Why Is My Car Not Accelerating Properly?

It's not uncommon for an automobile to experience issues with how it accelerates when you press down on the gas pedal. You may notice some sluggish acceleration any time that you try to speed up, but this problem may occur intermittently. There are a few different reasons why this happens, and our technicians at Superstition Springs Lexus can address the problem quickly.

Taking a Look at Your Mass Air Flow Sensor and Oxygen Sensor 

A mass airflow sensor is designed to calculate the total amount of air entering your engine. Your oxygen sensor will measure the amount of air/fuel mixture in your engine. If either of these sensors are malfunctioning because they're dirty, this can cause a delay in your acceleration power. Luckily, it's pretty simple to clean a mass airflow sensor, and an oxygen sensor can be replaced as needed. You should see an increase in acceleration after maintenance is performed.

Is Your Throttle Position Sensor Malfunctioning?

Your vehicle contains a throttle position sensor that periodically monitors the angle at which your throttle valve is open. It will then communicate with the computer in your engine to determine if adjustments are needed. If there is a breakdown in whether or not the throttle position can be determined, incorrect information will lead to issues with acceleration.

Potentially Clog in Your Fuel Filter

Filters are throughout your vehicle to remove the different particles and debris in the air that's being taken in from the outside. Your fuel filter can become clogged up with impurities, and this will cause a backup for particulates in your engine. Acceleration can be affected when proper amounts of clean fuel cannot get into the engine.

Changing an Air Filter in Your Engine

Another location where a filter is located is inside of your engine. This air filter should be clean in order to promote airflow properly. If you're not keeping up with this routine maintenance, you may find that your speed isn't what it should be. We can help you check your owner's manual to see how frequently you should be changing out your air filter.

Contact Superstition Springs Lexus if you would like to schedule a service appointment at our Mesa dealership. We can check your vehicle to see if any of the above problems are occurring if you're having frequent issues with proper acceleration.