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What causes your car to jerk while driving?

I bought a used car a while ago, and now it’s starting to have issues when I’m driving it. What causes my car to jerk when I’m accelerating?

avatar
Holden Easterbrook · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Buying a
used car
can feel like a gamble sometimes, but finding issues with the vehicle after purchasing it doesn’t mean that the purchase was a wrong decision.
Cars can begin to jerk while driving for a number of reasons, but some of the more common causes are:
  • Dirty fuel injectors
  • Worn out spark plugs
  • Damaged cylinders
  • Blocked catalytic converters
In many cases, the jerking problem can be fixed by cleaning or replacing the problematic component. However, the issue may be an indication of a more serious problem that you are not aware of. You’ll want to take your vehicle to a trusted repair shop or contact a
mobile mechanic
as soon as you can. Waiting too long may allow the problem to worsen.
While you’re waiting at the auto shop, why not check out the
Jerry
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