Why Does My Car Lose Power?

Having your car suddenly lose power can be scary. One moment you’re accelerating to merge into highway traffic and seconds later your engine hesitates, causing the vehicle to slow down. Before your car or truck loses power you may notice warning signs, such as rough idle, sputtering, the check engine light being on, or an engine that’s slow to start up.

Because a loss of power is a safety issue for you and other motorists, it’s important to have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible to identify the cause and have it fixed.
Regularly scheduled maintenance can prevent many of the problems that can lead to a loss of power.

Potential Causes of a Loss of Power

Fuel System
Your car’s engine requires a reliable source of fuel to be able to provide power on demand and idle smoothly. Fuels system problems are one common cause of a loss of power. The fuel pump wears out or becomes clogged it can starve the engine of fuel, causing a loss of power. Your mechanic will test the fuel pump to ensure it is working correctly. If the pump is working, the issue could be caused by a clogged or defective fuel injector.

Air Delivery
In addition to fuel, your car’s engine needs air to create combustion that powers the vehicle. The engine’s computer regulates the air-to-fuel ratio using an airflow sensor and vacuum lines. If enough air is not available when needed, either from a vacuum leak or other problem, it can cause the engine to lose power or stall. If a vacuum leak is present you may be able to hear a hissing noise under the hood from the leaking air.

Ignition Problems
When the air-to-fuel ration is correct, the engine’s ignition system creates the spark that allows combustion to occur. If spark plugs, ignition wires and other ignition components are worn out, the car will not be able to maintain consistent power.

Timing Belt or Chain
The timing belt or chain enables the valves on the engine to open and close at the right intervals. If the timing is off engine power will be reduced and you may hear a clattering noise from the engine.

If your car is experiencing a loss of power, stop by Parkway Auto Care. Our experienced mechanics can quickly locate the cause of the problem and perform the needed service to get your car running normally again.