I posted this question under the accent forums but the situation is this:

I have a 1999 Accent with approximately 100,000 miles on it. It's major repair history consists of replacing the transmission a little over a year ago. It wasn't a smooth fix either - I was in and out of the transmission shop a few times - but other than that, not too many problems.

Recently, the car has started to jerk when I'm idling. It's not a huge movement, but it's two or three times in a row and definitely noticeable. I'd say it does this about 65% of the time and I haven't noticed any correlations with weather or start/end of the driving time. It's still intermittent so while it worries me, it may be difficult for a mechanic to figure out what's going on. It is also entirely possible that it is a quirk of old age.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what this might be?

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My other question is this: a family friend who's a mechanic, but who lives in another state, recommended that I take the car to Hyundai. Now I prefer to go to a mechanic based on word of mouth, rather than strolling in blind, but I don't know anyone else with a Hyundai where I live. Does anyone have tips on how to ferret out if a dealership has a good set of mechanics? Are they all pretty much the same? It's a vague question, I know.

 

Where are you located (roughly)? Maybe someone can steer you to a good dealership.

 

By jerking, could it be kicking in and out of gear, in which case, back to the tranny work. Does your engine light come on?If not it is probably mechanical, like tranny shifting in and out. If in neutral, does is still jerk, if not, then its tranny probably.Are you savy enough to use a scanner? If so, get one that is OBDII compliant (any car '9on up)and see if it gives you a code. I strongly recommend that anyone with these complex motors learn to use a scanner. If you can use a computer, you probably can use a scanner. Not selling any brands, but my favorite and what I have is an AutoXray 5000. It gives codes when engine light is on and pending codes-soft codes that are not set. You can also have it up graded to enhanced codes, that can give drivability related codes and will run a diagnostic and you can reset the light.

If you have warranty, then just take it to dealer, but if past warranty, at least you can get an idea of what the problem may be. Three visits to a shop just to have them look at it,and you have paid for the scanner.

I always buy shop manuals for any car I own. Hyundai must have not released any for their newer cars as I cant find any 07, yet. But then I hope not to have the need for any, for at least next 5 yrs.

 

That should be 96 on up. Can it be misfiring as well. A good scanner will give you that info as % of misfire per cylinder.