2000 Kia Sephia

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THX 1138 - 19 Dec 2004 20:54 GMT

-Last night, filled tank in 2000 Sephia with no previous signs of
malfuntion. Drove home and parked it for about an hour.

-Upon ignition, engine sputtered, but idled OK. During acceleration, ran
very rough. After about three blocks, turned around and drove the trusty
855 for 20 mile trip instead.

-This morning, drove Kia about 2 miles to buy new fuel filter. On the way,
noted that sputter occured in mid-throttle. Replaced filter, and restarted.

-Let idle for several minutes and increased throttle. Sputtering still
occuring.

-Car has 52K miles. Bosch plugs and K&N filter only a few months old.

What next?

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Peter K L Milnes - 20 Dec 2004 00:19 GMT

Drain fuel tank and replace with fresh fuel from a different source. Then
request the original fuel supplier to cough up and pay for the tank of dirty
fuel (probably contaminated with water) and new filter. Or buy can of fuel
cleaner and pour into your car's fuel tank.

Cheers, Peter.

> -Last night, filled tank in 2000 Sephia with no previous signs of
> malfuntion. Drove home and parked it for about an hour.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> What next?

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Michael Pardee - 20 Dec 2004 00:19 GMT

> -Last night, filled tank in 2000 Sephia with no previous signs of
> malfuntion. Drove home and parked it for about an hour.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> What next?

Sounds like bad gas - particularly water in the gas. Auto supply stores sell
products to add to the tank - alcohol of various sorts, isopropyl being the
best - to correct that. My guess is that the water stayed in suspension well
enough until you parked the car, then it settled to the bottom of the tank
and got picked up with the fuel.

MIke

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Joseph Oberlander - 29 Dec 2004 17:43 GMT

>>-Last night, filled tank in 2000 Sephia with no previous signs of
>>malfuntion. Drove home and parked it for about an hour.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>>-Let idle for several minutes and increased throttle. Sputtering still
>>occuring.

Oh gheez. um - it could be nearly anything with a KIA and that
many miles. My guess would be the MAF or something simmilar is shot.
If the car has an EGR valve, that is also a place to look. Sometimes
both die at once. Well, one is dead already and the other dies. The
computers can no longer compensate.

I'd take it to the dealer and use that 10 year warranty.

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Perry Noid - 20 Dec 2004 02:07 GMT

while you're thinking about fuel, consider possibility that the fuel pump
might be failing. I've been thru that twice now with my 89' 240, the most
recent being this past week! Unexpectedly left me stranded on the side of a
busy road, started and ran fine for an hour or so before that, so no
warning. Replacing the main pump solved the problem, and the car actually
seems to have a little more pep than I remember from the last few weeks, so
perhaps that was my warning! I think the in-tank pump is ok (replaced with
the main pump last time around), but will replace it too, when we get a
little warmer weather here in Atlanta...

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Michael Pardee - 20 Dec 2004 02:40 GMT

> while you're thinking about fuel, consider possibility that the fuel pump
> might be failing. I've been thru that twice now with my 89' 240, the most
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> the main pump last time around), but will replace it too, when we get a
> little warmer weather here in Atlanta...

Always a possibility, although in more recent cars with OBD II fuel pump
weakness should bring in the "check engine" light as the mixture won't stay
good.

Mike

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Steve n Holly - 20 Dec 2004 16:28 GMT

> -Last night, filled tank in 2000 Sephia with no previous signs of
> malfuntion. Drove home and parked it for about an hour.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> What next?

Trade it in for a used 850!

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Steve n Holly - 20 Dec 2004 16:31 GMT

> -Last night, filled tank in 2000 Sephia with no previous signs of
> malfuntion. Drove home and parked it for about an hour.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> What next?

Ok if that is not in the cards buy 2 or 3 bottles of 'dry gas' and put one
in the tank now with no additional fuel added--run the gas down to 1/8 tank,
then pour the 2 remaining bottles of dry gas in and fill with quality fuel
of the usual octane (ie regular no advantage to using high octane)

Happy motoring!

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