sad 99 Sephia

[jinxedoncars]

I bought a 99 Kia in 2003. If I'd known, I wouldn't have. It only has 57k miles on it, and of course, no warranty any longer. At least they changed the plugs and cat on it at 30000 miles. And I have problems, EXCEPT with the brakes, since I put 'lifetime' brakes on it. A previous owner put a ricer type huge round muffler on it, and it sounds like it has a bad valve...

But here's a stumper:

While driving, I do get the check engine light coming on and going off at random times. I hear no change in engine sounds, detect no change in performance, and do not have a drop in mileage, so I ignore it.

My unreproduceable problem is this:

I CAN feel the car sort of lose power or hesitate, almost like the tranny had downshifted, but hasn't. At the same time the fan blower blows harder. Sometimes the radio will go out. At night, the headlights and dash lights get REALLY bright right after this loss of power. After anywhere from 1 to 15 seconds, the lights dim, the radio comes on, the blower turns wimpy, and the engine seems to pick up. The dealer couldn't find ANY codes on it the last time I took it in, so of course, it did not have a problem. I even left it with them and asked them to drive it at night and work on it with the lights on, but they did neither, and so didn't find the trouble. Any thoughts?

Also, the dash is twisted and warped right at the windshield, the clearcoat came off the hood only after going through a 'touchless' car wash that has never hurt any other car, and I can't use the key to open the trunk. The clip holding the sun visor came off the headliner, and the cover came off the mirror. I do get just barely 22 mpg, and thank goodness I now only drive it 100 miles a week or less. Also, no light in the trunk, and I've brained my 5'4" self on the trunk lid several times!

My spouse has an 03 spectra, and it has an intermittent radio problem, and the rear seat belts will strangle anyone over 50 pounds by locking at random. But it's ok, except he drives at least 100 miles a DAY!

B!

[MeettheCreeper]

Originally Posted by jinxedoncars

I bought a 99 Kia in 2003. If I'd known, I wouldn't have. It only has 57k miles on it, and of course, no warranty any longer. At least they changed the plugs and cat on it at 30000 miles. And I have problems, EXCEPT with the brakes, since I put 'lifetime' brakes on it. A previous owner put a ricer type huge round muffler on it, and it sounds like it has a bad valve...

But here's a stumper:

While driving, I do get the check engine light coming on and going off at random times. I hear no change in engine sounds, detect no change in performance, and do not have a drop in mileage, so I ignore it.

My unreproduceable problem is this:

I CAN feel the car sort of lose power or hesitate, almost like the tranny had downshifted, but hasn't. At the same time the fan blower blows harder. Sometimes the radio will go out. At night, the headlights and dash lights get REALLY bright right after this loss of power. After anywhere from 1 to 15 seconds, the lights dim, the radio comes on, the blower turns wimpy, and the engine seems to pick up. The dealer couldn't find ANY codes on it the last time I took it in, so of course, it did not have a problem. I even left it with them and asked them to drive it at night and work on it with the lights on, but they did neither, and so didn't find the trouble. Any thoughts?

Also, the dash is twisted and warped right at the windshield, the clearcoat came off the hood only after going through a 'touchless' car wash that has never hurt any other car, and I can't use the key to open the trunk. The clip holding the sun visor came off the headliner, and the cover came off the mirror. I do get just barely 22 mpg, and thank goodness I now only drive it 100 miles a week or less. Also, no light in the trunk, and I've brained my 5'4" self on the trunk lid several times!

My spouse has an 03 spectra, and it has an intermittent radio problem, and the rear seat belts will strangle anyone over 50 pounds by locking at random. But it's ok, except he drives at least 100 miles a DAY!

B!

If the MIL comes on there is a problem regardless of how the vehicle runs.

YOu bought a used car that someone probably didnt take care of, you get what you pay for.

On a guess I would say you have an alternator failing, causing the electrical problems. You may also have poor ground connections.

[jinxedoncars]

Well, yeah, except i bought that kia off the lot. from the dealer. i was able to get some work done, but of course, the mechs couldn't find the root prob.

Husband got rearended yesterday, and pushed into the stopped car in front, so his kia is mangled and in the shop. He had to drive my awful one. He said the temp gage was jumping from normal all the way up, then back down to normal.

I kinda remember that happening once before, but the mechs at kia came and fixed that prob immediately, and only about 1000 miles ago....

Other than that, i'm putting it down to the weirdness of the panel... .