When you are driving your car and it hesitates or stumbles, it can be quite irritating and potentially dangerous. An engine that stumbles while you are driving is either misfiring, not getting enough fuel, or is getting too much air.
There are several possible reasons that you may be experiencing acceleration stumble. If you are having issues, be sure to have your car checked out immediately by a certified mechanic. Letting this issue go unfixed can lead to more damage and an even higher service bill. By following the scheduled maintenance plan in your owner’s manual, you can help to keep stumbling from occurring. Most of the issues that lead to acceleration stumbling can usually be prevented.
Possible Reasons You May Be Experiencing Acceleration Stumble
There are several common causes of acceleration stumble. Sometimes the issue can be hard to figure out, especially when it doesn’t trigger the check engine light. If the check engine light does come on, our certified technicians have been trained on and have access to all the factory scan tools that we provide here in-house to make sure diagnostics can be performed accurately. Here are a few possibilities that can cause your car to stumble.
Air and Fuel Filters
Having a dirty air or fuel filter can lead to stumbling. These filters need to be replaced during regular maintenance because they can become clogged over time. It is important to follow the recommended replacement schedule from the vehicle manufacturer.
Air Intake/Intake Manifold
The air intake can get clogged, and this can lead to several different problems. If the intake isn’t performing properly, your engine will act erratically due to improper air flow.
Catalytic Converter
The catalytic converter has been the primary emission control on vehicles since the 70s. It is part of the exhaust system and removes toxic exhaust gases. They usually don’t fail, but it can happen. If yours fails you may notice stumbling, loss of power and poor fuel economy.
Disconnected Turbo Hose
If the hose comes unattached, the engine will not receive the air that it needs to function properly. This causes a loss of power which leads to acceleration stumble.
Electronic Malfunction
An electronic malfunction is usually an easy fix. The malfunction can lead to a temporary loss of power.
Faulty or Dirty Fuel Injectors
Fuel injectors can get dirty, and the tips can get clogged. This buildup will not allow the injectors to function properly. Fuel should spray out in a fine mist, but when the tips are clogged the fuel will just dribble out. This leads to a lack of power.
Mass Air Flow Sensor
The mass air flow sensor measures air density. If it fails, it will not be able to maintain proper air to fuel ratio and will cause erratic behavior.
Throttle Position Sensor
The throttle position sensor, also referred to as TPS, is a critical component in your vehicle. It determines the amount of fuel and oxygen your engine needs to run efficiently. When the TPS fails, you will have power and acceleration issues.
O2 Sensor
The O2 sensor monitors oxygen levels in the exhaust. It sends the collected data to the computer. A failed sensor can lead to stumbling, loss of power and poor fuel economy.
Dealing With a Stumbling Issue
Once you notice the symptoms, don’t let acceleration stumbling continue, as doing so can lead to other failures. Call us as soon as you can to schedule an appointment. One of our skilled mechanics will take care of your stumbling issue before it leads to any other problems.
We know that your car is important to you, and we want to keep you safe and on the road. If you have encountered acceleration stumbling, we can take care of 
your problem. Our mechanics are ASE certified and our staff is German factory trained. You can rest assured knowing that we will provide you with the best service around. We also offer the area’s best warranties with a 2- year/24,000 mile warranty on all repairs performed by our mechanics.
Here at Escondido German Auto, we service Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Porsche, Sprinter, and Volkswagen vehicles. We are located convenient to the Escondido, Rancho Bernardo and Valley Center, CA areas. Give us a call today on 760-741-3905 or come see us at 1554 E. Grand Ave., Escondido, CA.