Many people complain that their car loses power while driving. The issue comes from an incorrect power supply from the electric source that reduces the performance of the vehicles.
Car loses power, but the engine is still running because of the faulty alternator, battery issues, faulty fuel pump, bad spark plugs, backfiring of the unburned mixture, carbon accumulation on fuel injectors, and blockage of the exhaust system. In addition, it is due to faulty air and oxygen sensors, clogged fuel or air filters, and bad ignition coils.
You can mostly face the issue while increasing the speed and accelerating your cars. It shows that the engines are not working perfectly to maintain the power supply for spinning tires.
| Causes | Solutions |
| Faulty alternator | Avoid jump-starting your car |
| Battery issues | Replace batteries and check ground wire connections |
| Weak fuel pump | Ensure correct fuel levels in the tank |
| Bad spark plug | Remove rust, dirt, and grime |
| Carbon accumulation on fuel injectors | Chemical cleaning and fuel additives |
| Failure of the exhaust system | Use undercoating and wax |
| Faulty sensors | Replace MAF and oxygen sensors |
| Clogged fuel and air filter | Use high-quality fuel |
| Bad ignition coils | Keep the spark plugs clean |
Faulty alternator
Alternators are the primary component of the vehicles that are responsible for the conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy. It runs various electrical components, including headlights, power windows, and windshield wipers.
Alternators also recharge the batteries when the engine is running and keep them activated for power supply. The bad alternators cannot charge the batteries properly, and you can see the power loss issue.
The dead and weak batteries do not provide sufficient voltage and decrease the performance of your vehicles.
The alternators become bad when you attach a high-current drawing accessory and frequently jump start with the wrong cables. Do not jump-start your car frequently because it can directly affect the performance of alternators.
Do not attach the high current drawing after-market accessories in your cars.
Battery issues
The bad or weak batteries and their poor electric connections lead to power loss issues. As a result, the engine is running but does not provide enough power to accelerate and maintain the high speed.
The issue comes when your car batteries do not hold the charge. These do not hold the charge when they become old and thick.
The batteries lose their charge because of their swelling and decreased interaction between the moving ions. The parasitic drain is also the reason for losing the charge, which can come from bad alternators.
These do not hold a charge when something is draining excessive power from them. Check the ground wires and ensure that these are correctly connected and corroded.
Replace the weak or dead batteries and add new ones. Remove the corrosion from battery terminals and attach them if they are loose or poorly connected.
Weak fuel pump
The fuel pump supplies fuel from the tank to the engine for sufficient power. Sometimes the fuel pumps become bad and weak and cannot provide enough fuel to the combustion chamber.
Insufficient fuel affects the power and performance of your cars, but engines do not stop completely.
In addition, the fuel pumps become weak due to general wear and tear that is common with time.
In addition, contaminants from the fuel tank and overheating can also make them faulty, which cannot provide a consecutive flow of fuel.
Therefore, replacing worn-out or weak fuel pumps is better because it can affect driving performance.
Check the fuel levels in the tank to increase the longevity of fuel pumps. Use high-octane fuel and avoid using low-quality ones because these can cause contamination and overheating.
Bad spark plug
The spark plug is a small device that delivers the current from the ignition system to the combustion chamber to burn fuel. Poor or faulty spark plugs cannot ignite the fuel and reduce the performance of engines.
These can still function at a low rate, but you can feel the loss of power during driving. Malfunctioned spark plugs also increase the risk of misfiring because of an unburned fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.
The spark plugs go bad because of overheating of the tip. In addition, the issue comes due to their low quality, contamination, corrosion, and dust buildup on their components.
You can increase the lifespan of the spark plugs and the engine’s performance by properly maintaining and cleaning them. It is necessary to inspect them for the removal of dust, grime, and corrosion from their parts.
Carbon accumulation on fuel injectors
The fuel injectors are present in most modern vehicles to atomize the fuel directly in the combustion chamber and prevent misfiring from unburned fuel mixture.
The fuel injectors cannot provide sufficient fuel when a carbon layer is formed on their surface. As a result, the black soot is formed on the ignition nozzle and interrupts its supply.
The carbon residues formed on the injectors due to the combustion process. Remove the carbon residues from these components using chemical cleaning techniques.
Several fuel additives are also available in the market that is helpful in the removal of black soot.
Failure of the exhaust system
The exhaust system or cataleptic converters in cars are helpful in the removal of unnecessary and unwanted gasses from the engines.
The combustion procedure restarts after the removal of these gasses. Sometimes blockage occurs in this system, and it cannot remove these gasses from the exhaust.
The faulty and worn-out components of the exhaust system cannot remove the gasses from them. These become faulty due to rust and frequent vibrations from the roads.
The parts also become loose and cannot perform their function. The carbon residues from the unwanted gasses build up on their components and cause malfunctioning.
You can prevent rusting on its components and avoid crossing large bumps at high speed. Undercoat the exhaust side of your cars and prevent them from corrosion.
You can also use wax to restrict the accumulation of road salts and moisture on their surface.
Faulty sensors
The MAF sensors are mass air flow sensors that measure the amount of air entering the engine system for combustion. In addition, oxygen sensors are on the exhaust pipes, measuring the gases leaving the engine.
The disturbance in the ratio of MAF and oxygen sensors disturbs the car’s performance, and you face loss of power issues. In addition, the incorrect ratio affects the engine’s working, and these cannot work correctly.
The contaminants and debris in the air cause malfunctioning of MAF sensors and cause poor idling and acceleration issues. The age-related failure of oxygen sensors is common because of the burning of coolant and fuel in the combustion chamber.
Replace these faulty sensors with new ones for better idling and avoiding rough acceleration and driving conditions on the road.
Clogged fuel and air filter
The fuel and air filters are integral in filtering the dust particles and other contaminants from the air and fuel.
Filtration is necessary because dust particles and other contaminants can damage the engine and other components.
These contaminants in the fuel and air clog these filters and reduce the supply of air and fuel. The combustion chamber does not contain enough air and fuel for combustion.
You can see the loss of power because of insufficient air and fuel mixture in combustion. However, the engine still runs at a low speed, and you can also face stalling and sudden jerks while driving.
Using high-quality fuels that cannot contaminate or clog the filters is better. Replace your car’s fuel and air filters to enhance its performance on the road.
Bad ignition coils
The ignition coils are helpful to ignite the mixture of air and fuel after taking low voltage current from the car batteries.
The car batteries do not provide ignition and disturb the mixing of air and fuel mixture.
As a result, you can feel a sudden loss of power and stalling during driving when the engine is deprived of enough air and fuel mixture for its performance.
These are located near the camshaft, and these components’ malfunction comes from motor oil and debris exposure. These can also go bad due to overheating and poor insulation of primary and secondary wires.
The high-quality ones can last for years, so it is necessary to install the good ones when you are replacing them.
In addition, you can increase their life by ensuring that spark plugs are free from rust, dirt, and debris.
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