# Car loses acceleration but not power while driving **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** fuel-economy, brakes\ **Created:** [August 10, 2015, 7:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861 "2015-08-10T07:36:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![eddiesands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/47e85d/32.png) [@eddiesands](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddiesands)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861/21 "2017-03-14T15:47:27Z")
I need some help myself. I have a 1999 Chevy Tahoe automatic transmission and it sounds like when you’re getting on it it’s really going somewhere but it’s like something is holding it back and don’t want to go like something is stopped up or clogged lacking fuel I’m not sure what it is can someone help me? ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861/22 "2017-03-14T17:06:05Z")
> [@eddiesands](#): > > I need some help myself. I have a 1999 Chevy Tahoe automatic transmission and it sounds like when you’re getting on it it’s really going somewhere but it’s like something is holding it back and don’t want to go like something is stopped up or clogged lacking fuel I’m not sure what it is can someone help me? please begin a new thread with your questions about your vehicle. This will help avoid confusion with the original post, and will help more folks actually see your questions. ---
**Author:** ![mcbockalds\_145797](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c67d28/32.png) [@mcbockalds\_145797](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcbockalds_145797)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861/23 "2018-12-14T20:17:24Z")
HelpDross, did you ever find out what was causing the problem and get it fixed? My 98 Prizm is doing about the same thing yours did and I can’t figure out what is causing the problem. Thanks John ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 8:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861/24 "2018-12-14T20:29:06Z")
I suspect Dross (Diana Ross?) is long gone from this forum. But you could try the above suggestions. If it is the transmission chances are the repair will exceed the value of the car. Kelly Blue Book lists trade in at $700 maximum ---
**Author:** ![mcbockalds\_145797](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c67d28/32.png) [@mcbockalds\_145797](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcbockalds_145797)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861/25 "2018-12-15T16:15:32Z")
None of the suggestions have located the problem. That is why I asked if her car had been fixed. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861/26 "2018-12-15T16:38:44Z")
Okay, so you have ruled out both transmission AND exhaust restrictions. Then it is either internal engine problem, what are compression readings? Or fuel delivery, how much pressure is the fuel pump putting out? Nor showing any codes, correct? ---
**Author:** ![mcbockalds\_145797](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c67d28/32.png) [@mcbockalds\_145797](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcbockalds_145797)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 1:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861/27 "2018-12-16T01:04:36Z")
I can’t say that I have ruled out much of anything yet. It’s just that I have not found the cause. The cat. is a good possibility but I’m not done testing that out. I have my own thread going that is a few days old, but I’m not sure how to provide a link to it. You may find it by looking for something like: 1998chevy prism random loss of engine power. Thanks for your help here. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 1:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861/28 "2018-12-16T01:08:00Z")
> [@mcbockalds\_145797](#): > > I have my own thread going that is a few days old, but I’m not sure how to provide a link to it. > [@1998 Chevy Prizm random loss of engine power](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-chevy-prizm-random-loss-of-engine-power/130787): > > For over two years I’ve had this problem. About every 50 to 100 miles or so of city driving (25 to 45 mph) the car suddenly looses power and will not go over 30 mph. If I slowly give it more and more gas it won’t accelerate above 30 mph. This condition might last for about 10 to 20 minutes of driving UNLESS I floor the accelerator and then it goes into passing gear and really speeds up. Of course I let up on the accelerator (can’t do 60 in a 30 zone!) and it goes back to the problem of abou… I used the forum search feature, that icon upper right that looks like a magnifying glass. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Gonzalez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5e9695/32.png) [@Richard\_Gonzalez](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Richard_Gonzalez)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861/29 "2019-07-09T14:27:20Z")
It’s a ground wire . ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 2:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861/30 "2019-07-09T14:42:57Z")
Which one Richard and who are you replying to on this old thread with multiple people on it. ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Leds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Matt\_Leds](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Matt_Leds)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 12:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861/31 "2019-07-24T00:57:10Z")
I came across this post looking for similar issues. I have an 08 Sedona. It ran fine till I took it for an oil change. I left and the alt indicator lights came on, but had it changed within a year. I went back and they said oil leaked from the manifold and got into the alt. I also had them replace the spark plugs while they were replacing the gaskets. A day later after driving in traffic. When I accelerate quickly the accelerator will cut out. The engine is still running, the van will also cruise on its own at around 25mph (again no accelerator), enough to pull over, I shut the engine off, restart it and can go. It will drive at slow speeds but when I press the accelerator to pick up speed it’ll cut out. This sounds like what lady who initially posted had, but see no resolution. ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Leds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Matt\_Leds](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Matt_Leds)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 6:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861/32 "2019-07-24T18:04:27Z")
Finished with with the repair shop. issue has to do with the throttle body based on codes and symptoms. Solution 1st is clean it. and reset codes. its the easiest and cheapest fix $0 for me. For me cleaning was a first step since they had the car apart for the above repairs and could have gotten dirt in it. Other possibilities is a sensor to it or the throttle body itself, or even the gas pedal (some electronic relay). For the Sedona; replacing the sensor and replacing the throttle body is the same thing, as the sensor is built into it. May be this will help some one down the road. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-loses-acceleration-but-not-power-while-driving/90861.md?page=1)