Looking after a car

Why Doesn't my Car Accelerate Properly 

Max. D Gray
By Max. D Gray. Updated: November 18, 2024
Why Doesn't my Car Accelerate Properly 

There are many possible reasons why your car is not accelerating properly. Some are very simple to fix, while others will need a professional mechanic and a considerable amount of money. In any case, it is important to remember that with good maintenance of your car you will minimize the chances of any of these happening to your vehicle. The make, model and age of your car will also have a bearing on acceleration. Research pointed out by the New York Times in 2012 claims that cars are lasting up to 100,000 miles longer than previously thought, so there should be no reason a well maintained car can't hold on to its acceleration with proper care. In this oneHOWTO article, we can answer why doesn't your car accelerate properly.

You may also be interested in: How to Adjust the Accelerator Cable on a Car
Contents
  1. Clutch problems
  2. Timing belt fault
  3. Dirty fuel filter
  4. Problems in the electronic control unit
  5. Warning from the oxygen sensor
  6. Blocked or clogged air filter
  7. Electrical faults
  8. Vacuum leaks

Clutch problems

One of the most common car acceleration problems is that the clutch isn't properly engaging the gearbox with the engine due to a mechanical error. The result is that the car does not accelerate properly because of the slipping clutch.

For hydraulic clutch systems, a certain amount of wear will occur over time. If you notice the clutch pedal has changed in height, then this is a sign that it may be slipping. This can be an expensive fix, but there are a couple of things to check before you take it to a mechanic. Firstly, check the clutch fluid. Most clutch fluid tanks will have a "MIN" and "MAX" mark, so make sure it is between these two lines. If lower, you may simply need some more clutch fluid.

Secondly you should check the clutch's action. If it does not take much force to disengage the clutch, you may be in bother. You should be able to push the clutch down between 3/4" and 1.5" before it disengages. If it happens before this, the clutch may not be riding properly. If your engine changes speed without accelerating or decelerating, this is a sign of trouble. It is often something an experienced driver will notice intuitively. If your car performance changes dramatically, you should be able to tell. You must go to your mechanic immediately to find the exact cause of the problem and fix it.

Timing belt fault

A fault in the timing belt of your car may also be the reason why it is not accelerating properly. This vital part of a car's structure doesn't tend to cause problems. This is why it doesn't usually get much attention beyond the maintenance carried out by the mechanic during periodic servicing. If the timing belt is the slightest bit misplaced, it will provide acceleration problems.

This could be from general wear of the timing belt which will happen over time. However, when the timing belt gets replaced, you may find that your car does not accelerate properly. Some message boards on acceleration and timing belt problems suggest that it needs some time to "break in", but this is not accurate. Replacing the timing belt might make your car accelerate better, but it should not make it accelerate worse. You should speak to your mechanic to see if it was installed properly. Better still, you could take it to a different mechanic for a second opinion.

Keeping an eye on the condition of your timing belt is important for car longevity. Proper maintenance is essential to avoid situations where the car does not accelerate properly. See this link to find out when to change your car's timing belt.

Why Doesn't my Car Accelerate Properly  - Timing belt fault

Dirty fuel filter

Another reason why your car doesn't accelerate properly could be a very dirty fuel filter, which will eventually prevent the fuel from providing the engine with sufficient energy to move. Detritus and sediment in the fuel itself can collect over time, often coming from the fuel tank. If the fuel cannot move from the tank to the engine properly, it will affect your acceleration. A clean fuel filter will not only help with acceleration, but will keep the general maintenance of your engine in line.

There are different types of fuel filter and different methods to clean them. Check if your fuel filter is in bad shape and, if this is the case, you can learn how to clean your fuel filter here. Every once in a while you should change the fuel filter or consider an injector flush. This will help maintain good acceleration in your car.

There is an even easier reason related to fuel: it might be that your car isn't accelerating because your petrol tank is nearly empty. This is somewhat obvious, but can be easier to overlook than you imagine.

Why Doesn't my Car Accelerate Properly  - Dirty fuel filter

Problems in the electronic control unit

Sometimes, a car does not accelerate due to an error in the electronic control unit, if it has one. For example, the electronic system often warns that the car is producing too many fumes. This makes the car slowly lose power. the car feels sluggish when accelerating until it is eventually unable to accelerate at all. The system has interprets this as a "pollution error".

The electronic control unit (ECU) in a fuel injection system will also control the amount of fuel going into the engine. Increased air flow will be operated by the ECU, but if it is not working properly then this will affect acceleration. The sensors in the ECU will also need to be working properly. Although there should be little wear and tear, problems do occur, especially if the car has taken a knock.

In this case, the fault is in the electronic control unit itself and you will have to go to a garage that specializes in such problems to get it fixed. Repairing this type of fault is not going to be cheap. This is another common reason why your car loses power, even when you're not accelerating.

Warning from the oxygen sensor

Sometimes, the electronic control unit warning of fumes is not due to an error. If there is not enough oxygen in the engine and the air-to-fuel mixture is unbalanced, the fuel does not burn properly. This causes fumes and pollutants that eventually will damage your car's engine.

The oxygen sensor is in charge of regulating that balance. If there is a problem, it will change the mixture by using more or less fuel. One of the symptoms of not enough oxygen in the engine is problems accelerating. When you press the gas, a malfunctioning fuel sensor can result in either too much or too little fuel, nether of which are good for the car and both of which can affect acceleration. Too much oxygen when you press the gas results in a "rich mixture" with leftover unburnt fuel, too little leaves a "lean mixture" causing the aforementioned pollutants.

Unfortunately a problematic oxygen sensor resulting in poor acceleration requires a mechanic's visit. It can be tricky and needs some specialized knowledge to fix. Take a look at how to clean an oxygen sensor if you find it is only dirty.

Why Doesn't my Car Accelerate Properly  - Warning from the oxygen sensor

Blocked or clogged air filter

Another reason why your car doesn't accelerate properly can be that your air filter or exhaust is clogged or even completely blocked. This can happen even with high rpms. If driving in conditions with a lot of dirt and debris, especially if you press the gas a lot. Even insects can cause contamination if you find yourself in a swarm, but general use will cause the air filter to clog over time. This is why it is recommended to clean or replace it every 10,000 to 15,000 miles. If you get large pieces of debris it can also damage the grills.

You will lose acceleration when you press the gas if you don't have enough air flowing through the system.

Electrical faults

Other reasons why your car doesn't accelerate as it normally would can include wiring and sensor issues or malfunctions. Wires and other electrical elements of your car wear down with time, and they can also become loose. This is a big risk, and can cause short circuits and failures in transmitting information to the engine.

Vacuum leaks

A vacuum leak means that an external element like air or fuel enter the engine, which can make the car stutter. The different supply points and connectors of an engine use vacuum hoses to allow for fuel and air to travel through it. If there is a loose connection or hole in any of these hoses, you may have a vacuum leak. Similarly to the air filter, debris and dirt can also collect in them and cause a problem. It's the same action when your vacuum cleaner loses suction power, but unfortunately a little more expensive to fix.

If the car loses acceleration, then it could be a problem with the vacuum hoses. However, losing acceleration may be the least of your worries. Left unattended they could cause serious engine damage or even lead to an accident while driving.

Why Doesn't my Car Accelerate Properly  - Vacuum leaks

These are some of the most common causes why your car doesn't accelerate properly. However, this is a quite important problem all by itself, so you should bring your car to a mechanic for a complete service.

A car that does not accelerate properly when required can compromise the safety of the passengers in the car and other drivers on the road. As such, it is essential to get a professional to look at the car and fix the problem.

If you want to read similar articles to Why Doesn't my Car Accelerate Properly , we recommend you visit our Car Maintenance and Repair category.

Write a comment
What did you think of this article?
20 comments
mario
I finish putting the head gasket I started the car I drove to test when I came back I parked after like half an hour driving it out the car wouldn't accelerate What could that be please need halp
Kofi
To get my 207+ started i have use the accelerator a little the engine spurts a bit, when it starts on its own it takes awhile for the accelerator and engine to respond why ?
Rating:
Jacbb
my is accelerates very slowly
Rating:
Joshi. J.L
Sir, I am from India. My skoda Octavia 1.9 tdi , driven 22k Kms in 5 yrs.( sparingly used ) Later after my acquirement i drove 54K Kms in 1.5 yrs.( 76K Kms in ODO). I feel its not having good accelaration , it can reach 190 kmph too , but the instant accelaration is poor.i get a mettalic like sound while accelerating. i cleaned EGR, Catalytic convertor, changed fuel filters and airfilter too. still not finding good improvement. pls suggest me.
Rating:
ONESMUS KARIUKI
After igniting in the morning, my car has trouble accelerating especially when o a hill or when overtikng. What could be the cause of this?
OneHowTo Editor
Have you checked all of the possibilities mentioned in the article? If you have checked the fuel filter, timing belt and electronic system we advise you to take it to a mechanic so he can take a closer look.
Hope this helps
Rating:
sue
my car can run fine then suddenly when i go to put my foot on gas it wont give any power and then it kicks in plus sometimes my idleing needle goes high
Rating:
Dr. Matthew
I love this site, so awesome
Rating:
dildar
dear sir i am from ksa and i have chevrolet captiva jeep 1 month ago i replace our gairbox now after month he cant accerator properly plz give me idea or help me about this reason becouse i going to some mechinic but not solov this problum.thanks fro help sir
kauoda
My car Nissan Serena won't accelerate properly I have changed my fuel pump and air flow meter but same problem what should I do. Pls I nid reply.
Karina
Help please! I push the gas and my car struggles to accelerate? What can be the cause for this problem?
sunday
my Nissan versa2006 wont move after i slow down to negotiate a bend,i stepped on the gas but the wouldn't move until after some seconds
Chris
Upon acceleration my bmw does not pull but rather makes a nice like plugs not work mean while all plugs,ignition leads ,injectors are brand new and all I get is flames from exhaust
Alice T Breeze
There may be a problem with the clutch. We'd advise you to take it to a professional mechanic so he/she can solve the problem.

Regards
victoria mundy
I have a 2003 chevy malabu Just had oil change filter and new spark plugs from mechanic put in about a month ago. This past week my son and I noticed while driving it struggles to excelerate causing us to apply harder on gas pedal. It has 118,000 miles but gas been well kept. The last 3 weeks my son gas been using it too because his car died. He racks up about 90 miles a day. Ty
Alba Charles (oneHOWTO editor)
Hi Victoria, in the article you can read some possible reasons why your car doesn't accelerate properly. The best is to bring it to a professional mechanics so the problem with your car can be properly solved.
Desmond Farr
I have a 96 Nissan altima and when I push on my gas pedal is not doing anything what could be the reason for that.
Alba Charles (oneHOWTO editor)
Hi Desmond, in the article above you'll see some of the most common reasons why your car doesn't accelerate properly. We advise you to bring it to the mechanics so you can have a professional checkup. Regards
Robert
I have a 1997 cavalier, I was driving at 55 MPH and suddenly it started to slow down slowly to 35, even when I put the pedal to the metal, now it won't go faster than that. Please help me.
M Mahroof
Answer! Handbrake cable seized on one side.
aurora mehlbaum
I bought 2nd hand car computer for suzuki grand vitara 2008 and why my car wont accelerate
M Mahroof
Hi my car doesn't accelerate property after driving for 20 or 30 min it seems like something is seizing up in the engine. My car Hyundai i30 2010
Richard
My car loses power when going up hills when applied pressure on accelerate
alonzo
When i put my car in reverse itdrives fine. But when i put it in drive it will only go like 10 mph. It wont go any faster. What can the problem be??
Michael Riley (oneHOWTO editor)
Hi Alonzo,
It could be a number of things but sounds like something in the transmission system is not working correctly. Our advice would be to take it to a mechanic and get it checked out!
Shawn
What you're describing sounds like a fried 2nd gear clutch. It's normal for an automatic transmission to shift from first to second gears around 10-15 mph. Most shift in 10-15 mph increments. If it's a clutch pack failure, you're going to look at a very expensive repair (you may wish to buy another car).
1 of 5
Why Doesn't my Car Accelerate Properly