No one likes a slow car in traffic, right after the bump, or waiting for the green light. We always want to whizz past as quickly as possible. It can be quite frustrating when your Mazda Demio has slow acceleration.
If you own an old car, slow acceleration is quite common; however, with a low-mileage car, it could be due to a problem.
But what happens when you press the accelerator on your reasonably new car but get a minimal response? The answer is simple: your car is slow. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to salvage the situation.
Reasons Mazda Demio Has Slow Acceleration
If you are on a highway and notice that your Mazda Demio takes a lot of time to accelerate, it could be due to a few reasons.
First, you could be low on fuel, or your car simply isn’t producing enough power to bolt. There are several reasons why your vehicle may be losing power driving down the road, and more so if you are trying to get it to peak speed.
Here are a few common reasons:
- Mechanical problems: Clogged or blocked exhaust manifold, filters, or due to low compression.
- Faulty sensors: Bad MAF sensor, oxygen sensor, camshaft position sensor, crankshaft sensor, or any other sensor closely associated with the EFI system.
- Faulty Actuators: Faulty spark plugs, injectors, or fuel pumps.
Will my Mazda Demio be okay if I ignore poor acceleration issues?
The good thing is that acceleration issues are not terminal to engines. However, just like any other car problem, they may develop into a bigger issue if ignored for an extensive period.
Most issues like these develop when your acceleration problem leads to a problem with a sensitive vehicle component. Therefore, when you notice your vehicle is not accelerating like it used to, have it checked out by a qualified mechanic immediately.
Why your Mazda Demio might be losing power
When your vehicle is not peaking speed as it needs to, it often doesn’t mean that your engine is faulty. Most times, a component in your car might be the cause. This affects how fast your car accelerates, affecting its power.
Clutch wearing out
The moment you put your foot on the accelerator and your vehicle is slow to peak speed, more than half the time, you’ll need to check your clutch.
When your clutch isn’t able to engage your transmission with the engine as required, the driver will begin to experience acceleration issues.
Catalytic Converter
The primary function of your exhaust is to get rid of unnecessary harmful gases from the engine. Based on the process, the quicker the gases are removed, the faster the combustion process can begin again.
Therefore, if your vehicle can get rid of the gases faster than it can produce them, it’ll run quicker and smoother. But if there is an obstacle in the exhaust process, like a blockage in the catalytic converter, your car will begin to lose power.
Faulty fuel filter
When you put your foot on the gas pedal and get poor acceleration, there could be an issue with your fuel system. The most common problem is a blocked fuel filter. The fuel filter functions to prevent dirt from getting into the fuel system.
With extended use, the fuel filter might need maintenance to get dirt and debris out. When the fuel filter is blocked, it needs to work harder to fuel the combustion chamber. This often results in low power output. The most common scenario during a fuel filter problem is failing to drive up a hill.
If you’ve tried diagnosing why your Mazda Demio has slow acceleration with no success, the best line of action is to consult a qualified automotive service. If possible, get a scan code to check for error codes.