Why Does My Car Hesitate When I Accelerate?

A car that hesitates when accelerating can feel unreliable when changing lanes on Orange highways, so it’s definitely a problem that you’ll want to get checked out for your own peace of mind. In addition, slow acceleration can be caused by problems with your car’s transmission or fuel pump that may grow more severe if left unaddressed. In this guide from the service center at Sonia's Auto Group, we’ll cover the most common reasons why your car may hesitate when you accelerate.

Common Causes of a Car That Hesitates When Accelerating

There is a wide range of possible reasons why your car could be hesitating when you accelerate on Orange roads. There may be an issue with one of the following parts:

• Fuel Pump: Your car’s fuel pump should deliver a carefully-regulated amount of fuel to the engine combustion chamber. If it releases the wrong amount of fuel, one result can be that your car hesitates when accelerating.
• Mass Airflow Sensor: The wrong amount of air in the engine’s air/fuel mixture can also be the cause of a car that hesitates when accelerating. That’s because a worn-out Mass Airflow Sensor may fail to tell the fuel injectors how much fuel to send to the engine.
• Fuel Injectors: Worn or dirty fuel injectors may be unable to spray fuel into the internal combustion chamber.
• Throttle Position Sensor: Your car uses a sensor to determine how much pressure to place on the accelerator and the proper position of the throttle. A broken sensor will cause decreased engine performance.
• Fuel Filter: If the fuel filter is clogged, it can’t collect dust and dirt and keep them out of the fuel. Contaminated fuel can cause engine malfunctions and reduce performance.
• Transmission: If your car has an electronically controlled automatic transmission, there could be problems with the sensors that regulate shifting pressure. Engine hesitation can also indicate transmission clutch slippage, which may result from a worn oil pump, damaged clutches, or clutch solenoid failure. 

Schedule Engine or Transmission Service in Orange

If your car hesitates when accelerating is in need of repairs, you can rely on our premier Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM service center! Schedule auto repair near Orange, MA today, and learn more about your car’s routine maintenance schedule in the meantime!