Lets see how good you all are!

Hi everyone. I have a problem with my car that I need help with and am hoping that someon out there will be able to diagnose it for me.

OK, so I have a 2005 Hyundai Getz and this problem has just started...

When pushing down on the accelerator more than about half an inch, the car starts to jerk slightly...also the car will suddenly speed up or slow down even though my foot is not putting anymore pressure on the pedal.

When going up hill it has started jerking a LOT, like it's about to stall, but when on the flat it is jerking just slightly.

Oh yeah, there's also a random 'popping' (not continuous - just now and again) noise (sounds similar to driving over a plastic cup). The noise happens when my foot goes further than about an inch on the gas pedal.

There's a light flashing on the dash, which according to my handbook means: "there is a malfunction of an engine electrical related component"

PLeeeease I'm really hoping that you guys have a clue about this. Any ideas?

Thanks very much :-)

I feel I should also mention that it started happening just after filling up with unleaded....and yes I did put the right kind in lol

Sounds like you might have gotten water in the gas on your last fill up. Try a couple cans of Heat. After that pull the trouble codes and find out what the computer does not like.

Thanks for your reply.

What is Heat? (I am in Australia so don't know if we have that product)

Also, how to I view the error codes?

I've been experimenting more and have found that the car starts normally, and also idles normally, it's just once I start driving that the problem emerges.

Thanks

Well if it's telling you it's an ignition problem, it might not be far from the truth :P. Maybe you have bad plugs, wires, or oxygen sensors. Maybe you have bad coils, etc. I have electrical problems because they're hard to diagnose.

the product is called "HEET".
it is essentially an additive that soaks up water in gas and allows the engine to run properly.
you should be able to find it or something like it.

it could also be pinging or detonation

does it sound at all similar to a few coins or metal balls rattling around in the bottom of a coffee can?
that would be pinging or detonation (however you want to call it)
what is happening is carbon has built up, and it artificially raising the compression ratio in the engine, which causes the gas mix in the cylinder to explode before it is supposed to.
it can do serious damage if you dont do anything about it.

another possibility would be that you have a clogged fuel filter.
if the jerking is similar to what you would feel if you were pressing and releasing the gas pedal, then there is a good chance that you have a clogged fuel filter.
get it replaced or do it yourself. it is pretty easy.

yet another option would be a bad fuel injector, bad spark plug, bad spark plug wire, bad ignition module, or coil.
it could be one, or any combination of the above things. any one of them would cause jerking in your acceleration.

the check engine light flashes when something is occuring that is doing severe damage to the catalitic converter.

What you are discribing is a severe misfire

Could be water. HEET, which is nothing but alcohol, will only absorb 2% of its volume of water. So if you have a lot of water, it won't do you no good

what you describe is a clear indicator of ignition problems. Since it happened after your fuel fill up, check that first, but it really seems like an ignition issue.

A quick update on this one...

Yes you were right! It was an ignition problem. I took it to a garage who changed the ignition leads and it's all OK now.

Thanks everyone