2001 Sportage 2-Door Automatic 2x2 Convertible w/ Idle and Accel issues

[smokintx]

Hey Yall,

New to the forums and having some issues with a loaner from my parents. I have read a few articles i searched for but none seemed to have the same issues as i had so i figured i would toss my hat into the ring to see if anyone had a clue.

Symptoms -

Check Engine Light has been on for sometime. Parents said a mechanic told them to not worry as it seemed more of a short than anything. They havent had the troubles i have had for a years worth of time it was on.

Sputter/Slow Start from Cold Start- The car continues to start up fine without issue. However the moment it is kicked in drive and the accelerator is applied it stalls and sputters and when i let it off it goes back to normal while still in drive. Sometimes it will just kick and go, othertimes i have to try it a few times before it eventually does. I found that if I experience the issue, i can place the car in park and rev it a few times and i wont experience the issues once back in drive.

Idle issues - I notice while i am in traffic or at a light the car will begin to sputter and the RPM goes below 500 or teters and sputters. Applying the gas fixes it momentarily and there is no issue when the car is fulll running. Almost seems to does this more often when i drop fast from high speeds or from highway(long) driving to traffic or stop lights.

Belt Squealing - Ok this prolly has nothing to do with it. Infact im pretty sure this was happening before this started. But from an initial start or cold/wet morning start it souds like a belt squealing until i get going and it seems to correct itself. Seems like a loose belt or posibly a pulley going bad. Temp remains normal and AC works fine, also no issues with having a full battery charge. Seems to get louder with Accel is the only reason i mention it.

Also a few things to mention...The car did sit with the same gas for several months before i gained control. Ran fine for several months without issue. Parents said a mechanic friend told them they might need to replace the Timing Chain. I blew that off and most of the issues as it was only a minor incovience(Dumb, I Know) but this morning going through my normal start i applied the gas after i put it in drive and it started to sputter. I gased it more hoping it would catch and go but this time i heard what seemed like two quick pops under the hood. My mind raced and i swore it had to be a pistion clanking my hood or something horrible, but nothing looked out of place and the car ran fine afterwards.

The great news is i havent gone through a million things and just searching for some magical answer. I am just about to start some minor replacements like Air/Fuel Filter change. I am just looking for a logical path or perhaps some common linking condition that might be spelled out in the above. I know thats alot of info, let me know if i can clarify anything.

Also thinking about going to AutoZone and seeeing if the will run the code scanner??? on my car to tell me why the engine light is on? Is it at all rude to ask to use thiers without intent of buying anything there really?

Thanks in Advance

Chris

[BentBob]

What your describing can be any one of the sensors,a vacuum hose,fuel filter,coil pack,fuel pumps,plug wires,so on,so on.As simple as a bad ground wire and all goes haywire.

Take it a-zone and get a free read.Then report the code here.Who knows,you might just buy a fuel filter or something.

These things need tenter loving care to keep them going.No simple fixes,ever.Just did the T-belt and plugs.Tension bearing sounded like old roller skates and the plug valley was full of oil.

To address the belt squealing,replace and adjust all.May want to do the T-Belt as well.Along with a new water pump and hoses.And a oil change.Put some fuel cleaner it too.Need brakes yet?

[kellbell77]

Well I have a 2001 sportage 4 door, and had the same issues this past few weeks. Since I had no codes to read, I started replacing the oxygen senor, spark plugs, oil change, changed air filter to k&n,changed gas to 89 and finally when going down road, FINALLY, a check engine light at autozone for FREE. Code p0304, which means misfire in #4 cylinder, so pulled all off again, pulled #4 and found oil in the chamber. So bad Valve Cover Gasket, pulled that apart, found the gasket was out of sync, whoever put in back together after tune up in March 2001 at 80,000 miles, so realigned gasket, and no problems. NO sputtering like it's gonna die, no chugging.
Check your codes at Autozone unless in CA, it's free and they are extremely helpful. Gave me all the info and parts and I did the job myself. Took 2.5 hours, but the problem is fixed and Kia runs like a dream.

Good Luck