Why Does My Car Hesitate When I Go Up a Hill?

A car's engine provides the power for a car to overcome inertia and maintain speed. The work required by the engine to keep a car moving when going up a hill increases, and problems in this situation can indicate engine problems.

Air Filters

  • Engines use air to help fuel the combustion which provides a car with power. This air flows through an air filter to keep particles out of your cylinders. If your air filter is clogged, the engine might not get enough air to work properly.

Fuel Filter

  • Fuel filters regulate the flow of gasoline into an engine. If your filter is clogged, then the engine might not get enough fuel to produce enough energy to keep your car moving properly.

Spark Plugs

  • Spark plugs ignite the fuel air mixture in engine cylinders. If your engine's spark plugs are not adjusted properly or worn out, then it might not produce sparks at the interval your engine is telling them to. This results in your car engine not firing properly, and not producing enough power.