Fuel Pump Ground Guidance

NoGripes · 03-03-2008, 06:04 PM

Hi folks, I have visited this site several times for info. on how to keep my own 99 kia sportage running. Well it's time to ask for some help.

I have two issues, I am hoping one will resolve the other. I have had the spitting and sputtering like everyone else. As of recent I have been blowing my 15amp main fuse. I decided to check my fuel pump ground, as this I get no fuel when I blow this fuse.

I removed the cover and found a solid black wire simply hanging there. I believe it to be a ground. I thought maybe this was supposed to attach directly to the top of the pump? Please see the image below, any info. would be appreciated.

Also might this lack of ground, be somehow related to my main fuse problem?
http://www.nogripes.com/kia.jpg

As you can see I currently have the wire taped off, as I was not sure if it was in fact one of the two ground wires leading to the screw at the cover.

Thanks in advance,
Mark

NoGripes · 03-03-2008, 06:56 PM

Oh, I should mention for other folks who are trying to start their Kia, it cranks, but will not start. Under the hood, on the passenger side, there is a fuse box, open it up, and check the 15amp fuse. Actually I have heard that some folks have put a heavier fuse in this to keep it running long enough to sell it, so it's the top fuse on the right. On the '99, it should be 15amp. If this baby is blown, you will not start your Kia. I have not seen many people mention it here, so I thought it might be worth adding.

Thanks,
Mark

Mike70 · 03-04-2008, 10:33 AM

Also check or just replace the main and fuel pump relays in the same box. My main relay occasionally wouldn't pull in. Drove me crazy for about 2 weeks before I found it.

Mike

NoGripes · 03-04-2008, 05:23 PM

Well, I will give that shot, I just blew my main fuse again. It seems like when I lug it down, for example backing up into my garage with snow and lug the engine down, it quits and blows that friggin fuse.

Thanks,
Mark

NoGripes · 03-05-2008, 09:21 PM

Hello Kia folks, while I did not get much help on this post (thanks to Mike70 who did respond). I have found a lot of helpful information on this board. As stated above, I have been blowing my 15amp main fuse in my '99 Kia Sportage. I have put some time into looking for a short and I found one, I hope that others will find this helpful in their quest for info.

In front of the battery and to the right there is a control valve (purge solenoid valve I think based on the wire colors). Mine was tucked up under the corner of what I guess would be my intake manifold? This thing appears to be mounted with a rubber mount, which allows the whole unit to move. I glanced at it a couple of times, and it actually looked like it belonged under there until I gave it a tug. As you can see from the image link below, it did not belong and was shorting out. I hope this is the fix I was looking for.

http://www.nogripes.com/kia_sportage_short.jpg (green was shorting and red was close)

Maybe one of the actual experts knows when this thing kicks in and might be able to verify that it would kick in when the engine was chugged down. As stated above, it seems to happen when I am just about to get stuck in the snow and the engine is close to stalling (manual trans.). There is no question this was grounded all of the time, so the green wire must not have power all of the time.

At any rate, I hope this solves my dilemma and I hope it might help solve yours as well.

Mark

Mike70 · 03-06-2008, 10:36 AM

Thanks for the info Mark. I don't have any idea when the valve is triggered, but surely someone on here does.

Mike