Why Your Car Isn't Accelerating Like It Should
Posted on: 22 May 2017
No one wants to drive a slow car, but it's especially frustrating if it suddenly seems to have lost its umph. If you're trying to self-diagnose the issue, here are five reasons why your vehicle may not be accelerating like it should.
Emergency Brake
It seems like an obvious thing, but it's actually one of the more common causes of a slow car, especially if someone else has driven after you, and you're not one to use the parking brake. So always make sure the brake is off after putting the car into drive.
Car In Neutral
If you're not very experienced driving a manual transmission, you may think the car is in first gear or reverse when it's really in neutral. So press that clutch and try again.
Electrical Problems
If it's an electrical issue, it could be your mass airflow sensor going bad. This nifty little device measures the amount of air that enters the engine so the car can get the right amount of fuel. Some common symptoms of this problem include the "check engine" light coming on, struggling to accelerate on flat roads or when going uphill, and stalling soon after starting up the car.
Another electrical issue could be the throttle position sensor. Similar to the mass airflow sensor, it controls the fuel/air mixture that runs through the engine. If the sensor is on the fritz and too much air goes through, it can cause the car to lag when pressing the accelerator. Both of these issues can be tested and repaired by a mechanic.
Dirty Fuel Injectors
If the fuel injector gets dirty or clogged, it can't spray fuel into the cylinder very well. This ultimately causes the engine to "run lean," which means it isn't burning enough gasoline. This will make your car struggle to accelerate.
Bad Timing Belt
The timing belt causes the camshaft and the crankshaft to rotate, which in turn helps the cylinders fire at the appropriate time. If your timing belt breaks altogether, your engine won't run at all. But there are typically warning signs that it's about to fail. Beyond the car not taking off like it should, you may also hear a ticking noise coming from the engine, the engine might misfire, or you may notice oil leaking in front of the motor, usually from the timing belt cover.
Don't wait for your timing belt to fail before replacing it. If it breaks while you're driving, your engine will shut off right away, and your costs to replace will be much higher than taking care of it before the damage is done. Schedule an auto repair today.
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