There's a lot of things that could cause this problem. Here's some advice:
First off, I recommend checking your transmission fluid. Automatic
transmissions really bog down during acceleration if they are low on
fluid. Manuals can have issues too.
Also, if your Sentra uses premium fuel (I think a few versions do) you
MUST put premium fuel in it. If you don't, the knock sensor will
retard the engine, and possibly damage it. (This could explain the
hesitation)
This problem can also be caused by clogged or bad emissions systems.
But, since your sentra is only 3 years old, that's probably not the
cause.
Fuel injectors can also get clogged. You could run some injector
cleaner through it. It costs 5 bucks and it's available at most gas
stations.
Is your air conditionor off? Your AC uses a lot of the power
generated by your engine. Under hard acceleration or WOT (wide open
throttle) the AC clutch will disengage (shut off) so that your engine
can use all available power. This takes a bit to happen. That lag
may occur while the AC is running.
If it's none of the above, it's probably a faulty sensor or computer
problem. In which case, I'd take it to a mechanic who can check for
engine codes. |