I bought my 98 5-speed about two months ago and found out that the car is really jerky, I thought it was just me getting used to a different stick, however it doesn't appear to be my driving. If I let off the gas even at slow speeds in 1, 2, or 3rd, the car gets very jerky, feels like I'm on a rollercoaster. Any ideas?

 

Slipping/bad clutch?

My old Corolla was 5 speed and when I drove my first 5 speed Max (mine is Auto) it was pretty hard adapting but I didnt have that problem at all.

 

clean the throttle body!!! it will help with the "bucking" a lot.

 

I did that about two weeks ago. Also changed the fuel filter and will change PCV valve in a couple days as I don't know when they've been changed. It seems too severe to be just a dirty throttle body.

 

almost like you have too good of throttle response like me....! lol....I have basically cleaned and replaced all the filters sensors and things on my car....I might have tightened my throttle cable too much which is part of the reason....so there is no slack, hence the butterfly valve in the TB just closes to fast when I let off the throttle....but for your car it can be any # of things...some people had that bucking problem and they ended up replacing coil packs, other's need new engine mounts....and other needed a suspension bushing or something of that sort....

 

well the throttle cable isn't too tight, so I'll try some of those other suggestions, thanks. What are coil packs and are they expensive to replace?

 

I forgot to include some additional information, although it may not be related. When I slow down below 5 or 10 MPH or am starting, I hear a small rubbing sound sometimes, sounds like it could be coming from the left side, but I can't tell, maybe this will help, otherwise I have a couple of problems.

 

Man you guys are idiots. Seriously... A dirty friggin throttle body??!!!




Check your motor mounts.

 

TOo much Torque BABY!!!

 

Are they easy to check and is it an expensive repair? Would that account for any rubbing at low speeds?
Sorry for the questions if they are basic, just tryin to learn more about my car.

 

when i had a similar problem (not quite as severe) someone said the same thing. I went and cleaned my throttle body first for the whole $2.99 it costs me and it completely solved my problem. It DEFINITELY can cause this, just not in all cases. so don't be a jerk just because it hasn't happened to be your problem before

car is running smoother then it ever has now

 

It takes a while getting use to a 4th gen 5 sp. How are you rear brake pads? you could have a sticky/frozen caliper....but its more likely you just not use to the car yet.

 

You didn't read his symptoms did you?? He didn't say he gets jerky acceleration. He said it gets jerky when he let's off the gas. That is caused by play in the drivetrain/powertrain. <---Motor mounts. My car has the same problem and my TB was cleaned recently.


But oops i forgot, cleaning the TB fixes all.

 

that's exactly what my car was doing...jerky when I let off the gas....if the throttle cable is too tight/adjusted wrong...., the butterfly valve in the TB snaps closed violently, kinda cutting power almost too quickly which resulted in a jerky car when I abruptly let off the gas....

motor mounts are also possible

but so is even ball joints/suspension bushings (although that is unlikely)...

and yes one guy did have jerkyness after letting off the gas and it was contributed to his coil packs....but that too is unlikely in this case

mine happened to be the throttle cable and cleaning the TB...

an agressive clutch can do this as well to some cars with older motor mounts that are still good....it depends how you let off the gas and what gear you are in at the time, ie. 1st & 2nd gear are much rougher gears (for higher acceleration...higher ratios) in other words, in those gears the torque is being multiplied much more than in the later gears....so when you let off the gas abruptly while leaving the clutch in is not going to be the smoothest experience...