Lost engine thrust: why is this happening and what to do for the driver. Why does the car not pull: reasons? It pulls badly up the hill

If the car does not show its former power and traction, you will not get any pleasure from the drive. Moreover, often the consumption of gasoline or diesel fuel increases, the risk of failure of any units increases. The owner of the car intuitively understands that something is wrong with the design of the vehicle. Therefore, there is a desire to check the car, find the cause of the flaw and get specific solutions to the problem. Today we will talk about why the car does not pull, as well as what needs to be done in such situations, where it is worth looking first. If you are faced with such a problem suddenly, it is worthwhile to quickly diagnose the main components of the machine, determine the problem and eliminate the cause of the loss of power. If the problem has been present for a long time, it's time to stop by the service station and resolve this issue.

If you drive for a long time with most of the problems that cause loss of traction, you can completely ruin the power unit and get the need for expensive repairs. So we strongly recommend that you immediately pay attention to a noticeable loss of engine power or a real feeling that someone is holding you by the exhaust pipe and does not allow acceleration. The longer you think that this will pass over time, the more damage you can do to the car. This will also become the reason for the overly expensive repairs in the long run. Let's consider the main reasons for this phenomenon.

Stop driving on the handbrake and the traction will appear on its own.

If you always put the car on the handbrake, but forget to remove it while driving, prepare yourself for impaired traction. When driving on the handbrake, it seems that the car accelerates very slowly, it is too difficult to gain momentum. The driver immediately sins on the engine, presses on the suspension or gearbox. But he cannot even think that it is enough to lower the handbrake lever for the problem to be solved by itself. Moreover, driving on the handbrake for a long enough time will cause the following troubles with the car:

rear brake discs (or drums, depending on the design of the car) get too hot;
heating sometimes causes deformation or excessive wear of these parts with various consequences;
wear in any case will be very high and will become the reason for the obligatory replacement of pads and discs after 100 kilometers of such a trip;
the drum brake may even fly apart in the process of movement, reducing the safety of the trip;
heat and excessive friction can cause damage to some undercarriage parts;
the braking system may also experience other problems that require immediate resolution.

These are the troubles awaiting you in the event that you simply forget to put the handbrake lever in its original position before starting to move. If you have a manual transmission, it becomes even more difficult to keep track of the handbrake. On the machine, it is enough not to accelerate from the first second, but to let the car show readiness for a trip, to let it start at idle speed. In the event that you regularly leave the handbrake on, just stop putting the car on the handbrake. Leave it in gear, choose more or less level parking spots.

Checking the most common causes of reduced thrust

Decreased engine power can also be caused by other problems. For example, if you carried out your own re-equipment of the main units and parts of the machine, you can be sure that the thrust will decrease. It is also worth paying attention to the frequency of service and the quality of the purchased fuel. If you haven't changed the oil in your car for several years or tens of thousands of kilometers, the wear on engine parts will be incredible. You will have to rebuild the unit, and the loss of traction means that you have very little time left for repair and maintenance work. The main reasons for the loss of thrust are as follows:

bad fuel - if the gasoline is terrible, it simply does not burn out completely and does not give the required power;
poor quality and poor frequency of engine maintenance, which caused wear of the main parts;
increased wear of the piston group, poor engine efficiency and loss of power due to natural processes;
depressurization of one of the cylinders, low compression due to large gaps between the parts;
failure of the electrical system, candles, wires and sensors, failure of one or two cylinders;
switching to alternative fuels, including gas, which naturally reduces the efficiency of the unit;
installation of wheels of significantly larger diameter than those installed at the factory and replacement of other important parts of the machine;
overhaul of the engine using analog spare parts.

All of these processes cause a decrease in cravings, which is the main indicator that you need to do something quickly. Otherwise, you will have to look for how to sell a not quite working car and how to buy a more or less normal car for the money raised. It is better not to lead to this and at the first appearance of problems with craving, return life to your iron horse. Loss of engine power should serve as an indicator that action needs to be taken.

Why is it better to solve the problem with traction at the service station?

Of course, if poor traction is due to a forgotten handbrake or bad fuel, no service will help you. Unless, it is necessary to eliminate the problems of increased wear of the brake discs. In other cases, it is better to immediately contact the service station and not experiment with independent repair options. So you can restore your car in a short time, you do not have to check possible theories of damage. The main benefits of service in this case for professionals will be the following:

specialists will find the cause of the problem and will be able to completely restore normal operation;
the service will recommend you to change your driving habits so that you do not get into such a situation in the future;
the company will purchase all spare parts on its own, which reduces the risk of purchasing a low-quality part;
diagnostics will show the exact node that is worth repairing, which can often save you money;
the repair will be professional, you will be given a guarantee for the serviceability of the repaired unit.

These are important advantages of car maintenance by specialists, therefore it is better not to neglect them and get maximum comfort in operating your car. You will often have to overpay for the expensive services of professionals, but this overpayment will certainly pay off. After completing repairs at a good station, you do not have to worry about possible repeated traction problems. Nevertheless, the health of the car in most cases depends precisely on the driver's behavior and habits on the road. Therefore, if a certain problem constantly arises in your car, just change your driving style. If you have a domestic car, you can watch the following video with a description of possible problems in case of loss of car traction:

Summing up

Given the rather complex design system of a modern car, the loss of traction may not be felt so much or even not be felt at all in daily use. But this is a serious indicator that it is time to carry out a certain set of repair work. Therefore, it is better to listen to the car and try to determine its real problems. If a loss of power has been noticed, it is best to immediately go to the service station and fix the problem. This is the only way you can avoid serious damage with quite costly consequences.

If your car has long ago become addicted to power, do not think that this is a natural aging process of the car. Better to set a goal and eliminate all possible causes of this problem. However, power loss can indeed be a natural process. Overhauls, replacement of original parts with analog ones and other usual processes for the car owner are a real problem for the operation of the unit. Tell me, have you faced a sharp loss of power in your car, and how was it decided to deal with this problem?

Modern engines are distinguished by good power, a sufficient level of efficiency, and they are less polluting for the environment. When the behavior of the powertrain changes, it is immediately noticeable. If the car does not pull, the reasons for this phenomenon can be very different. Let's take a look at them.

An engine can lose traction for a variety of reasons. There are a huge number of very different malfunctions that result in a loss of power. Sometimes cravings disappear without any symptoms. The unit does not emit unusual noises for it, does not vibrate - it just lost its thrust. Every day the car goes worse and worse. Probably, this situation is familiar to every motorist.

Poor fuel quality

If the car does not pull, the reasons for this phenomenon can be very different. But the first is the quality of the fuel.

Try to remember at which gas station you last refueled your car. Maybe the fuel is not too high quality? At gas stations, they sometimes sell such gasoline that the engine stops working altogether until the tank is empty and better fuel is poured into it.

Check the air filter

A filter that is too dirty does not allow enough air to pass through to create a fuel mixture. This can lead to a significant drop and fuel consumption will increase significantly.

In addition, the quality of the materials used in it can affect the operation of the motor.

When purchasing a regular filter, many are trying to buy the cheapest product available. You should not buy anything, because further motor repairs will cost much more.

There are many different stories about cheap and non-original filters. These products are torn, and then a series of serious malfunctions goes along the chain, up to the failure of the piston rings. To check the condition of the air filter, you need to open the hood, remove the element from the housing and visually assess the condition. If necessary, the part is changed immediately.

Fuel filter

Sometimes, when in a certain state, fuel cells do not supply enough fuel to the vehicle. As a result, the car does not pull. The reasons are clear, but in order to check the fuel filter, they dismantle it, and the remaining fuel is drained.

Then it is purged. If the element is clean, then it is very easy to blow through. If it is difficult or impossible to blow through it, then it should be thrown away. Otherwise, you will have to change the fuel pump in the future.

Supply pressure

The fuel pump is located in the gas tank, on the injection motor. The pump will show up under the hood, on the engine. In most cars, power loss can be attributed to the fuel pump.

Many modern cars have special connectors on the fuel line for connecting a pressure gauge. This way you can check the pressure. If there is no connector, then you will have to work a little to connect.

The pressure values can be found in the engine manual. There is a special regulator in the line, with which you can relieve excess pressure directly into the tank. This regulator may be incorrectly configured, or it may leak. To check it, you need an ordinary air pump. With the help of it, it is necessary to smoothly raise the pressure level to that which is indicated in the passport for the motor. If you do not have time to increase the pressure, and the regulator has dropped fuel into the tank, then it must be replaced.

Ignition system

Here you need to check if the ignition timing is correct. Sometimes, if the car does not pull, this may be the reason. It is also necessary to check the condition of the candles and high-voltage wiring. More details on how exactly to perform the check can be found in the instructions for a particular engine. The key here in troubleshooting is to use more than just your experience. It is also important to analyze similar situations on other vehicles.

Air flow and pressure sensor

These two elements determine how much air the engine consumes, as well as how much air is needed to create an optimal fuel-air mixture. If these sensors are out of order, then the ECU will incorrectly make calculations and, accordingly, traction may disappear. If the car does not pull, the reasons (including the VAZ-2110 injector) may be in these sensors. If necessary, they should be replaced, and then the power will return again.

But if the car has an ECU, why then does the corresponding paw on the dashboard not light up? The electronic control unit is programmed for open circuit or short circuit. If none of this is present, and the sensor simply does not work as it should, the computer will be able to report that the mixture is being prepared incorrectly. If the car pulls poorly, there may be other reasons, but the sensor is worth checking. The source of the sensor malfunctioning will have to be searched for on your own. The parameters of a specific element can be found in the instructions.

Timing belt or chain

The crankshaft and crankshaft must rotate together and simultaneously. For this, belts are used. Here you just need to combine the marks that are on the chains, belts and gears.

It happens that the belt can jump to another tooth. Chains tend to stretch. However, if these mechanisms are maintained on time and correctly, this cause can be ruled out.

Checking the exhaust system

The device of a modern engine is rather complicated. Manufacturers make them so that cars do not pollute the environment. Or if it was contaminated, then it was minimal.

So, one of the devices that affect the cleaning of exhaust gases is a catalyst. It can be located in different places. If it is in your car, then with regular use of low-quality fuel, which is sold in large quantities at most of our gas stations, the catalyst may become unusable. But it not only breaks down, but can also block the normal exit of exhaust gases. As a result, the car does not pull uphill. Reasons - including clogged catalyst.

Remote thermometers must be used to check the catalyst. You can also check its performance by pressure before and after the device. If all these possibilities are not available, then you will have to dismantle the device and assess its condition visually. If the catalyst is clogged, replace it or install a flame arrester instead.

Compression

If the car does not pull, the reasons may be in compression. You will need a compressometer to check. It is better if it is equipped with a pressure gauge with good accuracy. During operation of the motor, the piston rings are ground. As a result, compression in the cylinders decreases or disappears altogether. If the valves of the gas distribution mechanism are not too tightly installed in their seats, then the check will show poor results.

To identify the cause of poor compression, after the measurement is performed, add oil to the cylinder, and then measure it again. If the level has increased slightly, then the piston rings must be replaced. If you are unlucky and the compression remains the same, then the valves will be replaced. If the car does not pull, the reasons (VAZ-2109 is no exception) may be precisely this.

Charge the battery well before measuring the compression. Otherwise, you will not get the correct indicators. The compressor is screwed in instead of candles. This is much better than using a rubber seal. Perhaps, if the car does not pull, the reasons are low compression.

Checking the transmission

Sometimes the powertrain can develop some serious power, but it doesn't reach the wheels. If during the ride you can hear that the engine is working hard, but the speed is not felt, then maybe the automatic transmission system is slipping or there are blockages on the side of the brakes.

To check, you need to go to a straight section, set the automatic transmission selector to position D, and then see how the car behaves. If the speed decreases, then diagnostics should be carried out. If everything is in order with the brakes, you need to go to a good service station and check the automatic transmission.

You can also check the parking brake. To do this, you should go to free space. Warm up the car and then pull on the handbrake. Next, press the brake pedal, and set it to position D. Next, press the accelerator. If the engine keeps rpm around 2000, then everything is fine with it. If less or more, you should go to the service station to test the automatic transmission.

Why the car does not pull: reasons (carburetor)

If such an engine has lost traction, it is possible that the fuel pump union is dirty, or the system has low pressure.

It is also possible that the carburetor is simply dirty or there is some problem with the needle valve. Errors or incorrect settings for adjusting the composition of the fuel mixture are possible. If the carburetor flaps are not open enough, traction may be lost. When the fuel level in the engine drops, the thrust also disappears. When there are any problems with engine thrust, a full diagnosis is urgently needed.

It is imperative to find why the car pulls poorly, we have already considered the reasons. If a fault is found, it should be rectified immediately. If you have not been able to find the cause of the decrease in thrust on your own, do not hesitate. A deeper examination should be carried out in the workshop. But in general, the cause can still be identified and eliminated on its own.

So, we found out why the car loses traction.

As a rule, during the long-term operation of a vehicle, almost every driver sooner or later notices that the engine pulls poorly. In other words, the power unit can hardly cope with the loads, there is a loss, the unit needs to be rotated to high revs to maintain the usual pace, the car accelerates worse from a standstill, slowly picks up speed, etc.

At the same time, the motor in many cases runs smoothly, does not troit, no knocking or noise during operation. Immediately, we note that there is a fairly wide list of possible reasons why a warm engine does not pull, there is a loss of engine power when cold and / or hot.

In this article, we will talk about why the engine does not pull, and also consider the most common malfunctions that manifest themselves in the form of loss of thrust of the power unit.

Read in this article

The motor does not pull: the main reasons for the decrease in engine power

So, if no other symptoms, besides the loss of traction, are found, then it is immediately necessary to pay attention to the quality of the fuel, the serviceability of the system, etc.

As practice shows, more than half of the cases of reduced recoil from the internal combustion engine are associated with fuel. The engine does not pull due to the fact that low-quality or unsuitable fuel for this type of engine may be filled into the tank (for example, 92nd gasoline instead of 95th).

In some cases, after refueling, problems with starting the engine may also arise, the engine appears. To solve this problem, it may be sufficient to dilute the available fuel with a better quality. Less often, it becomes necessary to completely drain the fuel from the tank, after which an additional flushing of the power system is performed.

Usually, such manipulations are necessary when, in parallel with the loss of thrust, an unstable operation of the internal combustion engine is noted, and under load, the engine starts poorly, on the panel, etc.

Also, owners of gasoline engines can independently determine the quality of gasoline. To check the spark plugs must be unscrewed from the engine. Violation of the combustion process of the fuel-air mixture in the cylinders, as well as the presence of impurities in the fuel, can be detected by the soot on the spark plugs and its color.

For example, if the fuel contains many third-party metal-containing additives and additives, then the skirt and electrodes may become covered with reddish carbon deposits (brick-colored). Black soot will indicate that the fuel is not burning properly, etc. In any case, malfunctions in the combustion process of the working mixture lead to the fact that the engine stops pulling.

The next step in diagnosis is. A decrease in the efficiency of these elements is also accompanied by a drop in the power of the power unit.

This is especially noticeable during sharp accelerations, and when the car is already moving at high speed. In other words, the motor has no room for further acceleration.

The candles may be dirty, and it should not be ruled out that their life has come to an end. To fix this problem, you can make or immediately replace the entire kit with a new one.

It is important to take into account that if the new spark plugs are correctly selected for a specific engine in terms of the glow rate and other parameters, but they still quickly become dirty, then the reason for the loss of thrust is not in them. The formation of carbon deposits in this case indicates problems with mixture formation or combustion of the fuel charge in the cylinders.

If everything is in order with the candles, then it is necessary to check the condition of the fuel and air filter. In the first case, insufficient throughput can lead to the fact that the required amount of fuel is not supplied to the cylinders to prepare the so-called "power" mixture.

As a result, the engine loses power, that is, it does not pull under loads. In such a situation, it is sufficient to replace the indicated filter element. As for the air filter, the problem is similar to the fuel filter, but in this case there is a lack of air in the air / fuel mixture.

This leads to the fact that fuel without a sufficient amount of oxygen burns out incompletely. Under such conditions, the engine power naturally drops, carbon deposits form in the combustion chamber, candles become heavily soiled, etc. It also needs to be replaced to fix the problem.

Malfunctions of the power supply system, ignition and disturbed mixture formation

While spark plug and filter problems can be identified on the road, more serious power and ignition problems are much more difficult to diagnose and fix on the spot. In cases where the engine does not pick up speed, and jerks and dips are noted when pressing the gas pedal, it is necessary to check and or the injector.

Let's focus on the more common electronic injection. In the list of the main malfunctions of modern injection internal combustion engines, there are:

malfunctions, reduced performance or contamination of the fuel pump mesh filter;
malfunctions of injection nozzles;
problems with sensors or ECU;
malfunctions of the ignition system;
air leaks and leaks in the fuel lines;

If we talk about the ignition system, in addition to the spark plugs, you should also check the ignition coils, etc. With regard to fuel delivery, at the initial stage, the pressure in the fuel rail (rail) should be measured. In parallel, the fuel rail pressure regulator is also checked.

Often, on many cars, problems are associated with the fuel pump, which is located in the gas tank, as well as with the specified regulator. To measure the fuel pressure, a pressure gauge is connected to the rail, the obtained values are compared with those recommended for a particular engine. If the pressure is below normal, then both the gas pump and the pressure regulator may be the culprit.

The regulator's task is to discharge excess fuel into the return line at a time when the pressure is above normal. If the settings are lost or the regulator itself leaks or is faulty, then the fuel will be discharged into the return line ahead of time. To check this, air is pumped in by a compressor or pump, the pressure in the rail increases. If the regulator is triggered before the recommended pressure, the element must be adjusted or replaced.

Other causes of reduced engine output

The condition of the motor also has a great influence on the power of the motor. The fact is that to protect the environment from harmful emissions during the operation of the internal combustion engine, catalytic converters are installed in the exhaust.

During operation, the filter catalyst may collapse, reducing the throughput of the exhaust system. As a result, the engine is “strangled”. The check is carried out by measuring the pressure before and after the catalyst. You can also remove the element and inspect its condition visually.

As a rule, official services offer to replace a worn-out element, but the price of a spare part is very high. For this reason, on many cars in the CIS, the catalyst is simply knocked out, and the control unit is “cheated” by software or other available methods.

Also, when the engine power decreases, it is necessary to separately check it to exclude the possibility of a valve timing failure. Sometimes there are situations when the belt can jump by one tooth, the chain is stretched, etc.

In this case, the synchronous operation of the valve mechanism in relation to the strokes of the internal combustion engine may be violated. This leads to various failures, unstable operation of the unit and a decrease in power.

We also add that engine wear and certain malfunctions also affect engine power. As a rule, worn-out used internal combustion engines usually lose about 10% of the declared power.

If the driver feels that there are more losses, then the engine is needed. Low compression in the cylinders can occur as a result of wear of the cylinder walls, piston rings, or incomplete closure, etc.

One way or another, any leaks in the combustion chamber will lead to the fact that the expanding gases during the combustion of the fuel will burst out of the cylinder. This means that the pressure of these gases on the piston will decrease, and the internal combustion engine itself will pull poorly and work unstably.

Finally, we note that also the reason that the car lost in dynamics may not be the engine, but the transmission. In other words, the powertrain develops enough power, but it is not fully transferred to the wheels.

This usually manifests itself in such a way that the engine roars, rpm is high, but the car does not move, or acceleration is very slow in low gears. Often, such problems are associated with the clutch or slippage of the automatic transmission, as well as with the wedging of the brake system. To check the brakes, it is enough to accelerate the car on a flat road, then engage in neutral gear.

If, when coasting, it is noticeable that the car immediately began to slow down, then the problem is obvious, the wheels are slightly blocked. If no problems with the brakes have been identified, then automatic transmission diagnostics is necessary. It is better to entrust this procedure to experienced specialists by delivering the car to the service.