Capitol Chevy Auto Care Info: 4 Reasons Your Car Won't Move When The Engine Is Revving

August 6, 2020

Stepping on the gas and revving a powerful engine is a joyful experience that makes a satisfying sound -- one that usually means the car is ready to drive. But in some cases, you may find your car's engine will rev, but will perform sluggishly or may not even move at all. Below, we look at four of the more common reasons that might be causing this problem. But no matter what's gone wrong with your car, we've got the tools, parts and skilled technicians to fix it at the Capitol Chevrolet service center. Stop by for exceptional service and learn more about your vehicle below.

 

4. Slipping Transmission

If you've got a manual transmission, a slipping clutch disc is easily the most common cause for this particular problem. Over time, the friction material on a manual transmission's clutch will wear down, allowing the transmission to slip. The engine will spin and run normally, but that power won't be able to get to the driveshaft on account of slippage between the engine and transmission.

While less common, a similar thing can happen on vehicles with an automatic transmission. Automatic transmissions use fluid pressure to translate engine power to the driveshaft. Over time, the automatic transmission fluid inside the transmission can become dirty and worn out, allowing the transmission to slip. Often this can be fixed by simply refilling the transmission with fresh fluid, but more extensive transmission service may be necessary.

 

3. Bad 02 Sensors/Mass Airflow Sensor

If it isn't an issue with the transmission, there may be a problem achieving the correct air/fuel ratio in the engine. The engine might run, but might not be able to make much or any power if the engine's airflow sensors aren't working correctly. The mass airflow sensor tells the engine's computer how much air is getting to the engine, and the O2 sensors tell the computer how much oxygen is present in the exhaust. The computer uses this information to determine how much fuel is sent to the engine. If these sensors are fouled with carbon build-up, the engine's computer might be getting incorrect information about how much fuel to send to the engine -- leading to sluggish performance or a failure to move much at all.

2. Malfunctioning ECU

There is also the possibility that, if your vehicle's sensors are working correctly, but the vehicle still isn't responding like it should, the vehicle's ECU or Engine Control Unit could be malfunctioning. In modern cars, the engine computer controls practically every function under the hood. That means it's often to blame for unusual problems that don't seem to have a single source. With our special tools, we can diagnose and reset a Chevrolet engine control unit that isn't working properly.

 

1. Throttle Body Issues

When you press on the gas pedal, you're manipulating a valve inside the vehicle's throttle body. As the valve opens, more air gets sent to the engine, where it'll be mixed with more fuel to create more power. Most modern cars have electronic throttle bodies, but some older cars have a mechanical linkage between the pedal and the throttle body. If the throttle body isn't opening when you press on the gas, the car may behave strangely when you hit the gas, even though the engine starts up smoothly. To find the source of this problem, have a professional Chevrolet technician examine your vehicle at the Capitol Chevy service center.