As your car, truck, or C/SUV’s engine produces combustion, vacuum power is created and routed throughout the engine to power other accessories and components. If you have a vacuum leak, which can commonly happen via a vacuum hose, you will notice performance issues that affect your vehicle’s ability to run efficiently. J&S Auto Repair can find the vacuum leak and fix it, which will restore your engine’s power and leave you zipping down the road as you always did. Here are signs you have a vacuum leak.
Check Engine Light Warning
The problem with the check engine light warning is that it can mean that you have a vacuum leak or a number of other problems going on underneath the hood. If the check engine light comes on and you experience any of the other signs listed below, that makes it easier to initially diagnose the problem as a vacuum leak. No matter the reason why the check engine light came on, it’s important that you don’t ignore the warning.
Idling Problems That Are Noticeable
A couple of things can happen to your vehicle’s idle when you have a vacuum leak. Because a vacuum leak adds air into the engine, you will notice that your engine’s RPMs go up. This might be more noticeable when you are sitting at an idle instead of in motion. Take a look at your tachometer and see what the RPM reading is. If it’s high or the needle is bouncing up and down to signal that it is sporadic, you might have a vacuum leak.
Stalling Engine That Also Hesitates
Excess air in the engine also causes it to hesitate and stall. Part of the problem is that the mass airflow sensor cannot accurately report the amount of air that is in the engine to the engine control module. Consequently, this misreading will cause the engine control module to make adjustments to the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, and you will notice that your engine has power problems, including hesitation when you accelerate.
Sucking Sounds Coming From the Engine
Finally, a vacuum leak sounds kind of like a vacuum cleaner. If you are suffering from engine performance issues as discussed above, park your vehicle in a safe space, put it in park, set the parking brake, and put bricks in front of the wheels if you’re on an incline. Pop the hood and listen for hissing or sucking sounds coming from the engine. If you can hear the noise, you might even be able to see the leaking hose.
Contact us at J&S Auto Repair in Warwick, RI, if you’re experiencing any issues with your car’s vacuum system. We can find the leak and fix it as soon as possible.
