Most of the time, when there is a clear loss of power in a car, a light (yellow or red) appears on the instrument panel that indicates the source of the problem.
There are other times that a loss of power occurs when accelerating, although this should not always be understood as an engine failure.
The most likely thing when you notice that the car does not provide the usual strength is that it is some type of breakdown, but not always. There are times when it is not a mechanical problem and is linked to other types of reasons more connected to driving management.
Classic breakdowns that cause power loss
Current cars normally have a warning light on the instrument panel that lights up when the car loses power, giving a clear clue as to what may be happening in the engine, even if a machine is not connected. Through workshop diagnosis in the OBD port, it is not easy to identify the specific and real reason for the possible breakdown.
In most cases, breakdowns or failures are related to:
- The injectors: By not performing their job correctly, which is to inject within a certain range the optimal amount of fuel to produce the mixture with oxygen and produce the explosion of movement of the engine pistons, jerks and normally a net loss of fuel are produced. power.
- It is also possible that, as the clutch is worn, it could slip with the corresponding loss of force transmitted from the engine to the wheels of the car.
- Failures in the flow meter or in any sensor that measures fuel management.
- Turbo failures.
- Failures in the car’s control unit, not properly managing the explosion mixtures.
- The sensors do not provide correct information to the control unit: it may happen that some sensor is not working, which produces an electronic failure signal that automatically activates the “emergency” mode, turning on the engine warning light, the rheostat, the EPC (gasoline), etc., and normally not allowing speeds to exceed 80 km/h.
- Dirt in the air filter or fuel filter: a clear loss of power is noted since the engine is not able to adequately suck outside air or gasoline, resulting in an inadequate mixture.
Power losses without any breakdown occurring
It could occur for any of the following reasons:
- Too much load: when traveling with all the seats occupied and with the trunk full, the car’s behavior is usually more clumsy and slow, producing a false sensation of lack of power.
- The handbrake not fully disengaged. It is much more difficult for the vehicle to move, causing the braking system to suffer with excessive wear and possible breakage. Luckily, most of today’s cars have an electronic handbrake that automatically disconnects when you start driving.
- The air conditioning detracts some power from the engine: since when you turn it on, the compressor uses some horsepower and in lower-powered cars you can notice this loss of thrust.
- Altitude can also affect engine performance: as atmospheric pressure decreases, it is more difficult for the engine to use oxygen and this can be reflected in engine power.
- The correct gear is not being used: the car’s power and torque are obtained with a certain number of revolutions per minute. In fact, gasoline vehicles deliver their maximum power at a higher speed than diesel vehicles. The gear ratio must be managed correctly at all times and situations to obtain the necessary power from the engine.