Slow accelration

150

Asked by mfoxboyd Apr 19, 2018 at 03:58 PM about the 2012 Nissan Versa 1.8 S Hatchback

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have a 2012 Nissan Versa that has run like a dream until now (85K miles).  
When I push on the accelerator, the car moves, but very slowly.  When I floor
the accelerator - same thing, the car accelerates, but barely.  It will get up to
about 2200 RPM and no higher.  It did this for a few weeks.  The CEL came
on and told me to replace the Mass Airflow sensor, which I did.  It also coded
for a problem in the purge valve.  When I took it to a mechanic, he found no
problem with the purge valve or any vacuum lines leading there.  What's
more, the CEL is no longer on.  When he tested it, it ran perfectly.  When I
drove it home, it ran perfectly.  The next morning, it was back to barely
accelerating.  That afternoon, I drove it three times, each for about 30 mi

13 Answers

7,455

Perhaps an accelerator sensor issue or the ECU itself is having issues. Some of the acceleration sensors are on the pedal, inside engine bay or both and work in tandem with each other. You may have to have the dealership put their scanner on the vehicle to track this down. Unfortunately obd most obd scanners will not provide vehicle specific codes for a particular car and read modules.

14 people found this helpful.
160

My Nissan versa note 4 sound like it is struggling whenever I’m going up a hill or passing another vehicle or accelerating fast. Is this a known issue like the question above?

15 people found this helpful.
270

Hey Mfoxboyd, I'm having this same issue with a 2013 Versa. If I turn it off and restart it a minute later every thing seems to work normally (until it happens again). Did you ever find out what is causing it?

12 people found this helpful.
150

YES. Right before it all started I had my brake light changed. The mechanic put a single filament bulb in, when he should have put a double filament bulb. So, sine there was only one filament in there, when I had the lights turned on (most of my commute times), the car ALSO thought the brakes were being applied and the computer wouldn't allow the car to go past 2000rpm. Put in the correct brake light bulb and the problem was fixed.

15 people found this helpful.
270

@mfoxboyd Thank you for your quick response. OMG! This must be it. I had the break light assembly replaced due to water collecting in the tail lights. I thought the mechanic was crazy when they said the tail lights were causing a computer issue. I will try to google the correct bulb and post if it fixes the issue. Thank you

11 people found this helpful.
30

@guru7453n and @mfoxboyd - this might be happening with my Nissan Versa as well. @guru7453n did replacing the light solve your problem?

3 people found this helpful.
30

I have a 2016 Nissan Versa that doesnt go up hills and now it barely drives on flat surface. my car has 140,000 miles on it and never had a tune up do you all think that can be the problem? I also had a check engine light on and i wen to go check it out they said it was my catalyic converter. i let someone gut it out without buying a new one that may be the problem also.

3 people found this helpful.
270

@Guru99G59N Nope. It turned out my issue was the transmission all along. It finally needed to be replaced (which cost me $3400 after discounts). It was out of warranty but I contacted Nissan's Warranty department directly (due to how many owners have transmission complaints) and after a few days of discussing the matter with multiple reps they offered to pay for half of the transmission. If you know it's the Transmission, call them before taking it to the shop and ask them to help with the expense. The worst they can do is to tell you No.

4 people found this helpful.
20

@mfoxboyd you SAVED me!!! This was the exact problem with my car. Thank you so much for saving me money!!!

2 people found this helpful.

I’m also having this same exact problem I can’t drive over 20 sometimes. I just replace the mass flow and the throttle body on the car. It acts like trash in line almost. Here is the thing if I throw it in neutral when the idle drops and rev it up I can drive it like a race car lol but when the idle drops put back in neutral while driving. If the rpm gets stuck cut it off in neutral turn key in on position pump gas x5 then release slowly turn key off back on and off back on crank and stomp the gas and it’ll go when you have to stop put in neutral

10

Normally the cause of this is the brakelight switch out of adjustment or it is B/O or both, the switch and the relay. I will make a video about this on my YT: Machine Mods

1 people found this helpful.

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