11 Causes of Car Losing Power When Accelerating (Gas & Diesel Engines)
Press the gas pedal but your vehicle is lacking power? Don’t despair. Losing your ability to accelerate when you need to can be a major safety concern.
Sudden loss of acceleration has quite a few potential causes. Keep reading to learn why your car is losing power when accelerating and how to fix the issue.
Reasons Your Car Loses Power But the Engine Remains Running
There are many reasons why your vehicle may be losing power that can affect both gas and diesel engines. These causes can be broken down into three areas:
- Mechanical problems such as: low compression, clogged fuel filter, dirty air filter, clogged exhaust manifold.
- Malfunction of sensors such as: camshaft position sensor, MAF sensor, oxygen sensor, crankshaft sensor and all sensors relative to the EFI system.
- Malfunction of actuators such as: bad fuel injectors, bad fuel pump, bad spark plugs.
#1 – Low Compression (Gas & Diesel Engine)
In order for a car’s engine to function properly and provide adequate power to the vehicle, there must be good cylinder compression throughout the combustion process. If the compression is low, then the power of the engine will be low.
The result will be an engine that simply doesn’t function properly. Diagnosing low cylinder compression is the next step toward a solution.
#2 – Clogged Fuel Filter (Gas & Diesel Engine)
The fuel filter is located in between the fuel injectors and fuel pump of your vehicle. The job of the fuel filter is to screen the gasoline for any impurities which may exist in it. That way, when the fuel pump sends the gasoline into the engine, those impurities won’t be there.
The fuel filter is literally a barrier between the contaminants in the gasoline and the engine of your vehicle.
If you were to have a dirty fuel filter or one that couldn’t perform its job properly because it’s damaged or clogged, fuel pressure would be reduced and it would even be possible for those contaminants to find their way into the engine and at some point, cause expensive damage.
Once that happens, the engine will eventually lose its power and the overall functionality of the vehicle will be impaired. Replacing your fuel filter is the most straightforward fix.
#3 – Bad Air Filter (Gas & Diesel Engine)
The internal combustion chamber of an engine is responsible for mixing gasoline and air together in order to generate the power that is needed to run your vehicle. Before the air can enter the chamber, it must pass through an air filter that screens out bugs, debris, and other kinds of impurities that may exist in it.
If these impurities were to get into the engine, they could cause severe damage. However, air filters tend to get clogged after they’ve been used for a while.
Once an air filter gets clogged, it will limit the amount of air that can get into the internal combustion chamber. This will negatively impact the functionality of the vehicle because the engine won’t be able to generate a sufficient amount of power to run the car.
Replace your air filter and you should be good as new. If you have a reusable air filter such as a K&N, simply clean it according to the manufacturer’s directions.
#4 – Clogged Exhaust Pipe (Gas & Diesel Engine)
There are two filters in an exhaust system; the muffler and the catalytic converter. The job of the catalyst converter is to cut down the amount of pollution generated from the exhaust gases.
As for the muffler, its job is simply to decrease the amount of noise that is made. If the exhaust pipe or any of its filters were to get clogged, it would weaken the functionality of the engine by reducing its power and making the vehicle drive slow when trying to accelerate.
A clogged exhaust system is bad on any vehicle but it’s even worse on a turbocharged vehicle.
#5 – Camshaft Position Sensor Malfunction (Gas & Diesel Engine)
The vehicle’s camshaft position sensor is responsible for gathering information about the camshaft speed of the vehicle and then sending it to the electronic control module (ECM).
This module is a computer which exists inside most cars on the road today. Once information about the camshaft speed is sent to the ECM, the computer will then manage the timing of both the fuel injection and ignition based on this information.
However, if there is a malfunction with the camshaft position sensor and it’s not able to send this information to the ECM, then the performance of the engine will be greatly impacted and likely won’t be able to function properly.
#6 – MAF Sensor Malfunction (Gas Engine)
The main responsibility of a Mass Airflow Sensor is to measure the amount of air that flows into the engine and then report this amount to the Powertrain Control Module. From there, the module will use this information to calculate the load that is being placed on the engine.
If there were to be some sort of malfunction with the sensors, then the engine’s performance would be diminished.
#7 – Oxygen Sensor Malfunction (Gas & Diesel Engine)
When exhaust gases leave your vehicle’s engine, the amount of gases which leave is measured by the oxygen sensor. The electronic control module then uses this information to figure out the real-time air-to-fuel ratio that exists in the vehicle’s engine.
The oxygen sensor is positioned inside of the exhaust stream. It enables the engine timing and fuel injection system to do their jobs efficiently. The oxygen sensor even provides support with emission control as well.
But if a malfunction were to take place with the oxygen sensor, then it wouldn’t be able to accurately send information about the air-to-fuel ratio to the electronic control module. This would cause the engine to start performing poorly and it would ultimately have a negative impact on the environment.
#8 – Bad Fuel Injectors (Gas and Diesel Common Rail Engine)
Fuel injectors are an important management component of a vehicle’s engine. They are located within the fuel system of a vehicle and their main job is to spray fuel inside of the engine.
The computer of the engine is what controls the fuel injector and the specific time intervals and patterns in which the injector sprays fuel into the engine. That way, the engine can perform the best that it can under different driving conditions.
You will find that most vehicles on the road these days have fuel injectors in them. If a fuel injector were to become damaged or malfunction in some way, then the engine would not be able to generate a sufficient amount of power to run the vehicle.
You can expect all kinds of engine performance problems to take place since the fuel injector is a crucial part of the fuel system.
#9 – Bad or Weak Fuel Pump (Gas Engine)
The responsibility of the fuel pump is to take fuel from the gas tank and transfer it into the engine of the vehicle. Not only that, the fuel pump ensure that the fuel is delivered at the right pressure so that it can meet the demands of the engine for maximum performance.
If something were to malfunction or go wrong with the fuel pump, your car won’t accelerate and the performance of the engine would ultimately be jeopardized.
Read Also: Symptoms of a bad throttle position sensor
#10 – Bad Spark Plugs (Gas Engine)
Spark plugs are an important component of a vehicle’s internal combustion motor. After the ignition coil sends an electrical signal to the spark plugs, they transmit that signal to the combustion chamber so that its air & fuel mixture can be ignited by an electric spark.
If the spark plugs were to ever fail, then the engine’s performance would diminish and eventually fail altogether.
Read Also: Causes of Car High Fuel Consumption in Diesel and Petrol Engines
#11 – Bad Ignition Coil (Gas Engine)
The ignition coils of the ignition system serve as an electronic engine management element which is responsible for converting the 12 volts of power generated by the vehicle into 20,000 volts. This amount of voltage is needed in order to generate the electrical spark which can ignite the air & fuel mixture of the engine.
If the ignition coil were to fail, then the vehicle would be unable to accelerate and its power would be lost.
Other Causes of No Power When Accelerating
- Bad turbocharger
- Bad EGR valve
- Bad injection pump delivery valve (conventional diesel engine)
He’s known for his attention to detail and problem-solving skills and enjoys coming up with out-of-the box solutions when the situation requires it.
When he's not troubleshooting customers' cars, you'll most likely find him working on his current project ('96 Bronco) or cooking Italian food for his family.
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My name is Thomas im using toyota corrola quest with less than 40 000km.My problem is that every time the engine light come on it losses power.It can be on for maybe 4days and then off again .When it is off my car perfomes well .I visited toyota dealers twice and they say if the light is off they cannot find the problem
The problem is that when it is on by the time i reach the dealer it is
off.Please help me like this car but i cannot takes it any more
Try to pay really close attention to everything you are doing when the light comes on next time. Were you giving it gas? How much? Is the car warmed up? Are you in traffic? Any funny noises or strange engine behavior? What was the ambient temperature? If you can replicate the issue yourself or describe to the dealer what you were doing when the light came on, they will have a much easier time figuring out what is going on.
Hi please help me my toyota 1200 is switching itself of wen I start
My car is losing power diesel corolla 1.4d4d 2014. Diagnostic shows glow plug problems..it’s very under powered.stays in limp mode..does anyone had similar problems..looking for solutions..
Regards dp
Hi I have 2001 Kia rio. My car isn’t working right when I push the gas it doesn’t want to go anywhere and even press different gears like drive and reverse? Idk what is the problem with it ? It doesn’t even go as fast anymore when I push on the gas. Could someone tell me what could be wrong with my car?
My Toyota grand Hiace was not idling for longer than 30 seconds. I replaced the fuel fiter(electric), but, it only idles and wont drive off. Instead it misfires and cuts off
Hi, Great and full informative article. thanks
My car is Hyundai Santa fe 2007 Diesel car and has power loose, it can cranked well but when move cannot speed and has difficult to go up a slope road or bridge.
Any suggested reasons, Mechanics check it many times but failed to know the reasons, months after months and the car go from a mechanic shop to other and no solution.
Hello! I need help! So here’s the deal my car (01 Eclipse 2.4l 4 cyl automatic) is failing on acceleration. This is how it works Car has maximum power around half throttle. Once the throttle is fully opened thats when it happens, the car either stays the same in acceleration, or declines, and sometimes once in a blue moon it actually works!
Hi, i have a kia picanto 2006 model G4HG 1.1, i am having a power issue, where by if i accelerate most especially gear 1,2 and 3 my car feels like someone stepped on the brakes and then it catches speed, it gets worse when i am climbing on a hill. last time the car did this and eventually got worse, i took it to a mechanic and they said that it was a computer box that was burnt…car was fixed last month december and now its doing the same thing again….dont know what to do anymore and i have lost a lot of cash on previous repairs. please help…
Sticky brake caliper?
My car will not go in drive and it won’t back up and when I try to hit the gas it don’t accelerate plus it’s some greasy and brown coming out my tail pipes..
Can someone please tell what it could be
I have a commodore which loses acceleration and also cuts out. Once cool, usually 20-30 min I can drive again until it heats up and then it stops again. I have had a diagnostic thingy done by 2 separate mechanics who tells me there is nothing wrong. Took 3 hours to do a 1 hour trip. Something Must be wrong. Can you help?
Renault Laguna weirdness – car loses power while driving, this is not an intermittent random power loss, it does it at the same locations ! Power completely drops (kinda like limp mode) so I have to floor the pedal to get going which feels like driving with a brake on then suddenly the brake is released and the car accelerates away. Like I say this is not random as it happens at the same road points/locations everytime. Any clurs as to why would be greatly apprciated
That’s really odd it would do that at the same point on the road. Is there a bump or dip in the road right before it? Almost sounds like a stuck brake caliper.
Thanks for reply
there are no real similarities with the locations where it occurs, also when the car has kicked into this ‘limp’ mode and I am stationary, the normal idle revs of 900 drop to about 450-500 and wont rev back up until I floor the pedal which makes pulling away at roundabout rather dangerous. I have had the car into garages who have carried out full diagnostics which returns no faults. I have wondered if there could be some sort of external electrical/signal either underground or from a mast that possibly effects the cars ECU, I know that might sound a bit bizarre but I have become rather stuck for answers as to what is the cause.
I have a 2010 Ford Transit it’s now losing power whilst driving. No response from the gas pedal and it gradually slows up until I’m crawling up a hill. After a while the power returns but the frequency and duration are increasing
When I step on the gas my car takes a extremely long time to pick up speed…. I’m talking about with the pedal too the floor it accelerates like a turtle.
I’ve replaced the spark plugs all of the coil pks and the spark plug wires. Still drinks 1/4 tank of gas in a 5 mile distance. Also skips and has no power. I’m at my wits ends
I have a Audi A4 TDI B7 engine and It is loosing power even after changing the injectors, was told that 3 injectors need to be changed and changed them with refurbished ones and the problem still exists. Pls help.
i drive a ford couriers TD 4×4 and on the way too work it lost power wont go past 90km, it has a strong whistle when i accelerate. the head just got redone, what is the most likely suspect??
Sounds like a vacuum leak somewhere.
Hello Dakota can you please tell me what you found out about your vehicle I have that same whistle and then I totally lost power on the freeway it was running but it would not go when I press on the accelerator. And yes the valve cover gasket and spark plug seals or put on new all put back together and then there was the whistle.. I’ve been looking through every YouTube and nobody describes the whistle like you did please help
My daughter has a 2009 Nissan Altima, after driving on the highway approx. 100 mile it start decelerating, she pushes the gas pedal and it does nothing. She lets it sit and cool down and can drive another 100 mile before it starts again. Scope showed cracked manifold which was replaced but it continues to do the same thing.
I hate having her drive on the highway.
I dont know if you already solved this issue. But a fauly crank sensor causes these symptoms. Also coolant temp sensor because once that reaches its rightfull temp it will trigger the ecu to closed loop mode. Which then will run on lamda sensor alone and the o2 sensors ect. So possibly crank sensor, temp sensor or lambda.
Hi my tractor it’s misfiring the fuel system is flowing well but when I start the engine the air cleaner sounds like compression is not good…. What could be the problem???
My 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer ce2 mr loses power under acceleration. The air filters fine but I haven’t checked anything else yet what should I check next?
My bmw losses power sometimes when on the motorway when I go over a dip in the road and the traction control light comes on help me plz
This is likely a faulty wheel speed sensor. Scanning the computer for error codes should confirm this. A bad traction control module could also be the problem but less likely.
My son’s car engine light came on and he started losing power when he accelerated. Now when he starts the car the engine light stays on and the car will stall out. What seems to be our problem?
Hi guys,
Came here to share my experience. My Toyota Land Cruiser Prado would lose power when accelerating. The mechanic said there can be three possible issues:
1. Clogged fuel tank filter
2. Computer sensor issue
3. Fuel pump issue
The easiest was computer sensor issue so we started troubleshooting it first. They found the issue with the sensor and fixed it. It turned out the gas pedal was also malfunctioning, so they changed that as well.
The problem is resolved but it took them a whole day to fix it. The mechanic advised to still get the fuel tank cleaned up and filters changed, so I’ll get that done as well.
The mechanic also said that we cannot completely rule out the possibility of changing the fuel pump, which is quite expensive. I hope we don’t have to.
I hope the above info helps.
Have a 1993 Ford escort wagon 1.9 motor I changed the wires place air filter and after driving it 5 miles it loses acceleration to the point the cars doesn’t move let it set over night and it runs like a new car and it just started after the tune up and done check and firing order is correct I dont know what I’m miss and could use some help thank you
Please see this: http://cartreatments.com/limp-mode/
83 FJ60 – accelerates fine and can reach top speeds but if pedal floored I get major hesitation. It will accelerate faster at 3/4 depression than full depression of the pedal.
Hi my Nissan skyline is not accelerating, smelling unburnt petrol to exhaust , lossing power, what gonna be the problem please help me
My Opel Corsa ldv/lvd is loosing power when I step on the gas pedal. Fuel pump has been changed to Bosch and fuel filter has been changed too. It gives me stress. Please help before it breaks down.
Did you scan for any trouble codes? It could be fuel injectors, spark plugs, or some type of sensor that needs replacing.
my car is very sluggish, when i pull off in first it doesnt give off power especially when im on a uphill. its also taking alot of petrol. i just replaced the fuel filter and yet its still doing the same thing and it jerks alot. i dont know what is wrong with it could you maybe assist me? thank you
I have a Citroen ds3 2010 plate. It has loss of power, when going up gear the sound of groaning gets louder. The car has also been cutting out. What could it be please?
Hello my name is Aron singleton I have a 2005 Toyota tundra sr5 I am having problems i have the gas to the floor on the highway it will high rev and no power I changed the spark plugs today but that did not help what can cause that please help
It’s likely either a transmission issue (automatic or manual) or slipping clutch (manual). Check your transmission fluid level, color, and to make sure there are no metal shavings.
Experiencing low power on my grand starex auto trans.
I just used the + and – function. After a several hours it cannot climb the hills.
What seams to be the problem? (Sliding Clutch)
Hello I have a 2003 mitsubishi lancer and it’s loosing power when I accelerate. I change coil packs it’s the same problem I realize the transmission not changing out from second gear it’s just bucking, especially when going up a hill it’l buck buck and pause on the hill or crawling like a slug. What’s the problem?
Hello just asking if yous could help me with my 2001 Hyundai accent. My car stutters wen cold an taking off. Feels like I lose alot of power wen taking off. Already changed my spark plugs an leads?? Thanks
Hello
I drive toyota landcruiser prado. It has 1kd engine diesel. Meanwhile it has lost its power, i thought it was nozzels, we have change the nozzel but the problem is still there. What can i do more?
Sadick,. Did you find the problem? I am having the same problem. Especially when I push the pedal down from a complete stop. I can floor the accelerator and it hardly moves but when it gets going it seems to do ok. The car hesitates a little when you start it but the idle and everything seems to be doing okay. It is a diesel engine with an automatic transmission.
Have the same problem…i change Electronic Actuator and now the car is normaly..
I’ve got Renault scenic 7seater and it won’t go more than 40 mph . 40mph coming up on dash can you tell me fault please
Hi I just had camshaft sensor replaced in my santa fee. Collected it from garage and its loosing power. Can you explain why this is. Very worried
My Golf 6 1.4 TSI 2012 model is loosing power and cut off ,when I press accelerator the is no compression on it. The other thing I have noticed is that the car it’s like changing it self when it’s about to start this cutting off. I normally park the car aside and wait for 20 to 30 min before it can start again. When I open the bonnet the engine is so hot especially the turbo side. I have taken my car to the Vw dealers and mechanics non of them seems to be able to solve this issue please assist me. I am in South Africa
look like your car overheat, please check engine oil on dipstick to find out the oil and coolant mix. and check the compression each cylinder
Hi am Richard from Uganda.My toyota regius needs to warm up first to go over hills.please advise.Thanks.
My car ford focus 2013 model sedan type experiencing the following: Most of the time when i started to run the car, i felt that rpm doesn’t increase even i stepped on the accelerator with pressure, then after few moment, as the automatic gear shifted, rpm decreases in a sudden, which is supposedly smooth. And it happened every time the gear shifted. However, during the high gear and on stable running, everything is well. But then, when using engine brakes, i felt that something is jerking or shaking especially when shifting to low gear along with the engine brake.
Last week transmission has been changed with a 2nd hand one, catalytic converter and TCM were brand new changed as well.
What is the problem?
Hi I’m adam
I’m having the same problem. Did you manage to fix it and what was wrong with it?
Worn Engine motor mounts on the 2008 ford focus need to be replaced. Engine has 37,000 miles.
2016 honda civic 120k well maintenance change oil at 3.5k changed CVT oil, spark plugs (didn’t use OE NGKs, I used denso both iridium) what its doing is a motion that feels like when a driver keeps popping the clutch in a standard vehicle I accelerate and it starts to jerk, like someone is pinching the gas line. Very wierd, anyone else experience this problem in their 10th gen honda civic k20/2.0 ? What did you figure out?
I notice that there is absolute no pick up/ shoot after vehicle is driven 80 -100 kms
How the problem can be
corrected
I drive a 2007 Dodge Caliber and as of today, my car will not drive over 20 mph… Even with the pedal to the floor. Having no problems cranking or starting my car but I have just recently (before this morning) starting feeling like my car wasn’t at it’s full power. Engine light is now on as well. What does this sound like it could be?
Your car is likely in limp mode. See: http://cartreatments.com/limp-mode/
Did you find out what is was? I’m having this problem now.
Clogged catalytic converter. I drove a chevy with a 350 engine that ran great when cold. Idled beautifully hot or cold. But once it was warmed up wouldn’t go faster than 10mph. The converter was stopped up and the exhaust couldn’t get past. Even if you floored it! Would only go 10mph when it got warm. The converter got cherry red along with the exhaust manifolds!
My Nissan primastar van 1.9 drops power in 6 gear . You need to keep revs up for it not to drop what would be the cause
Hola, comento un caso particular en que me falló una boina de corriente, eso también hace que caiga la aceleración del vehiculo, aunque no solo eso, por supuesto afecta toda la parte electrica,
Hi my daughter has a 15 plate range rover evoke it loses power for a second now her key wont lock doors
hi my Toyota Innova was just oiled change and and service cleaned last April 2018. Lately, it is having difficulty accelerating. Would you know the reason why?
Thank you for your very helpfull advise. I drive a 08 vauxhall corsa. While i was driving i was loosing power i hope its only the filter that needs changing as i also had some white smoke coming from the tail end of my car. But when it had rested for a few hours it started up fine. I am going to get it checked out so fingers crossed
hello! my names are Alfred John.
Currently i replaced a new dry cell battery(Toyota Passo) but my car still faces the problem of near-shutting down.
What might be the problem?!
Hi my name is Timothy and I’m have trouble with my 2002 nissan Altima 3.5 I can be riding down the road and it lose power I change the throttle body sensor I change the two cam sensors but it still doing the exact same thing like I said I could be going down the road and I lose power but like if I pull my my window like I’m letting my windows up and I hold it it’ll catch up catchpower what’s going on with it and it’s like I have no separation but it’ll catch and then I lose again and a kickstand I lose again help me please
Hey I’ve a bmw 320i it loses power when I switch the engine of it become right for few minutes what would be the problem
My new Holland wheel loader have high acceleration and sometimes it can accelerate itself without stepping on the pedal. Also there low steering pressure warning on its dash board. What might be the problem?
my 2005 ford five hundred has a acceleration problem and just happens when am driving of course but just when I want to or need to accelerate it tends to kinda shake or some kinda a big vibration and stops as soon as release the gas pedal..?
I took my car to Mercedes they said it’s was the fuel pump been changed but once hitting over a 100 light still pops up have to take it back again 😡
Hello I’m having the same problem right now with my 2006 Chevy Silverado. It will start and drive as long as I baby it
If I give it too much gas? It vibrates and loses power.
What did you find out? If appreciate any help
after driving jeep across town it starts to lose power going up any kind of incline …help
My petrol car loses its power when i accelerate..i changed the filter,lead set oil pump…but the problem still exists..what will b the cause?help me out..!diagnose..
After doing timing the engine just lose it’s power and is sharking too much what exactly causes that?
timing, not on o’clock
petrol pump
Hello, my stepvan with a diesel MWM international engine is failing when you hit the gas pedal. What could be the cause?
The truck was sitting at a storage for 3 or 4 months.
It can be learning value memory in your engine ecu is deleted due to no power source. Just make initialization, start engine warm up than drive vehicle for more than 30 minutes.
Need answers pls.I have a golf 4 2002 model with a bby motor and it looses power when engine is getting hot.Replaced the new injectors and cold starter sensor what can b the problem?
I’m driving 2007 model Renault Clio iii 1,4 and it sees the ignition coil (plug coil) is not functioning, what can be the main cause and how to fix it?
It overheating
Whist driving it feels like it going to shut off whilst pressing the gas
Hello i have a bmw 5 series and when i put my foot down on the accelerator it lags plus the gauge for thr fuel says its on high mpg but i aint going then it powers up
When was the last time the spark plugs were changed? Old plugs can cause stumbling on initial acceleration. Should be a quick and easy fix if that’s the issue.
Need help, Have a 2013 veloster turbo and all of a sudden it has no power when I accelerate, idk what it can be, I bought a new clutch from the dealer ship so idk if the clutch is messed up
Any codes? Could be a boost leak, which could be found by doing a smoke test. Might need new plugs. Make sure you’re using the correct fuel. Some turbocharged vehicles require premium, so check the owner’s manual to know for sure.