Car starts but no pickup? This is the reason, fix it like this

Your car starts easily in the morning, the engine sound seems normal, but as soon as you press the accelerator, the car does not move forward or accelerates very slowly. The lack of pickup makes driving difficult, especially when overtaking or climbing slopes.

Many drivers ignore it considering it to be a minor problem, but it can be a sign of a serious malfunction of the engine and transmission system. Find out the reason and get it rectified in time, otherwise it can prove costly. Let us know why this happens? We will also learn the solution to avoid this problem.

Why does this problem arise?

Nowadays, most of the cars have fuel injection system, in which it is necessary to get the right amount of air and petrol/diesel to the engine. If the vehicle is starting but not giving pickup, the most common reasons are related to the fuel system, air intake or ignition. This may happen due to these reasons-

• The first major reason is clogged air filter or dirty throttle body. If the air filter gets filled with dust, the engine does not get enough air. Carbon deposits on the throttle body slow down accelerator response. This problem occurs especially often in city traffic and on dusty roads.
• The second important reason is the problem of fuel filter or fuel injector. An old or dirty fuel filter restricts fuel flow. Due to accumulation of dirt in the injector, proper amount of fuel is not sprayed, which reduces acceleration. Sometimes the fuel pump becomes weak, which works at the time of starting but fails at high load.
• The third reason is sensor failure, such as mass air flow (MAF) sensor, oxygen sensor or crankshaft position sensor. These sensors tell the ECU how much fuel and air the engine needs. If these get damaged then the engine does not respond properly. The pickup also becomes weak if the spark plug or ignition coil is bad.
• In some cases the problem is transmission related. In an automatic car, if the transmission fluid is low or dirty, the car starts but the gear shifting is not smooth, due to which pickup is not possible. The same problem occurs when the clutch plate wears in a manual car. When you press the accelerator, the engine revs increase, but the vehicle does not move forward.

Other causes include blockage in the exhaust system (such as catalytic converter clog), low engine compression or electrical issues (weak battery/alternator). Sometimes the pickup falls as soon as you turn on the AC, then it is beneficial to clean the throttle body or check the idle speed.

What is the solution?

First of all check yourself. Clean or replace the air filter, use good quality fuel. If the problem persists, get the error code checked with an OBD scanner. Get throttle body cleaning, injector servicing or sensor test done by a mechanic. Regular maintenance like timely oil change, filter replacement and good fuel usage reduces such problems.

If your car is old or has driven many kilometers, then this problem is common. Do not be careless, otherwise the engine may get damaged. With correct diagnosis, most of the cases can be cured at low cost. Keep driving safe and get service done on time.