Why Is My Car Not Accelerating Properly?

When you depress the accelerator, you expect a vehicle to accelerate quickly and smoothly. However, typical mechanical wear and tear may reduce the responsiveness of your car's engine block and other connected components. If your vehicle seems sluggish, you should schedule an appointment for a proper diagnostic test at our certified auto shop.

1) Clogged Mass Air Flow Sensor and Malfunctioning Oxygen Sensor

Several electronic sensors closely monitor your engine for optimum performance under various driving conditions. For example, one sensor is designed specifically to monitor the mass of air flowing into the engine block. Another sensor monitors the levels of oxygen inside the powertrain. Failure of either sensor leads to improper combustion cycles. Your engine might extract too little or too much air when the sensors don't function properly. The compromised oxygen and mass airflow sensors can also trigger some diagnostic indicator lights to come on in the dashboard.

2) Compromised Throttle Position Sensor

The Throttle Position Sensor uses modern electronics to manage the mechanics of combustion in the valvetrain. A problem with the TPS may lead to improper timing in the lifting and closing of valves in the engine block. Therefore, the powertrain will misfire during every full combustion cycle.

3) Clogs in Fuel Filter

As the name suggests, the fuel filter is designed to prevent undesirable particles from entering a vehicle's fuel system. Such a basic auto part essentially creates a buffer between the fuel tank and powertrain. Excessive clogs in such a filtration unit will lead to a significant buildup of sludge and other hard deposits in the fuel delivery system. Therefore, combustion inside your car's engine block will be significantly compromised.

4) Clogs in Engine Air Filter

According to your vehicle's manufacturer, the engine air filter should be replaced at specific intervals. The frequency of replacement heavily depends on the local air quality and terrain. For example, the air filter under the hood of your car will get dirty quickly when exposed to dust and debris on rugged landscapes. Driving on gravel, sand, mud, and rocks will certainly accelerate the deposits of dirt in an air filter of a powertrain. Some high-performance filtration units may be manually cleaned for long-lasting performance. However, this simple automotive component should be generally replaced when it's full of dirt.

Contact our auto dealership to set up an appointment for a thorough check of your car's mechanical and electrical systems. We will find and fix the root cause of improper acceleration in your vehicle.