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Why does my car jerk when I put it in drive?
I’m worried something might be seriously wrong with my car. It runs fine except when I put it in drive it jerks forward. I’m not sure what is causing this or if it is a serious problem or not. What might cause a car to jerk when it is put in drive?
Patrick Price · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Oh no! I’m very sorry to hear that you’re having car trouble. The most likely cause of any issues with rough or jerky gear shifts is transmission trouble. Don’t panic just yet, though. It might be something as simple as low or contaminated transmission fluid.
Before you take your car to a mechanic to have the problem diagnosed, you should try draining and refilling your transmission fluid. Often issues like this can be solved by fresh transmission fluid.
If you’re still noticing the trouble after that, you’ll probably need to see a mechanic. Several things could be causing the issue you’re having. A trained professional will be needed to diagnose exactly what’s happening.
Here’s what the mechanic will be looking for:
- Dirty or clogged transmission filter
- Faulty transmission pump
- A faulty shift solenoid
- A faulty clutch (for manual transmissions)
- Worn out driveshaft
- Alignment issues
Staying on top of your car’s maintenance issues is important, and so is periodically reviewing your
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- Gregory R.
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