Reasons Behind the Lackluster Performance of Your Car

Ongoing auto maintenance can be tricky to navigate if you’re not sure what your car needs. With the help of the right automotive experts who specialize in the specific type of car you drive, your car should perform well year round. However, there are particular symptoms that your car might exhibit if it’s not getting the service it needs, and it’s important to know what to look for. Lackluster performance in any car is disappointing, and can be draining financially and energetically; although, if you drive a luxury car, chances are it’s even more of a punch to the gut when it stops functioning perfectly. In this article, we’ll go over some of the most recognizable symptoms of diminished auto performance and the reasons behind them, as well as what you can do in the future to prevent such issues from occurring.

Symptoms of Lowered Vehicle Performance

Noticing symptoms of lowered performance is half the battle because your automotive expert will need to be able to replicate the symptoms to determine where the issue is coming from. Therefore, paying close attention to how your vehicle performs on a regular basis is a great way to monitor what it might need service-wise. These are some of the most common signs that your car’s performance is suffering:

Poor Gas Mileage

Fuel efficiency can be very telling in auto performance. The various functions of your vehicle require fuel and energy in order to transform it into power. If things aren’t working properly, your engine calculates the required fuel usage differently, which can cause you to burn gas quicker.

Rough Running

Engine stalling or misfiring are usually on the more severe end of the “rough running” spectrum; however, noticing signs of hesitation while shifting gears, sputtering, or general engine struggling could point toward serious engine services that are going overlooked.

Slow Acceleration

Along with poor gas mileage and rough running, it’s also common for drivers to notice slowed acceleration in the performance vehicles that would otherwise be tearing up the street with ease. This is a concerning sign for luxury European imports especially, as they’re generally known for their power.

Reasons for Lowered Performance

The reasons behind diminished automotive performance can vary depending on the symptoms the car exhibits; however, it’s also common to experience multiple issues at once that accumulate and lead to lowered functioning. Here are a few of the most common reasons for lowered performance, but they certainly don’t make up the whole list:

Inadequate Tire Pressure

Underinflated tires are one of the biggest, and simplest, contributors to lowered fuel efficiency. Since the tires are easy to access and require a specific amount of pressure, this is an easy place to start when addressing performance issues. Underinflated tires cause your car to have to work harder and compensate for the extra surface area and friction, thereby causing it to burn more gas and decrease in overall power.

Clogged Fuel Injectors

Fuel injectors are responsible for distributing the allotted amount of fuel into the engine, calculated by the car’s ECU. When the fuel injectors can’t perform their function properly, the engine doesn’t get enough fuel for combustion, which can lead to engine stalling, misfiring, and rough running conditions.

Old Spark Plugs

On newer cars especially, spark plugs generally last for a long while; however, they should be checked periodically for functioning. The spark plugs commonly wear out in older model cars especially, so it might benefit you to check your owner’s manual to see when they typically need to be serviced or replaced.

What You Can Do

Keeping up with routine maintenance can be difficult, which is why your car’s manufacturer puts together a recommended maintenance and service plan for your specific vehicle. Following this recommended plan can keep your car in optimal condition.

How We Can Help

Here at A&M Auto Service, serving clients from Pineville, Charlotte, and Greensboro, NC, we help countless drivers attend to their luxury vehicle’s needs year round. Whether you’d like to bring your car in for a tune-up, a general inspection, have fluids topped off, or to simply have your tires filled to the appropriate pressure level, please contact one of our helpful specialists. Following through with such maintenance tasks can keep your car performing it’s best every day.