KyleLovesHisKia

Expert help please!

2000 Sportage 2-dr. Convertible 4x4.
110,000 miles.

Timing Belt broke and replaced at 60,000 miles. No problems began until 95,000 or so... Infrequent and random hesitiation/sputtering/no power, occuring ONLY under load/during acceleration. Gradual worsening/more frequent symptoms by 100,000. At 108,000, began repairs as follows:

ODB-II CODES Present: P0301 "random misfire cyl.1", P0326 "knock sensor"

New Spark Plugs.
New Spark Plug Wires.
New "Coil" wire harness (input to ignition coils, white connectors cracked).
2 New igniton coils (one definately cracked, one arcing through base)

No change whatsoever. Codes present again, same as before.

Paid Kia Dealer for evaluation.
$700 later - dealer had
Replaced cracked exhaust manifold.
Replaced clogged PreCat (warm-up cat. converter).
Replaced applicable gaskets.
Replaced front O2 sensor free (damaged upon removal from manifold).

Slight change in performance....back to like it was in the beginning at 90,000, with infrequent hesitation/sputtering ONLY under acceleration. Idle is mostly smooth, occasional little "blip" now and then (1 time every 2 minutes?) Cruises fine, no problems on slowing down.

After one week of driving, one ODB code returned: P0326 Knock Sensor

Returned to dealer, dealer says "screw yourself, warranty only on service performed. Additonal work extra charge". Can't repeat what i told the Kia dealer here!

Replaced knock sensor myself, what a pain in the a_ _ (almost as much work as the timing belt!), with no change....no difference whatsoever.
New Code present P0326 knock sensor. (same as before)

OK i've spent about $1000 so far.....I'll pay one of you experts to tell me what's wrong,if your answer fixes it! I'm gonna ruin my PreCat again if i dont fix it soon. This is my only vehicle, and i must drive it everyday!
The "misfire" codes are gone, presumably due to the repairs made....but the "knock sensor" code remains. Still sputters on acceleration, but idles and cruises fine.
Defective wires to the knock sensor? Faulty fuel injector? CKP sensor? MAF ? TPS? $1000 more dollars or "trial and error"? Turning a wrench does not a mechanic make, these days! Anyone out there with a brain?!?!

Thank you.

MeettheCreeper

Have seen several Sportages 2000 and up with injector problems intermittently sticking. This will cause a misfire. It generally only happens when cold.

ALso have seen failures in the fuel injection harness causing the drivability issues you describe.

The knock sensor code I have not seen unless the engine itslef is actually making noise. Lifter noise is enough to set off the knock sensor.

Is the engine quiet when running???

Sorry about your exp. with a KIA dealer. They are not all like that.

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