One thing we often see in our Cottonwood store is car’s that feel sluggish. While there can be many reasons for this, the good news is nearly all of them are solvable. Read on to learn more.
Unclean Filter
Engine air screens keep dirt and other things from getting into the engine. Over time, the debris that gets caught in the filter makes it harder for air to flow through. If your engine doesn’t get enough air, it might try to make up for it by using more fuel. If your air filter gets clogged, no amount of fuel will help your engine run at its best.
Injectors Covered In Dirt
The fuel injectors in your car make sure that the engine gets the right amount of fuel at the right time. Most modern cars have one fuel injector per cylinder. If even one of them gets clogged or breaks, it can stop the car from working at its best.
Poor Spark Plugs
Spark plugs can break for two reasons:
- Fouling: Spark plugs can get “fouling” over time when they pick up carbon deposits, oil, and other dirt.
- Incorrect Gapping: The electrodes in your spark plug wear down over time from repeated arcing, which makes the space between them bigger.
In either case, it’s harder for the spark to cross the gap between the wires on your spark plugs. As soon as the spark can’t jump the gap, the fuel inside the combustion cylinder can’t catch fire.
Fuel Pump Woes
The fuel pump in your car is an important part of the fuel system. It sends the right amount of fuel from the gas tank to the engine at the right pressure. If the fuel pump starts to break down because of age, electrical problems, or clogs, it might not be able to keep up the right fuel flow.
Clogged Tailpipe
You might not believe that the exhaust system can affect how fast your car goes. In the end, it gets rid of gases instead of using them. If soot, rat nests, or other debris gets stuck in your exhaust system or catalytic converter, it stops your engine from “exhaling,” which causes back pressure to rise and makes the engine run poorly.
The Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) Is Broken.
The engine position sensor checks how far down the gas pedal is pressed in your car. Its job is to make sure that the amount of air and fuel the engine needs is right for the speed you want to go (or slow down). If this sensor starts to break down, your car’s computer might not be able to figure out how far you step on the gas pedal, which can make acceleration uneven or bad.
Bad Air Sensors
A mass airflow (MAF) sensor and an oxygen (O2) sensor are the two main types of airflow monitors used in modern cars.
The MAF sensor checks how much air is going into the engine, and the O2 monitors check how much oxygen is in the exhaust system. The oxygen monitors help your engine figure out how much fuel to send to the injectors and change the flow rate. There are more oxygen monitors that help you make sure your catalytic converter is working right. If one of them fails, the air-fuel ratio can become off, which can cause bad things like poor performance and slow or uncertain acceleration.
At Heath’s Auto Service, our comprehensive range of services covers everything from routine maintenance to complex repairs. Our certified technicians are skilled in handling oil changes, brake inspections, engine diagnostics, tire rotations, and much more. Whether it’s a minor tune-up or a major overhaul, trust us to get you back on the road with confidence. Contact our team at Heath’s Auto Service today!
