Car Starts but Engine Won’t Rev

Symptoms

• The car starts and idles normally.
• When you try to accelerate, the engine doesn’t rev up.
• The engine may stall when you try to accelerate.

Causes

There are several possible causes for a car that starts but the engine won’t rev up. These include:

• Fuel system problems. This could be a problem with the fuel pump, fuel filter, or fuel injectors.
• Air intake problems. This could be a problem with the air filter, MAF sensor, or throttle body.
• Ignition system problems. This could be a problem with the spark plugs, spark plug wires, or ignition coil.
• Engine mechanical problems. This could be a problem with the valves, pistons, or camshaft.

Diagnosis

To diagnose the problem, you will need to inspect the car’s fuel system, air intake system, ignition system, and engine. You can do this yourself if you are mechanically inclined. However, it is recommended that you take the car to a mechanic if you are not comfortable working on cars.

Repair

The repair for a car that starts but the engine won’t rev up will depend on the cause of the problem. Some common repairs include:

• Replacing the fuel pump, fuel filter, or fuel injectors.
• Replacing the air filter, MAF sensor, or throttle body.
• Replacing the spark plugs, spark plug wires, or ignition coil.
• Rebuilding the engine.

Prevention

There are several things you can do to prevent a car from starting but the engine won’t rev up. These include:

• Regularly maintaining the car’s fuel system, air intake system, ignition system, and engine.
• Using high-quality fuel and oil.
• Driving the car in a responsible manner.