If you’re wondering, “Why is my car not accelerating properly?” this is the article for you—find out what components may be causing your car to feel sluggish!
You back out of your driveway, ready for the Texas road ahead, only to press the gas pedal and find your Nissan isn’t getting up to speed quite like it used to. Not only can poor acceleration be frustrating, but it can also put you in a dangerous situation when pulling into traffic! Read on to learn why your car is slow to accelerate and what you can do to fix it with help from Ed Hicks Nissan in Corpus Christi, TX.
There are three key ingredients your Nissan engine needs to run: air, fuel, and spark. So if your vehicle isn’t accelerating correctly, it’s probably due to a lack of one of those components. For ease of diagnosis, we’ve grouped each part into its respective element.
Engine air filters are an often overlooked maintenance item, but they play a major part in your vehicle’s performance. If a clogged air filter restricts airflow, your engine will likely struggle to accelerate — if it runs at all. Fortunately, checking and replacing your engine air filter might be the simplest do-it-yourself repair out there, but you can always stop by Ed Hicks Nissan for a quick air filter replacement.
Two main air sensors could impact your vehicle’s acceleration: the mass air flow (MAF) sensor and the oxygen (O2) sensor. The MAF sensor is attached to the air intake and measures how much air your engine is pulling from the atmosphere. The O2 sensor is threaded into the engine’s exhaust manifold and monitors the amount of unburned oxygen present in the exhaust.
The data provided by both of these sensors is used to determine the right air-fuel ratio for your engine. If one of the sensors becomes inaccurate or fails entirely, the air-fuel ratio will be incorrect, and your engine will likely consume too much or too little fuel. An incorrect air-to-fuel ratio can result in:
Fortunately, if your MAF sensor has failed, replacing it yourself can be doable! However, if your O2 sensor has failed, you may need to place your car on jack stands to access the exhaust system. So if you don’t have the tools or feel uncomfortable doing so, your local Nissan service center at Ed Hicks will be happy to help!
Like dirty air filters, clogged fuel filters can restrict one of the three necessary elements we mentioned above. The job of your fuel filter is to catch and contain any debris that might enter your fuel system so that it doesn’t clog your carburetor or fuel injectors. If your fuel filter gets too full, it can restrict fuel flow to the injectors, resulting in:
Schedule an appointment with your Corpus Christi Nissan service center for help with a clogged fuel filter.
Usually located inside your gas tank, your fuel pump’s job is to deliver fuel to your engine’s fuel injectors. When a fuel pump starts to fail, it may not consistently deliver enough fuel to your engine, which can cause:
If your fuel pump is on its way out, you’ll likely hear a whining sound from the rear of your vehicle when it’s running. Unfortunately, replacing a fuel pump can be time-consuming and difficult, so we recommend visiting your local Ed Hicks Nissan service center for this one.
As the final stop for fuel before entering the combustion chamber, it’s imperative that your engine’s fuel injectors are in clean, tip-top shape. Over time, carbon deposits (the byproduct of combustion) can build up on your fuel injectors and impact their ability to atomize the fuel. When one or more of your fuel filters is clogged, you could experience:
Dirty or faulty fuel injectors can seriously damage your engine, so if you’re having any of these symptoms, we recommend getting your Nissan checked out by our experienced team ASAP!
As you might have guessed from their name, spark plugs are responsible for producing the spark that ignites your engine’s fuel. Like fuel injectors, spark plugs can be covered in carbon deposits and other grime over time, which can hinder their ability to create a strong spark.
The wires attached to your spark plugs can also become brittle and worn out with age, which can cause the electricity inside of them to take a shorter path to a nearby bolt or other metal component — ultimately preventing the spark plug from doing its job.
If your spark plugs or wires are failing, your vehicle may:
Though spark plugs and wires can be changed at home with a fairly basic tool set, they may be difficult to access depending on your vehicle’s model. You’ll also need to avoid damaging plug wires during removal and properly gap your spark plugs before installation. You may want to have the pros at your Ed Hicks Nissan service center in Corpus Christi handle the replacement.
Your vehicle’s ignition coil is responsible for taking electricity from your battery, ramping up the voltage, and sending it to the spark plugs. If you have a bad ignition coil, your vehicle is likely to exhibit the same symptoms of bad spark plugs, so differentiating between the two can be tricky.
Fortunately, if you do have a faulty coil, they are generally easy to order and replace! Though some vehicles’ ignition coils may be difficult to access, most are located on the top of the engine, underneath the engine cover.
Slow acceleration is a problem you need to get fixed ASAP. Visit your local Nissan service center in Corpus Christi for help pinpointing the issue, or find the replacement parts you need online at Ed Hicks Nissan Parts & Accessories. Have them conveniently shipped straight to your door or to the Ed Hicks dealership at 3000 South Padre Island Drive. We’re conveniently located across the street from the Corpus Christi Trade Center.
