Whats causes ‘jerking’ when accelerating

A diagnosis was required for a 2020 Škoda Karoq 1.0 TSI after the vehicle’s owner brought an unusual problem to the workshop – ALLDATA Europe, via ALLDATA Repair, came to the workshop’s aid.

The customer reported ‘jerking’ when accelerating, but, despite clear symptoms, the vehicle’s fault memory did not show any corresponding indications.

The technician took the vehicle out for a test drive, where it was confirmed that, at higher speeds, significant vibrations were felt throughout the vehicle, particularly in the steering wheel.

A quick diagnosis would be tough because there were no error codes or messages displayed on the dashboard – but the technician was confident that the cause would be mechanical, rather than electronic.

Solution

The technician turned to ALLDATA Repair. A targeted search for “vibrations” led the professional to the technical product information from the VM. The data showed ‘incorrect wheel balancing’, ‘rim damage’ or ‘tyre deformation due to prolonged inactivity’ as common causes of wheel vibrations.

Consequently, the workshop technician inspected the wheels and tyres, with a measurement showing that two wheels had a significant radial and lateral run-out – a problem that is not immediately visible but can cause severe vibrations.

The professional was able to balance the two affected wheels and position the tyres accurately. Upon another test drive, the jerking had stopped, and the vehicle ran smoothly once more.