Car shakes, jerks or stutters - what to do | RAC drive (2024)

Does your car hesitate or stutter while accelerating or driving away? Do you feel the engine shaking when your car is idling at traffic lights?

There are several reasons why your car stutters or jerks, which can make it difficult to diagnose the problem if you're not an expert.

Many causes of car smoking or hesitation are not serious and can be solved quickly and cheaply. However, sometimes car stuttering while accelerating can be a sign of a problem with your car and result in a trip to the local garage or a visit from a mobile mechanic.

Cheerfulknows howIn our guide we look at some of the most common reasons why your car may vibrate, shake, jerk or stutter and what to do if this happens.

If your car jerks and shakes when you press the accelerator, the problem could be due to thatinsufficient fuel, air or sparks during the combustion process.

Worn spark plugs or the electrical cables connected to them are one of the most common causes of stuttering in cars. A defective spark plug causes the engine to malfunction, causing your car to jerk when you accelerate.

The engine can also be much noisier than normal, sounding more like an airplane taking off than a car.

A clogged catalytic converter is another reason why a car shudders when accelerating, as a blockage can disrupt the exhaust system's airflow.

When you press the accelerator, you may notice a delay in your car's response, followed by a sudden jerk or jump forward. There may also be a rotten egg smell.

How to fix car vibration while accelerating

If the problem is something as simple as faulty spark plugs, you may have the knowledge to replace them yourself. You may also be able to remove minor blockages with itgood catalyst cleaner.

But if you don't really understand the mechanics of your car, or if there's a more serious blockage, it's best to seek expert help.

Check out oursRAC approved garage networkfinding a mechanic you can trust. It only includes garages that provide quality work and exceptional customer service, so you can have peace of mind getting your car repaired. Most repairs can even be carried out by one personmobile mechanicright near your driveway.

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If your car jerks, shakes or stutters when you pull away in first gear, there may be a problem with the clutch.

This could be due to worn friction material or a defect in the pressure plate (or a combination of both). It can also be caused by an oil leak contaminating the clutch disc.

How to fix car vibration when driving away

If there is a defect in the coupling, determine whether it is a mechanical problem or whether the coupling surface is contaminated. It is best to leave this to a professional.

Replacing a clutch is specialist workrepair, then take your car to onereliable garageto get the job done.

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The vibration of the car at low speeds can be extremely annoying. The problem usually occurs at low speeds before disappearing when you shift into the higher gears.

Moisture in the distributor cap can cause a vehicle to jerk when accelerating at low speeds or low engine speeds. If your car is parked overnight in low temperatures, condensation can form in the distributor cap, causing the engine to malfunction when accelerating at low speeds.

Another possibility is a problem with the engine mounts that hold the engine in place on the chassis. A holder that is loose, worn or broken will cause your car to vibrate at low speeds.

How to fix a car that jerks at low speeds

Parking your car in a garage or outdoor veranda will prevent moisture from building up. If you have to park your car on the street, a thermal cover can help reduce the chance of condensation.

If the engine mount needs to be replaced, we recommend purchasing onecertified mechanicto do this, as the engine must be safely supported from below during the repair.

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Does your car's engine vibrate when idling at traffic lights and intersections, and sometimes it feels like it's stalling?It could be a defect in the spark plugs or a build-up of dirt and grime.

A clogged filter or fuel injection system can also cause your engine to run out of fuel or oxygen, causing your car to shake and vibrate.

As a car agesand accumulates thousands of miles of wear, the valves can become clogged with sludge. If your engine is not getting an even and continuous distribution of clean fuel, it may vibrate while idling.

If the shaking only occurs when idling, it could be a small leak on the vacuum side of the engine or a worn electrical component such as the crankshaft sensor.

How to fix car shaking when idling

Do not attempt to replace parts yourself unless you are a professional mechanic. Your garage can look under the hood and run diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the problem.

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Order an MOTwith RAC today

As a preventive measure to keep your car running in the future, check the engine regularly for signs of dust and dirt that could clog the system.car maintenanceonce a year or every 10,000-12,000 miles.

Sometimes things go wrong while you're on the road, so make sure you have the right onecrash coverin place just in case.

If you are driving down a highway or road at high speed and notice that your car is shaking and stuttering, you may have a problem.

There are a number of reasons why your car shakes when you accelerate. Your vehicle may have dirty fuel injectors, a damaged fuel pump, a blocked catalytic converter, a faulty mass airflow sensor, broken spark plugs, or even a moisture buildup.

How to solve car shaking while driving at speed

If it is only a little dirt or moisture, it is best to clean the affected areas and apply the necessary lubricants.

But if it's a more serious problem, you need to see onemechanicto fix it.

Over time, some parts of your vehicle will need to be replaced, so visit onetrusted garageis the key.

The reason why your vehicle vibrates when braking may be due to the uneven thickness or deformation of the brake disc. For the brakes to be successful, there must be a uniform thickness on the disc to prevent unwanted friction.

How do you fix a car that shakes when braking?

If you catch this problem before it gets worse, you can clean both the drive and the surrounding surface. However, this is a temporary solution and after some time they will need to be replaced.

If the drive becomes damaged, it can be very dangerous to drive your vehicle. Have it replaced as soon as possible.

Owning a diesel-powered vehicle comes with its own set of potential problems – and having a wobbly car is a common problem. The most common cause of your diesel car shaking while driving is due to clogged fuel injectors.

How do you fix a car that vibrates while driving?

This is a relatively simple solution. Remove the fuel injectors, clean them, dry the area where they are located in the vehicle, install the injectors and restart the vehicle.

During the time you own a vehicle, it is more than likely that you will experience problems with your tires. One of the side effects of this is that your car jerks and stutters.

Most problems with your wheels and tires can cause your car to vibrate. Improper tire pressure or balance can lead to uneven tire wear or damaged tires. All this leads to vibrations.

Over time, this can also lead to loose notes, which can also lead to shaking.

How to repair car tires that cause vibration

Have the wheels of your vehicle adjusted or your tires replaced. This can be done very easily by switching toRAC tires.