Why Is My Car Not Accelerating Properly?

One of the essential parts of operating a car is having the ability to accelerate to ensure you have enough passing power. The vehicle should pick up speed when you need to merge onto a highway or pass other vehicles but can feel sluggish at times. It's important to know why your car is failing to accelerate as you spend time getting around to ensure you can correct the issue.

1. Dirty Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF) or Oxygen Sensor

There are times when the mass airflow sensor or oxygen sensor can accumulate too much dirt, which prevents the air-fuel mixture in the car from being monitored as you drive around. This can begin to affect your fuel mileage, in addition to your acceleration. Fortunately, it's easy for a technician to clean out the mass airflow sensor and replace the oxygen sensor if needed. Either of these issues can cause the Check Engine light to illuminate on the dashboard. You'll need to bring the vehicle to our service center to diagnose the problem to confirm what repairs are required.

2. Malfunctioning Throttle Position Sensor (TPS)

The Throttle Position Sensor can also be the culprit of the issue and will affect the accuracy of the information sent to the computer in the engine. If the throttle position can't be read, it can cause inaccurate information to be sent, affecting the performance of your car.

3. Clogged Fuel Filter

When the fuel filter becomes clogged, it doesn't allow the engine to work correctly or accelerate because too much sludge accumulates. This prevents the fuel that you put into the car from getting into the engine. Fortunately, this is a quick fix and only requires replacing the fuel filter.

4. Dirty Air Filters

If you forget to replace your air filters, they can start to become clogged and fail to allow enough air to reach the engine. The air filter needs to be replaced at specific times, making it necessary to read your owner's manual to determine what the manufacturer recommends.

Feel free to contact our dealership today to learn why your car may not be accelerating. Our team is here to assist you and will help you schedule an appointment to ensure your vehicle is properly diagnosed.