Car Jerks when slowing down is one of the most common things that occur to most drivers at some point is experiencing a car jerk when slowing down.
If you’ve been experiencing this for the past few days, weeks or months then you came to the right place.
This article describes some of the possible causes of a car jerk when slowing down and how to troubleshoot them.
If you’re not sure how to diagnose car jerks, this article can help steer you in the right direction.
Table of Contents
Car Jerking When Slowing Down Causes
In short, the most common causes of a car jerking when slowing down are a bad MAF sensor, a faulty ignition coil, and a bad transmission system.
It’s highly recommended to inspect any of these systems if you feel that your car is experiencing this problem.
1. Bad Mass Air Flow Meter (MAF)
The MAF sensor measures the amount of air entering into the engine and feeds it to the ECU (engine control unit).
The ECU will then calculate how much fuel to send in to achieve optimal burning.
Some MAF sensors are equipped with an internal heating element that heats up the sensor to the right temperature so that it can read correctly.
If this heating element fails, then the sensor can send bad information to the engine computer causing a car jerk when slowing down.
It is also important to ensure that it is not dirty or clogged.
2. Faulty Ignition Coils
A good spark is what ignites the air/fuel combination in your engine.
The ignition coils are responsible for providing that spark. If your ignition coils are not working properly, then a misfire will occur.
This results in a less than optimal burning of the air/fuel combination and this causes the car to jerk when slowing down.
It’s recommended to replace them if you think they’re getting old or they haven’t been working properly lately.
3. Failing Transmission
Most automatic transmissions have a gear pump that pressurizes the transmission to the right level.
The computer controls the gear pump pressure and sends in the necessary amount of fluid to change gears and engage the clutch properly.
If there’s a problem with this system, it can result in improper gear shifting, and your car jerks when slowing down as a result.
A simple check with a mechanic will ascertain whether this is the case or not.
4. Check Vacuum Pipes For Leaks
If you’re experiencing unexplained car jerks when slowing down, you may want to check your vacuum pipes for possible leaks.
This is especially if your car jerks when slowing down when you accelerate and decelerate rapidly.
Sometimes the vacuum pipe can get clogged with debris that results in a loss of pressure, causing this to occur. In some instances, the vacuum pipes can even crack or break apart.
5. Blown Turbo
In rare and unfortunate cases, many experts have noticed that when a turbocharger stops working, it can result in the engine running rough and jerking as in this case.
This is costly damage but does happen from time to time, a damaged turbo is not a common occurrence but it does happen and can cause a car to jerk at lower speeds.
6. Failing Throttlebody
A fail throttle body is a leak in the throttle body and it can cause a car to jerk when slowing down, this is a very common problem that many drivers encounter.
It’s recommended to get it repaired as soon as possible, especially if you feel that the problem is happening more frequently.
Also important to note is that if you notice a failed throttle body in your car then this may also result in misfire issues and other things that can cause the car to jerk when slowing down.
What To Do When Your Car Jerks When Slowing Down
Fortunately, Everything can be fixed If you’re not sure what the problem is and you want to get the job done properly, I recommend hiring a mechanic who is experienced in diagnosing and fixing brand-specific vehicles.
This will help them take a look at your car and see what’s going on.
A mechanic will also be able to get you driving again as fast as possible so that you no longer have to deal with these annoying car behaviors.
Conclusion
So there you have it, these are the most common causes of a car jerking when slowing down. There are other causes of this problem, but these are the most common.
If you have or think that your car jerks when slowing down then I suggest taking care of the issues described in this article.
If you’re not sure how to diagnose it, I would recommend finding a good mechanic to help you with this problem.
My name is Yusuke Kohara, and I am a passionate SEO expert. I am also the founder of TaxiHack alongside my business partner, Tahir Azam. Our journey began in late 2020 after I escaped the clutches of a despised job in Osaka. Determined to excel, I became a full-time web publisher and directed all my attention toward the growth and development of our site. At TaxiHack, our primary objective is to establish ourselves as the most esteemed automotive media platform, acknowledged by enthusiasts worldwide. We strive to surpass competitors by delivering exceptional content that goes above and beyond. But our mission extends beyond personal success. Recognizing the dominance of large car dealerships, insurance agencies, and rental companies in the online automotive space, we became advocates for smaller businesses and independent automotive web publishers. We firmly believe that with a strategic approach, even modest companies like ours can generate substantial traffic while maintaining a sustainable livelihood. Learn more about Yusuke.
