Q: Car jerks when no gas applied

asked by on January 06, 2017

My car started to jerk in 2'3'4 gear when decelerating i cleaned the throttle body now it only does it in 2nd gear at 1250 RPM what do i do

My car has 100000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.

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

Hi There, What you are describing sounds like you may have a dirty or faulty idle air control valve. The idle air control valve is a small valve on the engine’s intake system that reads the air intake as it comes into the motor. This is controlled by the car’s ECM which uses this information to make adjustments to the air/fuel ratio depending on various inputs such as outside air temperature, intake air temperature, load and various other things. As you accelerate, your car’s engine is receiving a much higher dose of fuel than when at idle and conversely, when you let off the gas pedal, there is a sudden change in this fuel supply as a result of your foot letting off the pedal. When this happens, the job of the idle air control valve is to bring this deceleration down to a slow and smooth idle rather than suddenly cutting off the fuel supply causing the motor to die. When the idle air control valve is not working properly, this cause a disruption in this process resulting in the engine not being able to idle properly. I would recommend having a professional come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.

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 overheated and leaked coolant.
While it is possible that a hose may need to be replaced, it may not be the root cause of your overheating concern. Does it overheat while driving on the highway at cruising speed or in stop and go traffic?...
Axle or CV boot needs replacing
Hi there. Anytime one of the boots tears and begins to leak grease, the boot, at the very least, will need to be replaced. When an axle goes out out, there will either be a noise, or vibration associated when...
Starting in the morning
Cold weather can effect your car in a number of ways. To start, we need to know if the engine is cranking but not starting. If the engine is not cranking, or has a slow crank on cold mornings, your...
Car won't start or stay in park.
Hi there. The issue could be the shifter cable not adjusted properly or the transmission position sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-position-sensor-switch-replacement) could have failed. If the transmission is not shifting into park, then check the shifter cable to see if its loose on...
Wondering if fuel injector(s) is/are going bad
Although faulty fuel injectors could cause the issue you are describing, the symptoms associated with the diagnostic trouble code you found, namely P0344 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0344-obd-ii-trouble-code-camshaft-position-sensor-circuit-intermittent-by-valerie-johnston) are consistent with the symptoms that you are reporting. Consequently, you are better off resolving the...
My car struggles when put into gear.
Hi there. When you have problems with trying to shift the transmission into gear it is usually caused by a shift solenoid failure on CVT transmissions like your Altima has. However, it could also be a problem with internal transmission...
2005 GMC with Denali transmission grinding in all gears including neutral. It will not accelerate and also doesn't have park.
Hi there. Your transmission is slipping all of the gears inside and may be due to a broken stator clutch and a broken torque converter. A torque converter that has failed will cause a grinding noise if the stator breaks...
Hello, do you know how much it costs to fixed a damaged axel on a 2005 Hyundai Elantra?
At auto parts stores, the axle costs roughly $70 on up. It takes about 1 to 2 hours to install the axle. The job requires special tools though and to ensure a trouble free result, the axle output seal (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/axle-shaft-seal-replacement)...
My car won't go into park or any gears and I think my wheel bearing went out will this cause this to happen
Failed wheel bearings will cause a lot of noise. You also might be able to detect "roughness" if you turn the wheel/tire by hand if the car is on a lift. However, wheel bearing failure will not cause difficulties in...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Smart ForTwo
Whether Whether you’re won over by the European charm, or you just want a vehicle that will make parking so much easier, you just might enjoy the 2012 Smart ForTwo. However, just be prepared that as the name suggests, this...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Mitsubishi Galant
If If you’re in the market for a midsize sedan and want the best price possible, you may be thinking about visiting a Honda or Toyota dealership. Before you do, check out the 2012 Mitsubishi Galant. Key Features Considering how...
2012 Chevrolet Cruze vs. 2012 Hyundai Elantra: Which One Should I Buy?
When you’re looking for a four-door sedan, you’re likely interested in a smaller family car that still offers decent styling and looks, great gas mileage, and a comfortable interior that will keep your family safe as you’re driving. While not...