How to Fix Car Acceleration Problems

If your vehicle seems to take longer to accelerate than usual, there could be an underlying issue. If this occurs while driving, it’s essential that you address the situation promptly.

Bad acceleration can be caused by a variety of issues, many of which are easily fixable. Let’s explore some of the most common causes and how to tackle them!

Check the Tires

If your car is having difficulties accelerating, you should bring it in for an inspection. This could be indicative of an underlying engine issue and it’s essential to address the problem before it gets worse and more costly to fix.

Tires play an integral role in your vehicle’s acceleration, so it’s essential to inspect them regularly for optimal performance and a secure ride.

Conducting basic tire checks is both effortless and cost-effective. To measure how much tread remains on a tire, use either a tread depth gauge or inserting a penny head-first into its groove.

Check the Brakes

Brakes are an integral part of your car’s safety system, so it’s always wise to check them periodically. If you notice that your brakes aren’t braking as hard as they used to or taking longer to stop than usual, get them checked out right away.

One common cause of brake pad wear is low brake pads. As they wear down, their thickness increases – meaning it takes longer for them to contact the rotors, decreasing braking force in the process.

This could indicate an issue with one of the two calipers or wheel cylinders. This would cause brakes to apply unevenly on each side of your vehicle, so it’s essential to check for this on a regular basis.

Check the Fuel Filter

Fuel filters are essential components of the gas system, ensuring only pure, clean gasoline is delivered to your engine. This prevents small particles from entering your tank and creating costly issues.

The filter is typically situated between your engine and tank. It helps capture any foreign particles that might get into your engine, protecting it from damaging fuel injectors.

A clogged fuel filter can cause your engine to hesitate when starting, accelerating or driving up an incline. This is an alarming situation that poses risks to both you and your passengers.

Clogged fuel filters can drastically reduce fuel efficiency. If you’re facing any of these issues, it’s time for a professional technician to install a new filter for optimal performance.

Check the Timing Belt

If your car isn’t accelerating properly, it could be indicative of an issue with the timing belt. This belt links the crankshaft and camshafts, which control valves within each cylinder of your engine.

It’s designed to wear out over time, so replacing the belt as part of regular maintenance is recommended. Without a belt, cylinders may slip and open or close incorrectly.

A misfire and stalling of the engine could occur. If this occurs, you’ll need to bring in your car for repair.

Check the Engine

If you observe your vehicle jerking or hesitate when pressing the accelerator pedal, there could be an underlying problem with its engine. This safety concern must be addressed promptly as it could lead to more serious engine damage that’s costly and time-consuming to fix.

Acceleration issues are often due to a dirty or clogged air filter. This filter traps all airborne pollutants entering the engine, helping it create the ideal air-to-fuel ratio.

Other causes for slow acceleration could be a dirty mass air flow sensor or malfunctioning throttle position sensor, both of which send airflow data to your engine control unit (ECU). The ECU then determines how much fuel should be injected into each cylinder for maximum power output.