- #571 of 578
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Re: 2003 Kia Optima having problems starting [bmaurer]
by skal
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Oct 27, 2009 (11:18 am)
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Replying to: bmaurer (Oct 22, 2009 6:25 am)
I have a 2003 Optima and I just put new plugs in it. I have about 90,000 miles on it and my plugs were almost completely gone it had started idling rough. With the new plugs it runs like new. I would try just the plugs first before the wires. I ordered my plugs from Kia and they are $15.00 each, but the parts guy said that if you just buy them at a parts place they don't work as well (they could just ge lying too). The plugs are not difficult to change you just have to take the cover off the top of the motor and they are down deep towards the engine. You will need a plug socket that has the rubber insert so you can pull them and and put them back in, it take a 13/16 socket for the plugs. I would buy them from the parts place and just try them before I tried to buy the Kia plugs. Hope this helps. This is the number for parts: 800-996-9491 I spoke with Danny and his was very helpful.
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- #572 of 578
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Re: Gas tank filling problem [skal]
by skal
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Oct 27, 2009 (11:34 am)
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Replying to: skal (Oct 13, 2009 5:48 am)
2003 Optima I have solved the problem to filling the gas tank. You will need to change the charcoal canister filter located in the finder well behind where you fill the tank. When the filter goes bad it releases the tiny pieces of charcoal and it get stuck in the filler valve located on top of the fuel tank. So to correct the problem you have to replace both items. You can change the filter it is just in a plastic cover, but the filler valve is on top of the gas tank. If you let down your back seat and look in the middle you will find a black cover that is covering the fuel pump. To the right of that is a small valve and next to that one is the filler valve. I decided that is was not worth $900.00 dollar to drop the tank so I took sheet metal cutter and cut an hole over the filler valve big enought to get it out and replaced it. It takes a little effort, but it works. I ordered the filter and valve from Kia the filter is $180.00 and the valve is $30.00 the number is 800-996-9491 it takes both of them to correct the problem. Anyone that has any mechanical experience should be able to do this. Good luck I hope this help.
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- #573 of 578
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Re: 2003 Kia Optima having problems starting [skal]
by bmaurer
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Oct 28, 2009 (6:03 am)
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Replying to: skal (Oct 27, 2009 11:18 am)
Thanks for replying~
I did have the mechanic replace the plugs, the back 3 were completely shot. But this morning it did the same thing again. It seems so far like it happens after sitting for about 8 hours or more. Once it "turns over" and starts, you can turn it off and then turn it back on and it will start right up. Not sure what it could be, could it be a bad battery? Seems like once it runs for alittle while it will start up with no problems.
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- #574 of 578
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Re: 2003 Kia Optima having problems starting [bmaurer]
by skal
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Oct 28, 2009 (6:32 am)
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Replying to: bmaurer (Oct 28, 2009 6:03 am)
I had to replace my battery but it just quit I didn't have any trouble before hand. You can have your battery checks to see if it is weak. It should have a sticker on it telling when it was purchased. They usually only last about 4 years. Have you check the gas filter. It sounds like you have to get the car to turn over before you are getting the gas for it to start. I would think if it was the wiring it would be constant. I am sending you a web site to go to that gives you the maintenance manuel on your car. I was going to buy the book but they were out so she gave me the web site to look up things. It is not very user friendly, but it does give you some good ideas if you are persistent. It has one place that will let you trouble shoot your problem and it will give you options as to what the problem might be. Good luck let me know if you figure it out in case I might have the same problem. Web site www.kiatechinfo.com.
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- #575 of 578
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Re: 2003 Kia Optima having problems starting [skal]
by capt4
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Oct 28, 2009 (11:20 am)
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Replying to: skal (Oct 28, 2009 6:32 am)
I had the same issue happen last week
The car stalled in traffic , Thinking there was water in the tank
I bought some gas line anti freeze.
Then the car refused to start could not crank over
Check engnie light goes on this is good so you can find the problem
Towed the car to the repair shop the computer showed " Crankshaft Sensor"
Kia Service says this is a usual at around 80k miles as well as the Front
Motor Mount which had to be replaced also..... Check around for labor the
cost to replace sensor is the same as timing belt because the genious" at Kia
put it in the most inconvienent place. If you need a Timing belt do it at the same time. plugs were changed at 75K they last long
I am going on 92K never did the fuel filter, it is another weird location with
labor that is high,
Hope this helps  
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- #576 of 578
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Re: 2003 Kia Optima having problems starting [capt4]
by bmaurer
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Oct 29, 2009 (6:14 am)
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Replying to: capt4 (Oct 28, 2009 11:20 am)
I took my car into Wal-mart to get the battery checked, when they hooked up the battery checker it said to replace battery, so I did that and they thought that that might just be the problem. But after they put in the new battery and did another battery check, the handheld computer gave them an error message that they thought had something to do with the wiring from the battery to the starter. They think that a wire somewhere there is getting grounded or is bad. They also checked the starter with the same handheld computer and the starter checked out fine. I'm taking it to the dealership beginning of next week to explain to them what has been happening and what has been done so far to the car, hopefully I will get this figured out with not alot of money involved the the process, I only have about $500 to spend to get this fixed.
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- #577 of 578
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Re: 2003 Kia Optima having problems starting [bmaurer]
by javmanamx
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Nov 02, 2009 (1:07 pm)
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Replying to: bmaurer (Oct 22, 2009 6:25 am)
clean the maf, mass air flow sensor, you have to use special cleaner for this, buy it at parts store, do not use carb cleaner, i just checked the maf on a 05 ford focus, hard to get to by the way, a small piece of a leaf was causing hard starting etc, also use throttle body cleaner on the throttle body, very important
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- #578 of 578
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MAF Sensor
by capt4
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Nov 02, 2009 (2:15 pm)
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 Thanks for the tip will do
Ihave cleaned the Throttle Body with BG products bebfore
How many miles should this be done?
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