What Causes Sudden Loss of Power and Severe Shaking When Accelerating?
3 Answers
Here are the specific reasons for sudden loss of power and severe shaking when accelerating: 1. Carbon buildup issues: Including cylinder carbon deposits, throttle carbon deposits, spark plug carbon deposits, intake carbon deposits, etc. When there is excessive carbon buildup inside the engine, the vehicle's ignition energy decreases, intake efficiency drops, ultimately leading to reduced engine power and idle power loss. 2. Fuel system: Adding incompatible fuel grades causing decreased vehicle output power and reduced performance; or due to blocked fuel tank vent holes, clogged fuel tank switch, fuel filter, or fuel lines between the tank and carburetor, which cannot meet the required fuel supply, resulting in overly lean air-fuel mixture and weak engine acceleration. 3. Intake system: If the air filter is not cleaned in time after prolonged use and becomes clogged, insufficient air volume will cause an overly rich combustible mixture, reducing engine power; for vehicles with turbochargers, failure of the turbocharging device will also lead to reduced engine power or weakness. 4. Engine overheating: Insufficient engine oil, insufficient engine coolant, or malfunctioning engine cooling system will increase engine load, leading to poor engine cooling. Engine overheating causes poor lubrication effects, increases mechanical wear, reduces engine power, and increases fuel consumption.
I've experienced a few instances where the car suddenly loses power and shakes violently when stepping on the accelerator, which could be caused by several reasons. The most common issue is with the ignition system, such as worn-out spark plugs or faulty ignition coils, causing a cylinder to misfire and resulting in engine shaking. The fuel system could also be problematic; insufficient fuel pump pressure or clogged fuel injectors can lead to poor gasoline supply, making acceleration weak. A blocked air intake, like a dirty air filter or malfunctioning mass airflow sensor, affects the air-fuel mixture ratio. Excessive carbon buildup on the throttle body can also cause rough idling and shaking. Faults in the electronic control unit, such as a broken sensor sending incorrect data, can lead to abnormal fuel supply. In such cases, I recommend not forcing the car to continue driving. Instead, slow down and pull over to a safe place, as severe shaking might indicate a high risk of cylinder misfire, which can significantly damage the engine. Finally, have it inspected by a professional shop to avoid bigger issues.
Last time I was driving, I stepped on the gas pedal and suddenly the car lost power and started shaking badly, which really freaked me out. It's most likely a fuel system issue—either the fuel filter is dirty and clogging the fuel supply, or the fuel pump isn't delivering enough fuel properly. The ignition system could also be acting up; worn-out spark plugs might cause a cylinder to misfire, making the whole engine unstable. On the air intake side, a thick buildup of carbon in the throttle body could jam its opening and closing, or a leak in the intake pipe might mess with the air-fuel mixture. Sometimes it's the sensors causing trouble, like a faulty oxygen sensor misleading the ECU. I think this situation is pretty dangerous and makes driving uncomfortable, so I pulled over to do a quick check—like seeing if the air filter is clean—and if that doesn't help, it's best to call a tow truck right away. Regular maintenance and part replacements can help avoid these issues.
