1999(uk) Misfire, Loss Of Power And Burning Smell!

Rompy · 06-02-2006, 05:14 AM

Hi,

I drove my wife's Sportage yesterday as she had been complaining of it "playing up". In the morning it seemed fine, if a little juddery but drove as I expected it to. When I drove it home after work, it was juddering a lot worse even at idle, there was a distinct lack of pick up and when I got in there was a small amount of smoke/vapour exiting from the rear wheel arch (exhaust side) - producing more when the engine was revved - It also sounded like a lawnmower and there's a "hot" smell almost like rubber - could this be burning oil?

My instincts are firstly to check the timing belt and then the plugs. It's done just under 60k miles and I would imagine the belt hasn't been changed before now.
Am I heading in the right direction? Could it possibly be one of the CAT's failing?
The CEL light comes on with all the others at ignition, but goes off when the engine starts. The temperature never goes above 1/2 way and oil and coolant levels are fine.

Also, having read the whole forum in the past day :P I understand there's a PDF on how to check/change the spark plugs. If someone could send me this I'd be very grateful.

TIA
Neil

karlo · 06-02-2006, 09:19 AM

Try here for your spark plug change.

Spark Plug Change

Rompy · 06-02-2006, 01:25 PM

Thanks Karlo.

Well I drove home tonight and the CEL came on and stayed on!

And when I opened the bonnet, the smoke/vapour was rising from the rear of the engine.

Just waiting for the engine to cool down now so I can start removing things

fanter · 06-04-2006, 11:16 AM

hi rompy

pull the last plug lead no4. and have a good look at the end of the lead and down in the hole for oil. This would make it miss and smoke. If it is oilled it's the rocker gasket leaking, this is common on kias. And the miss woud put the light on because the lambada sensor will pick up the smoke. good luck

Rompy · 06-05-2006, 06:21 AM

Hi Fanter,

thanks for your reply, is this going to be the most likely issue? I was thinking maybe the first CAT. If so, does anyone know where I could get a replacement from other than main dealer (after having paid £70 for a new blower motor

)

I'm going to properly check the plugs tonight after having a test run on Friday working out how to get at them

Rompy · 06-05-2006, 03:53 PM

OK an update in the hope that the more experienced out there may be able to help.

I removed all 4 plugs, they all looked very "carboned up" and the one nearest the front had a coating of oil, but not a great deal.(would this be 1 or 4 ?)
So I cleaned them up as best I could and regapped them (by eye - couldn't find my feeler gauges!) and it seems to run a lot better than it was...but still not right at all.
It still sounds like a lawnmower and the power isn't all back. I was wondering if it was one of the CATs if I took it to a garage and suggested that, would they be able to confirm just by removing it and looking at it?

I'm going to buy some new plugs and maybe a rocker gasket and see if at least the new plugs make a bigger difference.

Any thoughts anyone?

mre_powers · 06-06-2006, 10:50 AM

after putting all that effort to getting to the plugs i would have at least put new ones in right there. and if you are digging that far into the engine then you might as well finish the job and change the gasket.

Rompy · 06-06-2006, 01:10 PM

Hi mre powers, I intend to put new ones in now but haven't had chance to get any yet - same goes for the gasket. We only got this 6 months ago and I had no idea when they were last changed or what condition they were in and finances dictate as always

Still, it was good practice to know how to get in there, I prefer to do as many jobs myself as I can I just don't have the facilities to do the exhaust/cat unfortunately.

mre_powers · 06-06-2006, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rompy@Jun 6 2006, 11:10 AM
Hi mre powers, I intend to put new ones in now but haven't had chance to get any yet - same goes for the gasket. We only got this 6 months ago and I had no idea when they were last changed or what condition they were in and finances dictate as always

Still, it was good practice to know how to get in there, I prefer to do as many jobs myself as I can I just don't have the facilities to do the exhaust/cat unfortunately.

Quoted post

I havent done my plugs my self yet. but after doing the fuel filter and getting a sizeable performance boost. i may get around to the plugs this summer.