Q: Jerking reaction

asked by on February 15, 2017

my car is jerking a lot when i put break. its taking off really slow.

My car has 55000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Mass Airflow Sensor Replacement $188.36 - $786.53 Get a Quote

Hello, There are a few things that can cause the car to jerk like this. One of these is a dirty or faulty mass air flow sensor. The mass air flow sensor monitors air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. This sensor relays information to the ECM which uses this to make adjustments to fuel supply to the motor. A dirty or faulty sensor can cause an imbalanced air/fuel load to be supplied to the motor which results in an over fueling or under fueling situation depending on the conditions. This type of inconsistent fuel supply to the motor may cause a hesitation, loss of power, a jerking reaction, potentially a bit of black exhaust smoke and typically a strong smell of fuel when this sensor is malfunctioning. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your home 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

Keys won't turn ignition past position 1.
It sounds like there is a problem with your ignition switch. The ignition switch is what your key turns. It has 4 positions. Off, accessory, on or run, and start. It must be jamming and not allowing the key to...
Transmission leaked all of the fluid out
It is possible that a cooler line has sprung a leak for your transmission. The only other explanation for rapid fluid loss in a transmission is that the oil pan has been punctured by some road debris. I would recommend...
When it turns on it does not move forward, but does move in reverse easily.
The transmission in your GMC truck will need to be taken out and disassembled for inspection. It probably needs to be rebuilt or exchanged with a rebuilt or used transmission. I'd recommend getting some help from a qualified technician who...
Is it ok to use green antifreeze in a vehicle that uses orange antifreeze
Hi there: In short; NO - it's not a good idea to mix these two. Most of the antifreeze products on the market currently are ethylene glycol base material with additives to prevent corrosion, lubricate seals and water pumps and...
Vauxhall insignia se nav 2.0 cdti - interference or non interference engine
Hi there. Yes the engine is an interference design. This means that if the timing belt breaks the pistons will contact the valve train when not in time. If the belt has broken, I recommend testing the cylinder head and...
2011 Ford Fusion won't shift gears.
The first thing to check would be the transmission fluid level. If the fluid level is low from a leak, this may cause the transmission to slip and when revved to higher rpm it may jerk when the line pressure...
Blinker bulb lights but doesn't blink
Hi There, What you are describing sounds like a bad turn signal flasher (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/hazard-turn-signal-flasher-replacement). The flasher unit is an electrical unit that is usually located under the hood and is wired with the turn signal lights. This flasher sends short...
Engine died while driving, won’t start, but it will turn over
You should first have computer scanned to see if there is stored codes for one of the engine sensors like the crankshaft sensor or camshaft sensor to fix the no start.
My 2004 Buick Rendezvous Service Engine Soon light is on. What does this mean
the check engine light comes on for the computer sensed a problem in the systems that it monitored. There can be many different reasons for it to come on from a loose gas cap to sensor failures. You will need...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Kia Rio
The The Kia Rio has a new style and look for to attract buyers and compete in the subcompact car ranks. It offers outstanding fuel economy with great value that has a nice price tag for a variety of budgets....
A Buyer's Guide to the 2012 Nissan Quest
If If your family has gotten to the size where a minivan makes sense, you have a huge market to explore. Start with the 2012 Nissan Quest, though, and you may find that your search becomes a relatively short one....
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Low Oil Level Sensor
Common signs include inaccurate oil readings, the Oil Light coming on for no reason, the car not starting, and the Check Engine Light coming on.