[LaSheep]

Kia Rio 2006 would randomly shut off while driving for a few weeks. Turns out battery terminals were slack, and those were changed. Thereafter it started shutting off while driving uphill. It would restart on the flat and eventually make it up the hill. Two weeks ago it shut off again while going uphill, and could only make it up the hill in reverse, not while driving forward. After parking it it has not restarted since. Engine cranks but no start. It appeared as though the fuel pump was faulty and mechanic changed the pump itself (not the entire casing that it is contained in). That didn't help. Electrician checked but could not find any electrical issues. At a loss because it just refuses to start.
PS. The key has to be wiggled a bit in the ignition switch sometimes before it turns. Not sure if that has anything to do with why the car doesn't start. Any advice on what the problem could be?

 

[Garbus]

Had an issue where my 06 Rio had random issues starting, would crank fine but not start, turned out to be corrosion on the antenna for the immobilizer chip in the key. I disconnected the antenna connector and cleaned it off with some contact cleaner, haven't had a single problem since. Might be worth giving a look.

 

[LaSheep]

Had an issue where my 06 Rio had random issues starting, would crank fine but not start, turned out to be corrosion on the antenna for the immobilizer chip in the key. I disconnected the antenna connector and cleaned it off with some contact cleaner, haven't had a single problem since. Might be worth giving a look.

Hey Garbus,
Thanks for the tip. Not sure this would apply in my case though. My Rio doesn't have an alarm system installed so it's just a basic, regular key I have (nothing with buttons to deactivate alarm/immobilizer etc).

 

[Garbus]

Mine doesnt have an alarm system either. The immobilizer system is basically there's a little chip and antenna inside the key, when you go to start the car the car will send out a radio signal that gets picked up by the chip in the key, and then the chip will send out its own signal in response and if it's valid the immobilizer will allow the ECU to run the engine.

In Canada pretty much every car made since 2000 has a chipped key immobilizer system, but maybe models in other countries omit this feature.

 

[LaSheep]

Mine doesnt have an alarm system either. The immobilizer system is basically there's a little chip and antenna inside the key, when you go to start the car the car will send out a radio signal that gets picked up by the chip in the key, and then the chip will send out its own signal in response and if it's valid the immobilizer will allow the ECU to run the engine.

In Canada pretty much every car made since 2000 has a chipped key immobilizer system, but maybe models in other countries omit this feature.

It may be the case that it has been omitted in my country because there is no way to open my key.

 

[mgreen18.mg]

Get back to the basics. The mechanic replaced the fuel pump but, is the pump getting power and ground while cranking the engine? Do you have a scanner that you can check for engine RPM while cranking the engine. It could be a bad crankshaft position sensor. That is a common issue. But, the fact that it would only go uphill backwards points towards an open it a wiring harness or maybe a bad ground. Gravity has taken effect on this harness and the movement of the harness going uphill forward is different then going backwards. Finally the wire went open and stayed that way. I would start with the basics. Air, Spark, and fuel.

 

[LaSheep]

Get back to the basics. The mechanic replaced the fuel pump but, is the pump getting power and ground while cranking the engine? Do you have a scanner that you can check for engine RPM while cranking the engine. It could be a bad crankshaft position sensor. That is a common issue. But, the fact that it would only go uphill backwards points towards an open it a wiring harness or maybe a bad ground. Gravity has taken effect on this harness and the movement of the harness going uphill forward is different then going backwards. Finally the wire went open and stayed that way. I would start with the basics. Air, Spark, and fuel.

Thanks for these pointers. Will look into these issues. Appreciated.

 

[LaSheep]

Thanks for these pointers. Will look into these issues. Appreciated.

It's been a long 6 months without the use of the car. Finally have a hint of what may be behind no check engine light at ignition/no communication on diagnostics/crank-no start issues. Turns out a small area of the ECU appears burnt. Next step is to have that checked & serviced (an expensive piece of work here). So car may be out of commission for a while again.

 

[leo42.2875]

Before condemning the ECU confirm you have good powers and ground.