What are the reasons behind my car engine sputtering when starting?
By
Vroomouk
This blog post will answer the question, ‘What are the reasons behind my car engine sputtering when starting?’, and cover topics like what does a car engine sputter mean, what causes a car engine to sputter, different cases of a car engine sputtering, and how to fix a car engine sputtering.
What are the reasons behind my car engine sputtering when starting?
These are the following reasons that are responsible for a car engine sputtering:
- Fuel injectors are dirty or clogged
- Defective spark plugs
- Clogged catalytic converter
- Air filters are dirty
- The distributor cap has moisture on it
- Defective fuel pump
- Faults in the mass airflow sensor(MAF)
- Car accelerator cable is worn out or damaged
- Defects in the transmission control module
- Driving a car with a stick shift
What does a car engine sputter mean?
A car engine sputter can be described as a sharp shaking motion of the car for a brief period of time either while idling, accelerating the car, or shifting gears.
A sputtering problem in a car should be taken care of with immediate effect, as it can indicate that the car is running out of gas or it has multiple damaged or worn-out parts.
What causes a car engine to sputter?
These are the following reasons that contribute to a car engine sputtering either while idling, accelerating, or shifting to higher gears.
Fuel injectors become dirty
Fuel injectors in a car provide a continuous flow of fuel for optimum mixing with air inside the combustion chamber of the car engine. If they become clogged or dirty, the engine will be deprived of an optimum mixing ratio of air and fuel and thus produce lesser power causing the car to resist moving any further.
Defective spark plugs
Spark plugs in an engine help to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the optimum ratio and cause the pistons to move downwards, producing power that is transferred to the wheels via the crankshaft.
The spark plugs if defective or worn out can cause the engine to lose the igniting spark and thus result in the production of lesser power and cause the car engine to misfire and sputter.
Clogged catalytic converter
The catalytic converter is a crucial part of a car as it filters the harmful and hot exhaust gases containing carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide gases into acceptable compounds like water and carbon dioxide.
Sometimes the catalytic converter can get clogged and hinder this process causing the car to jerk or sputter, and can also potentially leak harmful gases like carbon monoxide into the cabin, which can be potentially fatal for the occupants within.
Dirty air filters
Air filters are necessary for maintaining the correct mixture of the air-fuel mixture in the car to burn optimally. In case the air filters get dirty or clogged with debris and gunk buildup, it can interfere with the mixture ratio and make it sputter.
Moisture on the distributor cap
The distributor cap is a crucial part of the car ignition system as it supplies electricity to the car to start it. If moisture happens to find a place on the distributor cap, it can stop working and send electricity, thus causing the car engine to sputter.
Defective fuel pump
The fuel pump is responsible for regulating the flow of fuel into the engine for optimum combustion of the air-fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber.
A clogged or damaged fuel pump will hinder this process and the combustion chamber will have inadequate fuel supply, leading to improper combustion and less power produced.
Faults in the mass airflow sensor(MAF)
The mass airflow sensor(MAF) is responsible for keeping checks on the amount of air entering the combustion chamber. It sends this information to the ECU, after which the fuel injectors send the optimum amount of fuel for mixing.
In the event of a car sputtering or jerking at high speeds or during accelerating, it might be due to a faulty mass airflow sensor(MAF).
Car accelerator cable is worn out or damaged
In some cars, the car is accelerated with the help of an accelerator cable that acts as a link between he gas pedal and a throttle plate.
When the gas pedal is pressed, the cable pushes the throttle plate, causing more fuel to be injected in the combustion chamber, thus causing the car to accelerate.
Driving a car with a stick shift
In the case of a car that is operated using a stick shifting system, a sputter in the car engine is often observed while changing from a lower to a higher gear.
Different cases of a car engine sputtering
The following are the different conditions of a car engine sputtering:
- When the car is accelerating
- When the car is shifting gears
- When the car is at lower revs
- When the car is in the idling position
How to fix a car engine sputtering?
A car engine that is sputtering can be fixed in the following ways:
- Perform manual cleaning or replacement of the dirty fuel injectors
- For a clogged catalytic converter a replacement is ideal, however, it is a costly investment
- Consider replacement of defective and worn-out spark plugs
- Clean the air filters thoroughly in case of clogging
- Consider replacing the fuel pump if it is damaged
- Replace the worn-out or slacking car accelerator cables as they are crucial for the car to enter higher speed ranges
- In case of moisture buildup on the distributor cap, instead of replacing it, allow it to sit for a while so that the moisture evaporates
Research has shown the ways to fix a car engine sputtering under various driving conditions.
Other articles about Mercedes Benz you may be interested in
What keeps a car engine running?
How to avoid a blown car engine?
Conclusion
This blog post addressed the question, ‘What are the reasons behind my car engine sputtering when starting?’
We understood what a car engine sputter actually means and looks like. We also came across different causes behind this scenario. Furthermore, the different driving conditions of a car engine sputtering and the ways to fix a sputtering car engine have also been discussed. Please feel free to comment on the content or ask any questions in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs): What are the reasons behind my car engine sputtering when starting?
Why does my car stutter step?
This indicates that the car has problems in its fuel supply system, mostly a dirty or clogged air filter, or even a damaged fuel pump.
Why is my car shuddering when I accelerate?
One of the main reasons behind a car engine shuddering while accelerating can be loose engine and transmission mounts.
What does a loose spark plug sound like?
A loose or worn-out spar plug can often cause a characteristic fluttering sound.
