Pontiac Sunbird Car jerks forward at high speeds Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(5)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(5)

Car jerks forward at high speeds Inspection Service

How much does a Car jerks forward at high speeds Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Pontiac Sunbird Car jerks forward at high speeds Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1989 Pontiac SunbirdL4-2.0LService typeCar jerks forward at high speeds InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
1978 Pontiac SunbirdL4-2.5LService typeCar jerks forward at high speeds InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1993 Pontiac SunbirdL4-2.0LService typeCar jerks forward at high speeds InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1986 Pontiac SunbirdL4-1.8L TurboService typeCar jerks forward at high speeds InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
1977 Pontiac SunbirdV6-3.8LService typeCar jerks forward at high speeds InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
1992 Pontiac SunbirdL4-2.0LService typeCar jerks forward at high speeds InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1992 Pontiac SunbirdV6-3.1LService typeCar jerks forward at high speeds InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$109.87 - $117.28
1979 Pontiac SunbirdV6-3.8LService typeCar jerks forward at high speeds InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example Pontiac Sunbird Car jerks forward at high speeds Inspection prices

When traveling at high speed, it can be particularly unsettling when your vehicle starts to jerk or surge forward without warning. Jerking or surging can be a sign of a number of different issues, each with its own ease and cost of repair. Specificity with regards to the handling of the vehicle at higher speeds, throttle responsiveness, and unusual noises, can help a mechanic better identify your vehicle’s specific problem.

How this system works:

When a vehicle receives an inconsistent or unbalanced flow of air and fuel, it will not run properly. An indication that a vehicle is not receiving the right mixture of air and fuel is if the vehicle jerks or surges forward at high speed. Several components of the fuel or air intake system could cause this jerking or surging sensation to happen. Issues within these systems can also cause fuel economy to worsen.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Failing Mass Airflow Sensor: The mass airflow sensor measures how much air is entering the engine and relays this information to the vehicle’s computer so the right amount of fuel can be delivered from the fuel injectors. When a mass airflow sensor begins to fail, it will typically generate an error code that triggers the Check Engine light. This warning may be accompanied by an unexpected jerking or surging sensation while driving at high speed. A vehicle with a failing mass airflow sensor may also stall soon after starting.

  • Engine Vacuum Leak: Your engine uses vacuum lines to help the computer calculate the necessary position of the fuel injectors, ensuring an appropriate fuel/air mixture. A vacuum leak may cause the engine to run inefficiently and the computer to generate an error code. A vehicle suffering from a vacuum leak may jerk while at high speed and may also struggle to idle.

  • Fuel Pump Malfunction: A vehicle’s fuel pump is responsible for moving gasoline from the fuel tank to the engine where it can be mixed with oxygen to run the engine. When a fuel pump begins to fail, it may struggle to consistently deliver the correct amount of the fuel to the engine. The fuel pump may dramatically increase pressure while failing, creating a jerking or surging sensation.  Your vehicle may also be sluggish and struggle while driving uphill or towing.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the reason for the sudden jerking or surging sensation. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report outlining the cause of jerking sensation and the cost of any repairs that need to be made.

How it's done:

A mechanic will first check your vehicle by plugging in a code reader/scanner into the vehicle’s computer. The computer should be able to provide the mechanic with a better picture of what specific part or parts are failing.

If your vehicle has a bad or failing mass airflow sensor, the mechanic will begin by finding the sensor in the engine bay and checking for any signs of failure. The mechanic will check the wire harness connected to the sensor to ensure that all of wires are properly connected. After removing the sensor, the mechanic should be able to discover the nature of the failure and replace the sensor.

In order to check for a vacuum leak, the mechanic will examine the vehicle’s vacuum hoses and gasket. If he or she finds the source of the leak, the mechanic will replace the failed components and start the engine to make sure the leak has been fixed.

To check a bad fuel pump, a mechanic may have to remove the gas tank. Many modern cars have electric pumps located inside the gas tank. The mechanic will examine the fuel pump to see if it is the cause of the poor performance and jerking sensation. If it is the culprit, the mechanic will replace it and reinstall the gas tank, if necessary.

In all cases, your mechanic will make the necessary repairs and start the engine to ensure that it is now running properly. Once the repairs are completed, the mechanic can use the code reader/scanner to remove error codes and turn off the Check Engine light.

How important is this service?

A car that surges or jerks at high speed is potentially dangerous, especially in heavy traffic or in bad weather. If your vehicle jerks at high speed, you should stop driving it and have it inspected by a mechanic. Because many of the issues that would cause this jerking sensation also trigger a warning lights, being diligent and having a mechanic inspect a vehicle with a warning light can help limit potential damage and avoid more costly repairs.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Pontiac mechanics

Real customer reviews from Pontiac owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(5)

Rating Summary
5
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0

Joshua

27 years of experience
709 reviews
Joshua
27 years of experience
Pontiac Sunbird L4-2.0L - Ignition key does not turn - Oakland, California
Joshua was great. He arrived early which was a plus. He quickly resolved the problem and ordered the parts. I would recommend him to everyone. As a matter of fact while he was there attending my Mom's car, I had him to look at my car as well. He was wonderful and very professional.

Andrew

11 years of experience
855 reviews
Andrew
11 years of experience
Pontiac Sunbird L4-2.0L - Axle / CV Shaft Assembly Replacement (Driver Side Front) - Kansas City, Missouri
Very good experience with this service, Andrew was a true life saver. Will definitely be using this service again. I will definitely recommend this service to everyone that needs or could use it. Thank you

Michael

40 years of experience
131 reviews
Michael
40 years of experience
Pontiac Sunbird L4-2.0L - Car is overheating - Columbus, Ohio
Michael was very professional, kind, courteous, attentive. He listened to what I had to say and helped to find the solution to the problem. Thank you, Mike, for everything you did to get me back on the road. 

John

6 years of experience
35 reviews
John
6 years of experience
Pontiac Sunbird V6-3.8L - Car does not move when I step on the gas pedal Inspection - Renton, Washington
John was super awesome and honest. He showed and explained why I needed certain things and was very helpful in making a well informed decision. Highly reccomend him.

Excellent Rating

(5)

Rating Summary
5
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
Number of Pontiac Sunbird services completed
55+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Pontiac MECHANICS
800+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

5 Essential Things to Know About Car Scams
As As if car buying isn't difficult enough, there are a variety of scams out there of which you need to be aware. From shiesty dealers to flat-out thieves, the following are five of the essential things to know about...
Cell Phones and Texting: Distracted Driving Laws in Colorado
Colorado Colorado defines distracted driving as any action you perform inside of your vehicle that takes your attention away from driving. These distractions include: Cell phones Electronics Eating or drinking Drivers who are under the age of 18 are not...
How to Replace Timing Gears
Timing gears control are connected to the crankshaft and the camshaft and how much fuel and air enter the cylinder to ensure your car runs smoothly.

How can I start my car remotely?

There are a number of after market options (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-buy-a-good-quality-remote-starter) available. They require installation by someone who can read a wiring diagram and connect to the vehicles starting and PCM systems. If your comfortable working on your own car, google remote...

My car has a coolant leak but the engine is not overheating.

Since you have had the water pump and intake gasket replaced in the last two years, I would recommend having the system pressure tested and inspected to see if the radiator (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/radiator-replacement) is leaking or the water pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/water-pump-replacement) is...

Check charging System light

The most common cause for the charging system light coming on is going to be the alternator. The battery is going dead due to the charging system is not recharging it and battery will go dead. In order to properly...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com