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2010 Surging while driving

24K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  Cinsue 
#1 ·
I guess surging is the correct word. While driving, the car will jerk or surge and seems to take forever to shift, especially when the weather is cold (automatic). I bought the car new a year ago and it's been doing it from day one. At first the mechanics said they "reset" it to factory settings, whatever that means and since then no one seems to be able to figure out what is wrong with it. It seems to drive better when the weather is cool. The mechanics finally got tired of me complaining because they told me to give it 10,000 miles and see if it was better after the car was broke in. Since I was having shoulder surgery and I was also tired of taking the car in, I gave it to 11,000 miles. I took it back in a couple of weeks ago and naturally the car didn't do the jerking when they drove it (weather was pretty cool), but it's hot again and the jerking has begun! It's sporadic, so you never really know when it's going to do it. Something new today was the ESC OFF light came on while I was driving. I pressed the button to try to turn it off and nothing happened. After it sat for 1 1/2 hours, the light was off, but the car still jerked as I drove home. Has anyone had this happen or know what's going on? I'm really frustrated and if I could afford it this car would be history.

Thanks for any info you can give me!
 
#2 ·
The ESC light could have something to do with it. There is probably a DTC stored, which will need checked.

Does it happen when shifting into a certain gear, such as 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd? Does it happen worse at a certain throttle position, light, mid, high? Does it stumble sometimes on acceleration, when pulling out from a stop? Just a couple questions.
 
#3 ·
There are times that it will jerk several times when coming off a stop sign or when shifting (reminds me of someone new to driving a manual that doesn't have the clutch just right). I'm not always sure if it's doing it in town or if it's just the road (sometimes the jerking is very gentle, other times it is more obvious). I notice it more when I'm driving on the highway at a set speed. It doesn't seem to matter if the cruise control is on or not, or if the AC is on.
 
#4 ·
Is it misfiring? Are you going a certain speed/engine rpm on the highway, or does it not matter?

Does it have a MAF(Mass Airflow Sensor)? If so, one simple thing to check is the intake tube. Make sure it is securely connected between the airbox and the throttle body. I've seen them pop off the intake side of the MAF, and when the engine shifts, allow unmetered air in. At idle it rests against and seals. If it has a MAP sensor instead, disregard what I just said.
 
#5 ·
You're way over my head! How would I know if it's misfiring? The speed doesn't seem to matter and I don't know anything about a MAF? Since it's doing the jerking even at highway speeds (not shifting) is the MAF something I should ask them to check out?
 
#6 ·
My wife who drives the Sportage 99% of the time came home one day and said the Sportage just was not running right. Sure enough took it for a test drive and it was jerking back and forth and just running like crap.

Pulled it into the garage and when I changed the air filter I did not get the the air intake tube connected right. Put it on right,tightened the clamps and that fixed the problem. So a Homer Simpson "DOH" on my part. Check the easy things first.
 
#7 ·
My aunt had that problem with her 2006 Sportage. The movement of the engine did something to the air intake and it would jerk or lose power. Another important factor...do you have the I4 or V6?
 
#8 ·
I've got a 4 cylinder.

I'm pretty car illiterate and depend on my local oil change place to let me know about air filters and other maintenance items that need changed. HOPEFULLY they would check and make sure everything is attached correctly.
 
#9 ·
I found this on the kiatech website, might explain your esc off light

2006 – 2007 Sportage (KM), 2007 Rondo (UN), 2006 – 2007 Sorento (BL), 2007 Amanti (GH)
and 2006 – 2007 Sedona (VQ) vehicles within the production date ranges shown below:
The stop lamp switch may have been damaged during the assembly process. As a result, the
stop lamp switch may malfunction causing one or more of the following conditions to exist:
• The brake lights may not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed.
• The brake lights may remain illuminated when the brake pedal is released.
• On some occasions, when the vehicle is started, the shifter cannot be moved from the
Park (P) position.
• If the vehicle is equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), the ESC light may
illuminate indicating “ESC OFF.”• If the vehicle is equipped with Cruise Control, depressing the brake may not deactivate
the Cruise Control System
 
#10 ·
Thanks!! I'll print this out and take it to the dealer.

A Kia rep drove the car on Friday and he finally felt the problem. Says he doesn't think it's the transmission and told the Service Manager the best way he can describe the problem is that the car "stumbles". He told the the service manager to start a tech ticket and to order a Power Control Module (I think that's what he called it). Sure hope this works!
 
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