When I drive my car for about ten minutes, the gas pedal does not accelerate anymore, non of the gears work.

i drive an opel astra.. when i drive my car for about ten minutes, the gas pedal does not accelerate anymore, non of the gears work. my car is n automatic. when i turn my car off for a while. i can drive my car for a short time, but then again no acceleration.

My car has 80000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. There seems to be an issue with the ignition switch on your vehicle. The engine should shut off when the key is in the ’OFF’ position. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you troubleshoot the ignition switch and related electrical circuits.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

Why does my car not accelerate when I push the gas? A car not accelerating properly can be caused by a number of things. It could be due to the throttle body, gas tank, spark plugs, or the ECU. It could also be because you have a dirty air filter or a clogged fuel filter.
When a car stops accelerating while driving, the most common causes are a bad sensor, dirty fuel or air filters, or the timing belt. Pressing the gas and not having your car respond is dangerous—and scary.
If your car is not accelerating, the first thing to check is the air filter. The air provided to the engine for the combustion process passes through an air filter, which catches all the impurities and debris present in the air. With continuous usage, the air filter gets clogged and doesn`t let air pass through it.
The most common reason for a car jerk while accelerating is that one or more of your spark plugs may be going bad, which will lessen performance if the problem persists. If you think this might be the case, have a professional check them and replace them if necessary.
If when you put your vehicle into gear and it won`t move, this may be a problem with low transmission fluid due to a leak, the shifter, shifter cable, or it could even be a problem in the valve body of your automatic transmission.
Clean or replace your vehicle`s air filter when your acceleration is acting sluggish. Put in new spark plugs when they go bad if your engine misfires and hesitates. Replace your vehicle`s fuel filter when there`s a delayed response when you accelerate.
Below are some ways that may correct the stuck accelerator and help you to remain safe. Stay calm and try not to panic. Push the brake firmly with both feet and hold it down. Don`t pump the brake pedal or release it because you will lose all your vacuum power assist, causing your brakes to become stiff and very hard.
Shifting delays are often caused by many things but most commonly due to poor maintenance or high mileage. Transmission fluid, in addition to acting as a coolant, keeps internal seals lubricated to help prevent hardening or wearing out.
With the fuel pressure gauge attached, start the engine and let it idle. Disconnect the vacuum hose from the pressure regulator; the pressure should drop approximately 8 to 10 PSI. If it does not, suspect a problem with the regulator or its` vacuum supply.
Direct current acceleration sensors are also called piezoresistive acceleration sensors. A piezoresistive accelerometer is based on changes in electrical resistance in a strain gauge (part of the sensor`s seismic system).
The most common signs of bad spark plugs include start-up trouble, rough idling, sluggish acceleration, declining fuel economy, engine misfiring, and engine knocking.
Start the car and let it idle. Install a fuel pressure gauge, run the pump, and note the pressure reading. Then compare it to the manufacturer specification. If the pressure is low, you should address that problem.
The fuel injection system does nothing until the engine is turning (starting or running), so pressing the pedal before you start will make no difference. The fuel injectors work at any RPM, so a choke is not necessary. The computer simply feeds a little extra gas through the fuel injectors to start the engine.
The “stiff” gas pedal issue is most likely caused by a dirty throttle body in the air intake system. Cleaning the throttle body should relieve this symptom. The lack of “Drive” selection, unless first selecting “Reverse”, could be a loose or misadjusted shift cable or shift linkage issue.
Why is My Car Shaking When Accelerating? Damaged or loose engine mounts may also be the reasons why your car vibrates when accelerating. As we said, loose or damaged mounts can`t efficiently absorb the motor`s vibrations, so you`ll feel them when you push the gas.
A Worn Tire or Bent Wheel Hub may cause your car to sway from side to side. A Tire Balance or Wheel Alignment may be required or if your Tires are worn, it may be time for a replacement. Other reasons What Makes a Car Sway are Faulty Struts or Worn Shocks.
Transmission Range Sensor (TR)/ Transmission Position Sensor

The PCM uses this information to control which gears of the transmission to enable or disable. When the TR sensor fails it can cause wrong gear starts, no upshifts, or what feels like a falling-out-of-gear condition.

Another way to look for transmission problems is to hold down the brake pedal with one foot while stepping on the gas pedal with the other foot so you can rev up the engine. Make sure the parking brake is on during this time, and don`t rev the car for longer than a few seconds.
1. At the top of all auto repair experts lists for causes of problematic transmissions is low transmission fluid. Usually caused by a leak somewhere in the system, low or contaminated fluid makes it nearly impossible for the transmission to automatically shift gears and run smoothly.
The mass air flow sensor (MAF) is used to measure the flow rate of air entering a fuel injected engine. The PCM uses air mass information to calculate and deliver the correct amount of fuel to the cylinders under all engine operating conditions.
If the fuel pump relay fails the fuel pump will be left without power. The engine may still crank when the key is turned, however it will not be able to start due to lack of fuel. This symptom can also be caused by a wide variety of other issues, so having the vehicle properly diagnosed is highly recommended.
The fuel rail pressure sensor is located on the fuel rail and close to the intake manifold. The easiest way to spot it is to track along the fuel rail and look for the part before the injectors.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

When I drive my car for about ten minutes, the gas pedal does not accelerate anymore, non of the gears work.
ANSWER : Hi there. There seems to be an issue with the ignition switch on your vehicle. The engine should shut off when the key is in the ’OFF’ position. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you troubleshoot the ignition switch and related electrical circuits.

The engine of the car runs, but when I push the gas pedal it does not accelerate, and the engine does not rev.
ANSWER : Hello. It sounds like you may have an issue with your throttle position sensor. This sensor sends a reference voltage to your power-train control module, which uses that to determine ignition timing and fuel trims. If the power-train control module is not detecting the proper signal from the throttle position sensor, the engine may not accelerate properly. It’s probably a good idea for you to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a car is slow to accelerate inspection first, so they can pinpoint what is causing this issue to occur and they will recommend the right repairs be completed.

neon manual 5 speed drives great but will not shift into 4th gear while driving. All other gears work fine 4th works when off
ANSWER : Hi there. Most of the time when a manual transmission is hard to shift into an individual gear, it’s caused by the linkage being ’twisted’ or not aligned correctly. However, it is also possible that internal damage has occurred inside your transmission that is causing this problem. In most cases, a clutch issue would cause shifting issues on all gears. Before you spend money on repairs, it’s probably a better idea to have a professional mechanic complete a car is hard to shift inspection, so they can isolate the source of this problem and provide you with the correct repair advice.

Car is having acceleration problems
ANSWER : Hi there. Acceleration issues can be caused by several different items. However, the ticking noise might present a possible issue. In some case, the ticking noise and acceleration issues indicate possibly a loose timing belt or cylinder head components like valve lifters. It could also indicate a random misfire or other ignition system or fuel delivery problems. The best way to pinpoint the source of your issue is to have one of our professional mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a car is slow to accelerate inspection.

While I’m driving the accelerator disengages and it won’t accelerate with the gas pedal pressed all the to the floor.
ANSWER : This loss of accelerator control is a built in safety feature of the vehicle computer and can render the throttle inactive if it sees a problem in a major component or loses communication with the throttle sensor.

I have even seen where the brakes being on at the same time you try to push the throttle the computer will not let you accelerate. This can happen if you use two feet to drive and rest your foot on the brake while driving and the computer thinks you want to stop at the same time accelerate. The computer will take the brake signal and not let you accelerate.

Recommend having the Check Engine Light scanned by a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, to see if there is codes that need diagnosed or try not to touch the brake at the same time accelerating.

When I’m driving, sometimes the car over revs and jerks when I shift gears after the cars been on for a while
ANSWER : Hi There,
What you are describing may be a result of a faulty speed sensor, potentially low transmission fluid or a even a faulty transmission control solenoid. As your vehicle travels down the road, the computer analyzes data being sent by vehicle speed sensors and engine speed sensors. Based on this information, the Engine Control Unit (ECU), or the Transmission Control Unit (TCM), executes the appropriate upshifts and downshifts by sending a signal to one of several shift solenoids. These transmission solenoids have spring-loaded plungers inside them, which are wrapped with wire. When this coil of wire receives an electrical charge from the TCM / ECU, it causes these plungers to open, allowing transmission fluid to flow into the valve body and pressurize the desired clutches and bands. When this happens, the transmission changes gears and you continue down the road. The computer controls the transmission solenoid in several ways. If the vehicle is equipped with a dedicated Transmission Control Unit, it can open or close the hydraulic circuit using a direct 12v signal. In some cases, the Engine Control Unit (ECU) can control the solenoid’s plunger by turning the ground circuit on and off. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your transmission.

1994Camaro 1994 Chevrolet Camaro Base 6 Cyl 3.4L My car is accelerating with me stepping on the gas I was driving fine all day
ANSWER : The throttle on this car has a cable and you should check the floor mat to make sure it is not holding the throttle pedal. Also, look at the throttle body to make sure something is not holding the throttle open. If everything looks okay, then check to see if your idle air valve may be stuck. This can be done by a computer test to see if it is setting a code. A technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to have this checked out if you are still having problems.

I was driving had my car on gear and lost acceleration. I pushed the clutch in and put on gear but only grind but won’t move?
ANSWER : If the clutch lever, on the transmission, is functioning something has mechanically failed in the clutch and/or the transmission. If the clutch failed, and you heard gears grinding, as you tried to shift the transmission, some damage may have been done to the transmission. Even if just the clutch has failed, the engine and transmission will have to be separated to find the cause of the failure and worn out or broken parts will likely have to be replaced . To request an inspection, the recommended service is clutch system diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will evaluate what you have and let you know of your repair options and costs. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.