Several acceleration issues can occur with the Ford Mustang. Some indicate that your vehicle needs routine maintenance while other issues are symptoms of major malfunctions with the car. Troubleshooting acceleration problems can take time but may save you money on repair bills by helping you determine what is wrong ahead of time.
A lack of power when you are trying to accelerate often indicates that you need to perform routine maintenance. If your vehicle has not had a complete tune-up recently, check the air filter, spark plugs, fuel filter and oil level. Replace items that are dirty to improve engine performance. Other issues that will cause a lack of power include a restricted exhaust system, worn rings and valves, intake manifold leak, dragging brakes and incorrect tire pressure.
An engine knocking during acceleration is often a symptom of a major issue with your Ford Mustang. If this is happening, check the simple solutions first. Gasoline with a lower octane rating than suggested for your vehicle may cause engine noise during acceleration. If the timing is off on your car, the pistons will not fire at the correct interval and will cause knocking. Also check for worn spark plugs and exhaust problems and replace damaged or worn out parts.
If your clutch is slipping during acceleration, you must investigate the cause to avoid further damage. Sometimes, the solution may be as simple as adjusting the clutch cable. Other times, you will need to replace clutch components. Issues that would require clutch replacement include worn disks, a weak pressure plate or remanufactured parts that have not been tooled properly when rebuilt.
