What to Do When Engine Revs High but Car Doesn't Accelerate?
2 Answers
When the engine revs high but the car doesn't accelerate, if it's a manual transmission stuck in a low gear, you need to upshift. If the speed still doesn't increase after upshifting and there's a burning smell, it indicates the clutch plate is too thin and slipping, requiring transmission removal for part replacement. For automatic transmissions in S mode, shift to D mode and retry—it might be an internal transmission fault causing it to stay stuck in 3rd gear, necessitating transmission inspection or repair. A dirty throttle position sensor or voltage imbalance can cause electronic throttle failure, also resulting in no acceleration despite full throttle input.
With over a decade of car repair experience, when encountering high engine RPM without corresponding acceleration, my first suspicion is clutch slippage. This is a common issue in manual transmission vehicles – worn clutch plates fail to transfer power to the wheels, resulting in the engine roaring without moving the car. For automatic transmissions, it could be a faulty torque converter or stuck shift solenoid valves disrupting power delivery. Turbocharger seal leaks can also cause this symptom, as insufficient boost pressure leaves the engine powerless. A clogged exhaust system is more troublesome, particularly when the catalytic converter is blocked – exhaust backpressure prevents RPM from exceeding 4000. Don't push your luck with such problems; get professional diagnostics as soon as possible.
