Car Engine Malfunction Light On and Lack of Power During Acceleration
2 Answers
The reasons for the car engine malfunction light being on and lack of power during acceleration may be: 1. Sensor failure causing the car's ECU to inaccurately obtain engine data. 2. Carbon buildup in the engine. 3. Spark plug failure, ignition coil failure, fuel pump failure, or fuel line blockage leading to insufficient combustion of the air-fuel mixture. 4. Intake valve blockage. 5. Substandard gasoline quality. The solutions for the engine malfunction light being on and lack of power during acceleration are: 1. Reconnect or replace the sensor. 2. Replace the spark plug or ignition coil. 3. Replace the air filter and clean the throttle body and fuel lines. 4. Replace the engine oil or gasoline. 5. Clean carbon deposits from the engine.
My cousin's car had this issue just the other day, and he was stomping his feet in frustration. The engine warning light came on and the car wouldn't accelerate—most likely a fuel delivery or ignition system problem. I told him to first recall the quality of the fuel he recently used, as low-grade gasoline is notorious for clogging fuel injectors. He should also check if the ignition coils are worn out, causing a misfire, which would directly cut the power output. A dirty mass airflow sensor can also trick the ECU into miscalculating the air intake, making the car unresponsive even when the throttle is floored. The worst-case scenario is a clogged catalytic converter—if the exhaust is blocked, the car will naturally lose power. Nowadays, you can just plug into the OBD port to read the trouble codes. I advised him to get to a repair shop ASAP to pinpoint the exact cause. Driving around with the issue is a bad idea—what starts as a minor problem could turn into a major repair.
