What Causes a Car to Lack Power?
3 Answers
Reasons for a car lacking power: 1. Aging ignition coils or spark plugs not replaced for a long time, resulting in insufficient ignition energy; 2. Fuel system failure leading to excessively low pressure; 3. Excessive carbon buildup in the engine, causing poor fuel atomization; 4. Engine sensor failure; 5. Damaged catalytic converter or turbocharger. In manual transmission models, clutch slippage can cause the engine speed to increase without a corresponding rise in vehicle speed during acceleration. Dual-clutch automatic transmissions can also experience such faults. Issues like torque converter failure, failure of the lock-up clutch to engage, excessively low transmission system pressure, or faults in the transmission electronic control system can also lead to a car lacking power during acceleration.
My car had this issue before, especially noticeable when going uphill. Back then, I found out it was due to excessive carbon buildup clogging the fuel injectors and intake system, causing incomplete fuel combustion. Worn-out spark plugs with enlarged gaps also led to poor ignition, directly reducing power. Low tire pressure is like running with sandbags tied to your feet—naturally, it's exhausting. That time, I checked all four tires and found they were all 20% underinflated. Also, not changing the fuel filter for too long can clog the fuel lines, restricting fuel supply—just like trying to work on an empty stomach. If the clutch is slipping, revving the engine raises RPM but the car doesn’t speed up, like running in place. Later, I started cleaning the throttle body regularly, and now the power feels like new. Remember, timely maintenance really saves hassle.
Just encountered this issue last week, the throttle felt sluggish. The mechanic used a diagnostic tool and found an oxygen sensor signal error, incorrect fuel injection quantity, running lean with no power. The air filter was dirty, turned gray-black, causing insufficient air intake and choking the engine. Replacing the filter immediately improved the situation. The transmission fluid had degraded over time, leading to jerky shifts and inconsistent power delivery. Overfilling the engine oil also dragged performance down—I once exceeded the dipstick's upper limit. A blocked exhaust pipe also happened before, trapping exhaust gases inside, like running with a mask on and struggling to breathe. Actually, minor issues can be checked by yourself, like black smoke during cold starts definitely indicating a fuel injection fault.