizing skidding. However, the total lack of air is necessary for an ABS to function correctly.
It’s conceivable that not all the air in your automobile was properly bled if it just had brake work done and is now braking abnormally.
To know more, you can also read our posts on why your car idles rough when AC is on, why your car insurance keeps going up, and why your car pulls when you brake.
Conclusion
These are the causes for your vehicle to jerk when stopping. You need to keep your engine’s parts clean and give them frequent oiling.
Remember that ass you stop, your car jerks due to engine issues; therefore, using the proper amount of gasoline in your engine will improve performance.