What diagnostic step can help determine the cause of acceleration hesitations?

Checking the fuel filter is an effective diagnostic step for determining the cause of acceleration hesitations. When a vehicle experiences hesitation during acceleration, one potential culprit is a restricted fuel supply. A clogged or dirty fuel filter can impede the flow of fuel to the engine, resulting in insufficient fuel delivery during acceleration demands. This can cause the engine to momentarily stumble or hesitate as it struggles to get the fuel it needs to maintain power.

In contrast, assessing tire pressure focuses primarily on tire conditions affecting handling and fuel efficiency rather than directly influencing engine performance. Measuring air intake is also important but it typically addresses issues related to engine air supply and might not be the immediate factor if fuel delivery is compromised. Estimating engine wear involves evaluating the overall condition of engine internals which could contribute to performance issues, but it would not pinpoint a specific hesitation problem the way checking the fuel filter can. Thus, checking the fuel filter directly addresses a common cause of acceleration hesitations.