Why Is My Car Not Accelerating Properly?

Acceleration of your car is not how it should be and feels sluggish like something is wrong. Typically there are four common reasons for this lethargic condition. If not corrected can lead to severe issues when merging into traffic, climbing steep grades, or maintaining a traffic flow. These are the four most common reasons for lack of acceleration or a car being sluggish.

1. Clogged and Dirty Air Filter

An inexpensive item to replace that will allow the engine to breathe more freely and improve performance. The dirty air filter blocks airflow to the engine, thereby affecting performance. Refer to the owner's manual for the scheduled replacement for air filters, and this simple task can have an immediate effect on engine performance. 

2. Dirty Fuel Filter

Peak engine performance depends on an uninterrupted supply of clean fuel, and the fuel filter works to supply clean, combustible fuel. The filter traps debris, sludge, and other fuel flow restrictors to ensure peak engine performance. Eventually, all the trapped contaminants clog the filter and will require replacement. 

3. Defective Oxygen or Mass Air Flow Sensors

Poor engine performance or gas mileage often is the result of an incorrect fuel-air mixture or restricted airflow. The sensors work together to monitor accurate fuel flow to the engine, and if either becomes faulty can affect the engine performance. This condition may require one of our certified service technicians to determine if cleaning the mass airflow filter corrects the problem or replacing the oxygen sensor. 

4. Defective Throttle Position Sensor (TPS)

When the engine light comes on, it often points to a faulty Throttle Position Sensor. The TPS sensor continuously monitors various engine functions such as valve angle setting to ensure peak engine performance. However, engine acceleration is dependent on the Throttle Position Sensor, and inaccurate data from the monitor can degrade engine performance. So, when the engine light comes on, it is crucial to bring your vehicle to Toyota of Dallas and have our service department professionals check it out.

If you have any of these engine performance conditions, make sure and visit Toyota of Dallas and have one of our professional service technicians inspect your car's condition. They will discover the reason for your engine performance issues and repairs to ensure the vehicle performs according to your expectations.