The car jerks When stopped in ‘drive’ – what’s going on?
There could be a few reasons for this. However, all are fixable. You should get the problem diagnosed quickly and work on it fast before any accidents happen.
Problems with the clutch
In a stick shift car, the clutch is of even more importance. It is used frequently and wears out fast because of the constant gear changing.
If you are new to this, it could be the car jolting is caused by your awkward gear-changing. The experience may smoothen out after more familiarity with the car.
However, your clutch could also be worn out and defective. The pressure plate could be the problem. Sometimes oil leaks to the clutch plate and causes even more problems.
Simple wearing out and aging of the car can also lead to clutch trouble. It can be fixed with a quick trip to the mechanic.
Bad clutch control
The driver can also be the culprit of a vehicle jolting on its own. If you’ve got less control over the clutch or you’ve just shifted to a stick shift car, you might need to learn to smoothen the process of changing gears.
Changing gears can be tricky if you’re new to it. Just learn to hold down the clutch all the way and don’t let go until you fully change the gear.
The stick also needs to be shifted fully and in one go. If you leave it midway, the vehicle will make a screeching noise until you put the stick in any one particular gear. Any delay or fault in this process will make the vehicle jerk.
Problem with the brakes
While stopping, the most important mechanism being used is the brake. If the car isn’t responding well to stopping, an obvious sign could be the wearing out of the brakes. It’s worth getting your brake lines checked out.
The anti-lock brake system must be in place and running smoothly to accommodate a smooth landing in your driveway.
An issue with the brakes is a big deal and must be attended to as soon as possible!
