Q: Car jerking when slowing down

asked by on November 27, 2016

My car sometimes jerks while I'm driving it feels like it's about to die on me. It mostly does it when I'm slowing down. I just got my spark plugs replaced thinking that would solve the problem. But it's still happening.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Idle Control Valve Replacement $162.54 - $1028.01 Get a Quote

This is a common symptom of a dirty or failing idle air control valve. As you know, the idle air control valve reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and at idle. As this valve is controlled by the vehicle’s computer, it will adjust idle speed based upon other measurements such as engine temperature, intake air temperature and electrical system load or voltage. When you accelerate, the engine RPM increases, and as you let off the gas, the RPM slowly returns to the normal idling speed with the help of the idle air control valve. When the engine RPM drops below the normal range of about ~800 RPM (for most cars), this often times will cause the engine to stall indicating a dirty or faulty idle air control valve. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and repair your idle air control valve.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Car rattles or taps when it gets hot
It seems like a sensor problem to me. When the engine reaches operating temperature, the computer takes control with readings from the main sensors, and adjusts for the most efficient mixture. If one of these sensors are reading incorrectly, or...
I have an exhaust leak
The exhaust manifolds are known to warp on these engines, causing an exhaust leak. This is typically most noticeable when the engine is cold, before the metal heats up and expands. The only solution is to replace the manifold(s). However,...
Brakes locked after the car is parked for a while
Hello. If the brakes are locking up as the vehicle sits, then you typically either have an issue with the drum brake shoes catching on the backing plate or if all four of the brakes are locking up then you...
Clutch failure on 2½yr old Peugeot 107 having done 1,500 miles
Hello. This clutch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-long-does-a-clutch-last) would fail prematurely for two reasons, assuming that the vehicle is driven easily. Either the clutch is not fully releasing and is dragging due to the system holding pressure, or the clutch is defective. Most of...
AC blowing hot air
Hi there. The high and low pressure sides of the A/C system are connected. The A/C system is a loop. It will not only leak from the low side but retain pressure in the high pressure side. You make no...
Brake system malfunction
The master cylinder (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brake-master-cylinder-replacement) is likely worn out and should be replaced. The rubber cups simply allow the brake fluid to slip past, rather than compress, when the brake pedal is pressed. I would also replace all of your brake...
My Toyota Corolla 2015 EPS came on when I just drove about a minute from my house. The brakes of the car are hard
Hello, thank you for writing in. It sounds like you may have a voltage problem going on. I usually check the connection me at the battery first. If the battery connections are fine then the alternator and battery must be...
Engine won't start after running it for ten minutes - 2001 Nissan Frontier
Hey there. This suggests possibly a lack of fuel pressure getting to the injectors. This can happen when the fuel pressure regulator (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-pressure-regulator-replacement) is not maintaining the required fuel pressure in the system consistently. This may also be a result...
crankshaft pulley harmonic dampener fell off after serpentine belt replacement
It could be that the condition of the pulley caused your belt failure in the first place. Deciding that depends on where the balancer separated.The balancer itself consists of a center hub with a pulley ring around it and a...

Related articles

How Long Does an Idle Control Valve Last?
Among Among the most important factors in having a smooth running car is a consistent idle speed. Having the incorrect idle speed can lead to a variety of different issues. There are a number of different components that have to...
The Top 5 Selling Cars in Alaska in 2012
Alaska Alaska requires a different kind of vehicle to handle both the terrain and the wintery conditions. While some of the most popular options for the Alaskan terrain in previous years included options such as the Subaru Forester and the...
The Top 5 Selling Cars in Connecticut in 2012
Connecticut Connecticut offers plenty of rain and its fair share of snow during the winter months, which means drivers need vehicles that can handle these conditions. Top selling vehicles in previous years have included the Toyota Camry, Corolla and the...