19th Apr 2010, 02:22
I have a KIA Sportage 2002, eight years old, never had a problem, only starts now dirty idle control valve, dirty carburetor, idle adjust, and now have to clean up the fuel injectors. This is not bad after 8 years.
19th Apr 2010, 11:42
A car can't have a dirty carburetor AND dirty fuel injectors. In fact, a car can't have both a carburetor and fuel injectors. I think what you're confusing with a carburetor is actually the throttle body.
11th Jan 2011, 07:35
Leaking oil into number 4 spark plug chamber. After many attempts to locate the source I might have found a solution. There are small metal compression limiters in the gasket, limiting how much you can pull down the gasket. The channel in the valve cover seems to be too deep for the gasket. When the engine is warm and there is crankcase pressure, the aluminum cover expands leaving play between the cover channel and the gasket. Oil vapor can be forced over the gasket and condense in number 4 chamber. That's why there is no tell-tale oil tracks.
Takes time depending on your CVS. Clean the channel, run a a thick bead of seal inside the channel. Let it set up somewhat then put in the gasket and tighten it down. This will shallow out the channel and the leak will be stopped or greatly diminished.
Continued oil in number 4 has a tendency to short out the number 4 coil output terminal causing initially an idle miss or low speed miss under load. Eventually it will burn through the thermoplastic insulator material and develop a permanent carbon track short.
26th Jan 2011, 11:19
My husband and I have a 1998 Kia Sportage. Bought it second hand at a dealership that ripped us off ROYALLY. This thing has been nothing but problems since the day we got it.
First, the engine has to be rebuilt. Then the transmission is faulty. Leak everything, all the time. Oil doesn't want to stay in the car.
Finally, the grand finale, it seems as though we will either need a new timing belt, or a rod is about to be thrown. It is making a god awful rattling noise (sounds like squirrels are running in the engine) and the check engine light is on.
I hate this thing! If you're smart, you will never, EVER buy a used Kia past the year 2005.
30th May 2011, 20:27
I have a 1999 Kia Sportage.
I have had to replace everything on this vehicle. I now am having starting problems too. I had it to the garage twice and they can't find anything wrong.
I can't wait to get rid of this vehicle.
5th Jun 2011, 19:15
Replace water pump. It is inside front casing and runs off the timing belt at same time. It would be wise to replace timing belt and adjuster/idler.
Other things that can make excessive noise are air con clutch, idler pulley, power steer pump, alternator.
First remove belts one at a time and start the motor. If there is no noise then it was something driven by that belt, if still noisy with both belts removed then it is usually the water pump.
22nd Jun 2011, 13:44
I had the same problem. My friend and I replaced the fuel filter, not an easy job, but do-able with moderate mechanical skills.
23rd Aug 2014, 17:09
I have a 1999 Kia Sportage. The only problem I'm having is a leak from my air conditioner draining into the passenger side.
2nd May 2016, 00:19
Have seen this problem all over the web. The solution is to repair or replace the circuit board behind the A/C switch. It's the same board as the hazard lights, rear defrost, and recirculate buttons. You pop the panel off (no screws), unplug it from its harness and disassemble the housing for the circuitry. Wife and I went to our local pick n pull and pulled one off of a Sportage they had in the lot. The cost is only $12. I let her do the repair because it was so easy. She took the old circuit board out and put the one from the junk car in. You could always just replace the whole panel. We just don't want to have to clean the thing out from the cigarette smell.
5th Mar 2010, 12:28
Another small item that can cause a rough idle and slow speed miss is a sticking or dirty PCV valve. I didn't believe it, but it has a real notable effect. The factory PCV hose is very rigid and the 90 degree plastic cap on the valve does not seal well. Replace the hose with a good quality rubber hose, which will seal. Eliminate the cap if possible. Kias seem to be very sensitive to crankcase ventilation issues.