Keeping up with traffic is the way of the road, even if you're not a speed demon. It's unsafe to go too slow and inefficient to keep lagging behind the rest of the traffic, but if you simply can't accelerate, you may have a problem that becomes more expensive the longer you ignore it. Before your next trip, consider a few examination points to figure out a weak or failed acceleration issue.

Fuel Intake Problems

Your vehicle requires a steady supply of fuel to maintain speed, with a demand for more fuel raging inside the fuel line whenever you push harder on the pedal.

Car fuel types are far from free of impurities. Metals, shipment debris and collected solids can build up in even the most clean and well-kept gas station, and the impurities make their way into cars all over the world. Fuel can also leave behind solids and clump up with dust inside the fuel tank, leading to a clogging problem.

The fuel filter exists to keep most of the impurities out of the rest of the car's combustion cycle. As the filter becomes more and more dirty due to filtering, your vehicle won't be able to pull in as much fuel at the same time. The fuel path is slower and your vehicle won't respond with an immediate touch of speed as expected.

A fuel filter replacement is good, but you need to consider cleaning the fuel line and fuel tank. You could have visited a gas station with poor quality fuel and the inside of your gas tank may be filled with fuel bi-product. A mechanic can help by flushing the tank and fuel line to keep your vehicle's fuel demand clean and ready to respond the way you expect it to.

Overheating And A Lack Of Power

A cracked radiator, clogged coolant or leaking liquids can lead to overheating when you least expect it. As you make your way to a mechanic, your home, work or the nearest safe spot, you may think that engine overheating and burnout are the only problems. It can get worse.

If you're trying to carefully drive without overheating and your vehicle suddenly refuses to accelerate, it's likely that your head gasket is blown. High temperatures can begin to warp the seal that closes off your vehicle's cylinders, which are responsible for making your vehicle move due to their up and down firing motion.

When a head gasket or the cylinder head itself fails, the timing of the cylinders is thrown off and you won't be able to power the vehicle. Your vehicle may be running on battery power only instead of a continued spark and power generation from the engine. If you notice that you're overheating as well as failing to accelerate, visit a mechanic immediately. A gasket is simple, thin seal that a mechanic can repair. Continuing may lead to cylinder damage, which is far more expensive.

Consult a repair shop, like Benchmark Motors INC, as soon as possible to keep your vehicle safe.