I have a 2004 U.S. Optima 4 cylinder with manual tranny at just over 60,000
miles.  Two weeks ago it started exhibiting strange behaviors right after I
returned from a trip where I allowed my teenage daughter to drive it for a
week while I was gone (she is a very careful driver - I doubt she did
anything to cause this).

1. The radiator fan starts almost immediately after I start the car - within
10 seconds.  I hadn't noticed this before, and I would assume it should not
turn on until the engine is warmed up.

2. The heater fan blows air through the vents, but generally - but  not
always - airflow drops to almost nothing after a few minutes.  The fan
continues to blow, and if I adjust fan speed from 1 through 4 I hear sounds
of the fan's rpms increasing but almost no difference in airflow through the
vents - there is virtually no airflow through the vents at all at any fan
speed.  It's almost as if something is blocking the vents.

3. When #2 occurs I can feel warm air through the vents but as described
above it's just a trickle - and it doesn't change when I change fan speed.
I have noticed that if I stop the car, turn it off, then turn it back on
then normal heater/fan operation resumes, but it will malfunction again
shortly.

4. When I am accelerating, and push in the clutch to shift from 2nd to 3rd,
3rd to 4th or 4th to 5th, the engine continues to rev even if I pull off the
accelerator prior to pushing in the clutch.  The engine will rev up around
200rpm or so, then subside.  Shifting from 1st to 2nd, I haven't noticed
this.  I have also noticed that when I pull up to a stop light, the engine
will idle around 1,100-1,200 rpm but gradually drop to 800 where it has
always been.

5. I notice a whine from under the hood that increases as the engine's rpms
increase.  As I shift from gear to gear the whine decreases with the
decrease in engine rpms, then increases again as rpms go back up in the new
gear.  When I shut off the car the whine gradually decreases to silence,
almost like a turbine spinning down.  It's not very loud, but it is
noticeable and I can't remember it being there before.

My odo is at 62,000 miles now.  Does Kia cut off warranty right at 60K, or
will they likely cover this as I am right at the mark?

The car is due for its 60K service, but these symptoms don't seem like they
should be related to plugs, wires, timing or other belts - right?

Any ideas or suggestions?

TIA,

Karl Perry