Q: My car is jerking and has reduced engine power
I saw the reduce engine warning sign today. It will jerk about twice and after that it will drive fine.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Recommended Services
| Warning Light is on Inspection | $94.99 - $114.99 | Get a Quote |
Hello and thank you for contacting YourMechanic. Your vehicle may have a clogged catalytic converter or muffler. This message displays if the back pressure on the engine is too high.
Start the engine and get something to block the tail pipe. Block the tail pipe and try to hold the item on the pipe. If the engine is working correctly, then the item will not stay against the tail pipe.
If you need assistance with your engine’s performance, then seek out a technician, such as one from YourMechanic, who can perform an inspection to determine why the warning light is on.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our
terms of service
for more details
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing
What others are asking
What do the Maintenance Minder messages mean?
Your car’s Maintenance Minder™ system is designed as a reminder system and a tracker for your vehicle service. It can display a number of different messages in conjunction with the oil life percentage and the wrench symbol on the dash...
Put wrong key in ignition and anti light start blinking car completely shut off - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
Hey there. You more than likely won't be able to bypass the system. You can try to disconnect the battery (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-shut-off-the-anti-theft-device-in-your-car-by-jason-unrau) for 10-15 minutes to reset the computer. However, it still may not work this way. You will probably have...
Will these tires fit my 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
The 265/65 R17 tire (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-tell-the-difference-in-size-for-a-car-tire-by-jason-unrau) is considerably larger than the OEM recommended tire size of 215/55 R17. They might be good for a 4x4 look, but not necessarily practical for a Malibu. Clearance within the vehicle's wheel wells will be...
My car keeps stalling. What causes this?
This may be related to a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and at...
P0404, P0405, P0171, P0174
Hello. Thank you for writing in. Due to the p0405 code (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0405-obd-ii-trouble-code-exhaust-gas-recirculation-sensor-circuit-a-low-by-jay-safford), you will want to start by replacing the sensor. This is typically easier and cheaper than replacing the EGR unit all together. If the light continues to illuminate,...
My engine started misfiring on my way home from work today. should I have it towed to my mechanic or is it safe to drive to have it fixed.
Hi there. It is not good to drive a vehicle with an engine that is misfiring and running rough as it can damage the engine. When the engine light was flashing, that meant that something went wrong at that moment...
2007 Honda Accord VSA light and engine light coming on, will not downshift, must come to stop , shut off and start again. 2007 Honda Accord
Hi there - you likely have more than one problem at work here. First task is to extract the problem codes which are causing the Check Engine light to come, and the codes (Honda specific) causing the Vehicle Stability Assist...
99 for f150 starts then shuts off immediately
Hi There, I would suggest checking the idle air control valve to be sure it is not sticking. The idle air control valve (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/idle-control-valve-replacement) monitors the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the...
Unable to bleed fuel tank
Hi There, It sounds like you may have a faulty vent valve solenoid. The vent control valve (solenoid) controls the flow of outside air in and out of the charcoal canister. When this is not working properly, you may experience...
Related articles
What Does the Diesel Engine Pre-Glow Warning Light Mean?
The diesel engine pre-glow light turns on while your engine is warming up. If it flashes, an issue has been detected, such as a worn out glow plug.
What Does the Steering Lock Warning Light Mean?
The steering lock indicator light means your steering wheel is locked and can not be moved, usually until the vehicle's keys are present.
All About Car Warning Lights
Your car has a variety of warning lights to let you know when a specific feature is on, or if a part needs service or maintenance.
Browse other content
Services
Cities
Maintenance