Why Is My Car Not Accelerating Properly?

Picking up speed is something that you do many times when you're on your way somewhere in your vehicle. The need may be greater if you're merging into fast traffic and need to remain safe. Otherwise, acceleration is just something you utilize to get up to the speed limit during your drive. When you press down on your gas pedal, and you don't feel like the response time is quick enough, this can be a frustrating situation. At South County Lexus, we encourage you to reach out to us if you're experiencing an issue such as this. We have some common reasons why this might be occurring, and we'll check out all of them when you bring your vehicle to us.

Checking Your Mass Air Flow Sensor and Oxygen Sensor

These two sensors are a very important part of how air and fuel mix together inside of your engine. If malfunctions with either of these sensors occur, you'll experience a lack of acceleration or a check engine signal light.

A Potential Problem with Your Throttle Position Sensor

Your throttle position sensor is responsible for opening your throttle valve, and this is another part of your automobile that helps control the air and fuel mixture in your vehicle. If the valve is not opening at the right angle when you're driving, there will be a negative effect on your acceleration rate.

The Need for a New Fuel Filter

A fuel filter needs to be replaced periodically when it becomes gummed up with all kinds of dirt and sludge. Otherwise, this can affect your fuel tank and your engine. This is a simple process that can be done along with your other routine maintenance. We recommend checking your owner's manual to see what the suggested interval is.

Dirty Engine Air Filters

Your engine must have the right amount of airflow going through it for proper combustion and acceleration. Like the other filters in your vehicle, your engine air filter will need to be replaced periodically for optimal vehicle performance.

If any of these problems may contribute to issues that you're experiencing with your vehicle's acceleration, we encourage you to reach out to South County Lexus. We can quickly diagnose these problems, and we'll fix the issue in a timely fashion, so you begin to experience rapid acceleration again.