Jerking sometimes?

175,000 MILES • 3.5L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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DANGELL
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Starts drives but will start idle high jerking then check engine light comes on then jerks and stops and light goes off. When on freeway 60 MPH it idles 5,000 RPMs and doesn't seem to shift. Transmission fluid is dirty. Other than that, it's fine.
May 6, 2023 at 7:53 PM
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STRAILER
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 55,456 POSTS
This sounds like an engine misfire which can be intermittent. I would start by doing a tune up which this guide can help with including ignition coils:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-tune-up-a-car-engine

This guide can help as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough

To confirm the misfire the PCM has stored the code for retrieval.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

NGK .................... PFR5N-11
CHAMPION .................... RC10YCPB4
Gap .................... 1.0 - 1.1 mm (0.039 - 0.043 in)

Here are the instructions for your car in the images below. Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.

May 7, 2023 at 6:40 AM
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DANGELL
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Will that also have anything to do with the reason it will not shift from third to Fourth? I went to AutoZone, and it said the code that showed up after trying it several times was the replace wheel speed sensors.
May 7, 2023 at 6:55 AM
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STRAILER
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 55,456 POSTS
Yep, the engine misfire will affect the transmission shifting. Please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on. Was the code for a misfire?
May 8, 2023 at 6:21 AM
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