Q: Car jerking going into gear

asked by on February 24, 2016

My car has an automatic transmission. When car goes into second or third gear, it will give a little jerk, but runs fine after that.

Car jerks forward at high speeds Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

If your car is jerking when shifting, I would first check to make sure that the transmission fluid is topped off at the proper level, as low fluid may interfere with the proper operation of the transmission. If the fluid is at the correct level, then that may be indicative of a problem elsewhere, perhaps with the transmission, or something else. As transmission related problems can sometimes be difficult to diagnose yourself, I would recommend having a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose the vehicle’s jerking issue before proceeding with any repairs.

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

If I modify my truck, will that affect how well the airbags and other safety gear work?
There are a number of ways for people to modify their trucks. Sometimes it is for utility reasons, like adding a snow plow. Other times the vehicle may be lifted to fit larger tires for better ground clearance. Here’s how...
Steering wheel not working
There could be many reasons for why your steering wheel is no longer working in your 1991 GMC. The many reasons include issues with the steering column itself, the steering gear box, a failing arm or link that assists the...
Steering wheel shakes when braking
Hi there. If the steering wheel shakes when hitting the brakes, then you are right, it does have warped rotors. If the rotors on this large of a vehicle are that warped then the rotors should be replaced (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brake-rotor-disc-replacement) to...
Anti-theft system keeping car from starting
It sounds like the ignition key or the door lock switches are not working correctly. Try and unlock the vehicle from the passenger side and see if the alarm disables. If it does, then the drivers door lock cylinder is...
My jeep won't move forward or backwards.
Hi there: Usually this issue is related to a serious drive line component such as a drive shaft, center gear or transmission output shaft that has broken. When the rear axle is locked up, it' can also be contributed to...
Why is my ABS warning light on?
Your car is equipped with wheel speed sensors at each of the four wheels which monitor wheel speed while relaying this information constantly to the ABS and traction control system which are controlled by the car's ECU. When the ECU...
Why would my steering wheel lock up and my engine stop accelerating in my 2003 Ford Escape
Hello. The cause really depends on the order in which the issue is occurring. Most of the time what occurs is that the engine begins to stall or does stall. When this occurs the power steering pump stops spinning which...
P2160 code caused check engine light to turn on. Truck is running fine
Hi there. If the code cleared, it's possible that the source of the code is actually the wiring harness attached to the speed sensor. If the light comes back on, you might want to have a professional mechanic come to...
Will a Ford Econoline 7.3 diesel van/ambulance transmission fit my truck and if so what modifications will I have to make?
I looked up the two applications. The two transmissions are different and, in particular, the transmission control module and PCM and the wiring harness on your 1999 truck are not compatible with the controls on the 1990 transmission. If you...

Related articles

What Causes a Car to Stall?
You trust your car. You may not think about it, but you believe that certain functions will occur without fail. You may be aware...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor
The The 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor is a crossover SUV that manages to provide decent comfort, power and performance into a single package. This also marked the final year of production for the SUV, as it was phased out due to...
3 Essential Things to Know About Your Car’s Gear Shifter
The The gear shifter allows the vehicle to be put into different gears on a manual transmission. In an automatic transmission, the gear shifter is known as a gear selector. The gear shifter is normally located between the two front...