Q: car not accelerating properly, only gets half way to the speed

asked by on June 15, 2016

My Buick has 83K miles on it. When I accelerate the car it doesn't go up to a normal speed. It only goes half the speed. What could be wrong?

Car is slow to accelerate Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Many different things can cause the car to lack power. Most of these will be seen with a Check Engine Light to indicate there is a fault. The most common issues involved in this scenario are problems with the fuel filter, alternator, fuel pump, or a misfire condition. A qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, will be able to diagnose your acceleration issue and perform any repairs required.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I set a prompt or a ringtone for the HandsFreeLink?
Your HandsFreeLink® (HFL) system alerts you to an incoming call with a sound. You can decide whether you want an actual ringtone (the default), or a prompt. To change from one to the other, just follow these steps: Press the...
Oil filter housing leak
Hello! The most common oil leak on a BMW inline six is the gasket between the engine block and the oil filter housing. The alternator must be removed to provide access to the oil filter housing. Once the gasket is...
Hard acceleration and hard braking when stop
You may be having a normal condition. When you accelerate hard, you are dumping a large amount of fuel into the engine and then stopping quick and shutting the throttle. You still have all that fuel in the engine and...
We have changed the fuel pump, air filter, battery, spark plugs on my nissan xtrail and the car still wont start
Hi. I'm thinking you have a broken timing belt (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/timing-belt-replacement) causing the SUV not to start. If the timing belt breaks the engine jumps time and the engine has to be in time for it run. If the timing belt...
My front speakers don't work. Not sure if they are broken, if there is a short, or if they are unplugged.
Hi there. Check the speaker wires under the dash and see if they are disabled or detached. If the wiring is good and connected to the speakers, then check the settings on the radio and see if the front speakers...
When I start my car, it turns over fast, but has issues. I often have to give it a little gas to get it to run normally.
Hi there. There is a possible pin hole leak on the fuel system that is drawing in air into the fuel system. This will make the engine stumble as it is trying to start, but when the fuel is moving...
My boy accidentally hooked battery cables up wrong on his truck, and now it's got white smoke that smell like gas coming out.
When hooking up the battery cables backwards, the ground became the hot and the hot became the ground. Most likely the computer (ECM) could have failed and the fuel pump may have burned up. I recommend checking all of the...
Makes a noise when I turn and hit bumps.
You should have the complete front suspension checked however the sway bar links and bushings are the most common cause of the noise when turning.
HORN BLOWING AND LIGHT STAY ON
If you only have the factory anti theft system on your vehicle then you need to remove the key from the ignition system before reconnecting the battery and lock the doors. Reconnect the battery and then unlock the doors with...

Related articles

How Do Rotor Engines Differ From Regular Engines?
Rotary engines use three-sided rotors inside an oblong housing instead of pistons. Rotary engines create lots of horsepower, but aren't as efficient.
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Universal Joint (U-Joint)
Common signs of a faulty u-joint include a squeaking noise, clunking sound when shifting, vibrations in the car, and transmission fluid leaking.
How to Double-Clutch Downshift a Manual Transmission Car
Learning how to double-clutch downshift on your cars manual transmission can optimize your acceleration, deceleration, and help maintain components.