Loss of Power When Accelerating

When the engine feels sluggish or unresponsive, fuel, air, or spark is being restricted somewhere.

Severity: Medium

What to Do Right Now

Start with the cheapest fix: replace the air filter. If no improvement, inspect spark plugs and fuel filter next.

Common Causes

  1. Clogged air filter: A dirty filter restricts airflow. Cheapest first thing to check. Shop air filter
  2. Dirty fuel filter: Restricts fuel flow under load. Shop fuel filter
  3. Worn spark plugs: Weak spark robs power, especially under acceleration. Shop spark plugs
  4. Failing oxygen sensor: Bad O2 readings cause the engine to run rich or lean, hurting performance. Shop oxygen sensor
  5. Clogged catalytic converter: A plugged catalytic converter creates massive exhaust restriction. Can be diagnosed with a backpressure test. Shop catalytic converter