Car no longer accelerates: common causes & costs explained simply
If the car no longer accelerates properly, it is very worrying at first. Maybe your first thought is about engine damage. Fortunately, the worst case does not have to occur - a far more harmless cause can also be the reason. Find out here what are the common causes behind the car no longer accelerating and what costs can be expected.
Car no longer accelerates: clogged diesel particulate filter
If a diesel car no longer accelerates, the diesel particulate filter may no longer be ready for use. Its task is to filter harmful particles from the exhaust gases excreted by the exhaust system. After a certain mileage, the soot particle filter clogs up. Cleaning is often required after just 120,000 kilometres. To do this, the specialist removes the filter and has it cleaned. Chemical cleaning agents and additives only help to a limited extent and for a limited time.
The costs for professional cleaning of the diesel particulate filter amount to an average of about 400 to 550 euros.
Defective lambda sensor
The lambda sensor is an important part of the exhaust system. It determines how much oxygen is contained in the exhaust gases. The feedback to the engine control system contributes to the ideal adjustment of the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber. In this way, the vehicle optimises the cleaning performance of the catalytic converter.
If the lambda sensor is defective, it does not transmit measured values to the engine control system. If the car no longer accelerates and the check engine light indicates a problem, a defect in the lambda sensor is likely. In this case, you will need to replace the lambda sensor.
The amount of work is limited to up to one and a half hours. The total costs amount to about 100 to 400 euros.
A defective mass air flow sensor
The mass air flow sensor determines the amount of oxygen the engine is sucking in. This sensor is also required to optimally balance the amount of fuel. If the mass air flow sensor transmits no or incorrect values, the car can no longer accelerate properly. The engine switches to the emergency program and the check engine light comes on.
If the mass air flow sensor does not work properly, cleaning it can help. If this is not the case, you will have to replace it. The material costs for the mass air flow sensor range between 60 and 325 euros. In addition, there is the cost of materials for half an hour to a whole hour. The total costs are around 160 to 425 euros.
Turbocharger problems
If the car no longer accelerates and the revs go up, there could be a problem with the turbocharger. This is intended to increase the performance of the engine and make it more efficient. To do this, it increases the air supply. If the turbocharger is defective, this can have several causes.
Unfortunately, a defective turbocharger is a costly affair. Depending on exactly which components need to be replaced, the costs can be up to 3,000 euros.
Fixed brake calipers
If the car no longer pulls and makes strange noises, a fixed or defective brake caliper could be the cause. If this is permanently pressed against the brake disc, the vehicle cannot accelerate properly due to the resistance.
In the simplest case, the specialist can release the brakes and make them usable again. If that doesn't work, he has to replace the brake discs and pads on both sides of an axle. Including one to two hours of working time, you can expect to pay between 350 and 1,000 euros.
Car no longer accelerates: other possible causes
In addition to the common causes mentioned, you should also check these components in case of doubt:
- Defective high-pressure pump (only for direct injection engines)
- Drawing of secondary air through a leak in the system
- Incorrect timing in the valve timing of the engine
- Defective throttle valve
- Added fuel or air filter
- Broken engine control unit
- Problems with the accelerator pedal sensor
- Defective ignition system
Do you need to replace your car's lambda sensor or mass air flow sensor? Motointegrator supports you easily with suitable spare parts for your vehicle model.