Intermittent starting problem in 1999 sportage

[sanderff]

My 1999 sportage ex always turns over fine, but fifty percent of the time, will not start. Once it does start, it runs great. I have taken it to four different repair shops (stealerships and mom & pop shops), and they can't find a problem. It can go a couple days starting fine, then not start for awhile. Does anyone have any idea what this could be?
Thanks,
Charlie

[hvac1000]

many times on a sportage it is dirt contacts on connectors that cause intermittent problems.

[sanderff]

Thanks for your reply. One of the shops thought that was what it was also and replaced the connectors with new. Don't think that is what it is. Any other ideas??

[sanderff]

also, diagnostics bring up no problems at all.

[mgbgt1972]

Ok! so what does it do, just crank and not catch, or only cranks 50% of the time?

It could be the battery does not have enough juice to turn the car over and provide a strong enough spark to fire it up! Plugs could be fouled too!

[sanderff]

It turns over all of the time but does not catch half of the time. Have not replaced the battery yet, was told it was fine. Will do that in morning. Worth a try. Have been dealing with this problem for about five months, at this point I will try anything.

[mgbgt1972]

If it's being going on for 5 months it probally isn't the battery, that would have oataly died before now!

When were the coil packs and plugs replaced last?

[sanderff]

Replaced the battery, starts more often (so far), but still not all of the time. Spark plugs replace 3 months ago. not sure about coil packs..

[William Lee]

Been having the same problem for several months now.
When it happens to me I spray starter fluid in the air intake and it starts up right away. It's a pain in the neck. Just so it won't die out on the road I keep my food on the gas pedal so it's always getting gas.
At a stop I keep one foot on brake and the other lightly on the gas.
This way it won't stall out at idle (just in case).
I've replaced fuel pump, filter, fuel sensor. Still had problem starting.
The starting fluid was an accidental solution that works so far.
I'm going to try a mass air flow sensor next.
Went to the Kia dealer as a last resort last month. They couldn't figure out the problem either.
Wanted to charge me $400-$1200 to clean all ground wires, plugs, coils which I've already done. Told them no thank you. I'll try cleaning the ground wires next. Hope this kinda helps. Gonna keep picking at the problem. Car has 100,000 miles. This is the only problem I've had with it and only showed up about 6 months ago.

[sanderff]

your problem sounds very similar with one exception, mine doesn't die out once it gets started. Did that start happening to you right away (the stalling)or with time?
Mine has about 55,000 miles on it and I haven't had any real problems with it either,until this.