Why does my car lose power at 20 miles an hour and 60 miles an hour and my check engine light goes on and off
Sometimes when I'm driving I get to 20 miles an hour and the car starts to lose power then it picks back up after I cut the car off and cut it back on then when I'm getting up to 60 miles an hour does the same and when I cut the car off and cut it back on I get all the power again what's my problem
My car has 154000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. It sounds like you may have a sensor issue going on with your car. Most of the time when something like this occurs it is caused by a throttle position sensor that is not working properly. It can also be caused by worn out fuel system or ignition system parts but it is most commonly a sensor. I will usually install my scan tool and drive the vehicle while monitoring what the sensors are doing. This would tell me if there is a sensor issue going on. If the sensors are reading correctly then I inspect the ignition system and also test the fuel pressure. If you are looking to have this loss of power checked, consider having a YourMechanic certified technician come to your home or office to diagnose why it is losing power.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most likely issue is that a component is clogged. A clogged fuel filter is the most common reason, although a loss of power in your car could also indicate problems with the fuel pump or fuel line. Impurities or debris may be blocking the system, which causes the loss of power in a car.
As engines get old, their seals get hard and brittle. Piston rings and valvetrain components wear down. This causes compression and horsepower to drop.
The loss of power could be a vacuum leak, misfire, or a transmission issue. First look for any vacuum lines that are cracked or missing. Then check to see if the engine is shaking. If the engine is shaking, then there could be a misfire caused by a fouled spark plug or a failed or dirty fuel injector.
There are a few reasons why your car might be struggling to accelerate. It could be due to a problem with the timing belt, the spark plugs, or the fuel injectors. It could also be because you have a dirty air filter or a clogged fuel filter. The fuel system may also be low on fuel.
You will feel a loss in power while accelerating and at times intermittent jerks. To solve this issue find the fuel filter located in the engine bay or near the fuel tank in your car`s trunk. If the fuel filter is clogged replace it if you have the skills to do so or get it changed at your local mechanic shop.
Typically when the car will not accelerate past 60 MPH, it`s due to either the ECU activating a limp mode or other mechanical (fuel or ignition system component) failures.
A few different faults can cause this issue, such as the fuel pump, alternator, low fuel pressure, plugs and coils, wiring fault or a battery. I recommend having a qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to diagnose the vehicle`s loss of power and perform any repairs required.
There are a range of reasons why your car is juddering when you accelerate. Your vehicle could have dirty fuel injectors, a damaged fuel pump, a blocked catalytic converter, a faulty mass airflow sensor, broken spark plugs, or even an accumulation of moisture.
An engine that is hesitating to accelerate is most likely dealing with a fuel/air mixture that is too lean. Engine`s that are running inefficiently will begin to show signs like hesitation which will only become worse over time.
Poor acceleration can result from an engine that`s running lean (not enough fuel). Similarly, a lack of airflow can also prevent the engine from accelerating as it should. Some of the most common causes of fuel and air delivery issues include: A weak fuel pump.
Common causes of why a car feels sluggish when accelerating include dirty mass air flow sensor (MAF), faulty spark plugs, defective throttle position sensor, clogged catalytic converter, faulty oxygen sensor, clogged air filter, and fuel system malfunctioning.
A few different faults can cause this issue, such as the fuel pump, alternator, low fuel pressure, plugs and coils, wiring fault or a battery. I recommend having a qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to diagnose the vehicle`s loss of power and perform any repairs required.
A few different faults can cause this issue, such as the fuel pump, alternator, low fuel pressure, plugs and coils, wiring fault or a battery. I recommend having a qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to diagnose the vehicle`s loss of power and perform any repairs required.
If you can continue to increase engine speed once you reach 45 MPH but the vehicle won`t actually go faster than 45 MPH, there could be a hydraulic fault in the transmission, a low transmission fluid level, slipping bands or clutches, a torque converter defect and so forth.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Why does my car lose power at 20 miles an hour and 60 miles an hour and my check engine light goes on and off
ANSWER : Hello. It sounds like you may have a sensor issue going on with your car. Most of the time when something like this occurs it is caused by a throttle position sensor that is not working properly. It can also be caused by worn out fuel system or ignition system parts but it is most commonly a sensor. I will usually install my scan tool and drive the vehicle while monitoring what the sensors are doing. This would tell me if there is a sensor issue going on. If the sensors are reading correctly then I inspect the ignition system and also test the fuel pressure. If you are looking to have this loss of power checked, consider having a YourMechanic certified technician come to your home or office to diagnose why it is losing power.
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To diagnose this issue properly you need a complete vehicle inspection to start from square one and identify the root cause of all this.
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