Engine Light On and Car Won’t Accelerate
Causes
There are a number of possible causes why your engine light might be on and your car won’t accelerate. Some of the most common include:
- Faulty spark plugs or wires: This can cause the engine to misfire, which can lead to a loss of power and acceleration.
- Clogged fuel filter: This can restrict the flow of fuel to the engine, which can also lead to a loss of power.
- Faulty fuel injector: This can cause the engine to run too lean or too rich, which can lead to a loss of power.
- Vacuum leak: This can cause the engine to run too lean, which can lead to a loss of power.
- Faulty throttle position sensor: This can cause the engine to run at the wrong speed, which can lead to a loss of power.
- Faulty mass air flow sensor: This can cause the engine to run too lean or too rich, which can lead to a loss of power.
- Faulty oxygen sensor: This can cause the engine to run too lean or too rich, which can lead to a loss of power.
- Faulty catalytic converter: This can cause the engine to run too hot, which can lead to a loss of power.
Symptoms
In addition to the engine light being on, you may also experience the following symptoms if your car won’t accelerate:
- Hesitation or stumbling when you accelerate
- Loss of power when you try to accelerate
- Jerking or shuddering when you accelerate
- Rough idle
- Decreased fuel economy
Diagnosis
If you’re experiencing the symptoms listed above, it’s important to have your car diagnosed by a qualified mechanic. The mechanic will be able to use a diagnostic scanner to read the trouble codes stored in the car’s computer. These codes can help the mechanic identify the cause of the problem.
Repair
The repair for a car that won’t accelerate will depend on the cause of the problem. Some common repairs include:
- Replacing spark plugs or wires
- Replacing the fuel filter
- Replacing the fuel injector
- Fixing a vacuum leak
- Replacing the throttle position sensor
- Replacing the mass air flow sensor
- Replacing the oxygen sensor
- Replacing the catalytic converter
Prevention
There are a few things you can do to help prevent your car from having problems with acceleration:
- Keep up with regular maintenance, including oil changes, tune-ups, and fluid checks.
- Use high-quality gasoline.
- Avoid driving in extreme weather conditions.
- Be gentle on your car when you accelerate and brake.
Conclusion
If your engine light is on and your car won’t accelerate, it’s important to have it diagnosed by a qualified mechanic. The mechanic will be able to identify the cause of the problem and recommend the best course of action.
