Rattling/Grinding Sound When Going Uphill 2001 Kia Sportage

[Jim Sportage]

I've got a 2001 Kia Sportage, 4cyl., 2.0 liter, RWD with 132,000 miles. I hear a sort of grinding/rattling noise when I drive uphill. If I take my foot off the accelerator the noise stops. I've done a lot of driving in mountains, where I've had to put the car in first or second gear to slow it going downhill. I'm not sure if it's a transmission-related noise, a fuel pump or even valves rattling.

I've taken it to two mechanics, who failed to diagnose it.

[Jim Sportage]

The grinding sound can also be heard when accelerating on flat terrain.

I've seen people suggest these things for a grinding noise on a Sportage:

center drive shaft support bearing on my 01 Kia Sportage

It was the "Carrier bearing assembly" on the split drive shaft. I have a 98 Sportage. I bought the part from KIA for around 241.00. and paid 100.00 labor to have it put on. If I had to do it over, I would have went ahead and bought U-joints while my mechanic had the drive shaft torn apart. It is amazing how it quietened it down.

[jamesslcx]

Since the noise stops when you take your foot off the gas it may be engine related, do you hear anything with the hood up while you are giving it some gas? Have you tried the long screwdriver trick? What general area is the noise coming from? Front, middle or rear?

[Jim Sportage]

Originally Posted by jamesslcx

Since the noise stops when you take your foot off the gas it may be engine related, do you hear anything with the hood up while you are giving it some gas? Have you tried the long screwdriver trick? What general area is the noise coming from? Front, middle or rear?

Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to have someone else step on the gas, but I did try flooring it while in neutral, and I finally heard the noise when the car wasn't in gear so that suggests the transmission isn't causing the noise.

It might be a bad fuel pump or a timing issue. I had the timing belt replaced a few months ago. I think I changed the spark plugs, wires and distributor. I'll have to check my service records.

[LMP]

Well...at times my Sportage did exhibit weird sounds coming from the catalytic heat shield...and that might be exacerbated by applying power since the engine pulses increase in strength and some torquing action might position the shield in a more "favourable" position for music......even in neutral.
All shields have been removed...noise too.

Check for simple things first......