SPONSORED LINKS

Feels LIke Old School Vapor Lock on a 2007 Sportage

Tiny
DED
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 KIA SPORTAGE
  • 2.7L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 185,000 MILES
It started early on after getting the car, when my Kia Sportage is driven for a while (more than 30 or 40 minutes) in very hot weather (with or without the AC) in stop and go traffic or if it is hot enough even continuous driving on highway the car starts to run rough. If I accelerate from a stop light or have slowed down and then try to accelerate again it hesitates, shudders, lurches and occasionally when it is super hot out (I live in southern AZ so anything about 103 or so) it won't accelerate and the engine wont respond to the accelerator and if it does eventually respond then as the engine revs it takes a few seconds for the transmission to kick in and get the car going. The obvious answer is to stop driving the car when it is so hot out :) but aside from that. Oh yeah, just had new plugs, wires and a mass air flow sensor changed out but it still does it.
SPONSORED LINKS
Saturday, June 27th, 2015 AT 9:51 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
You are on the right track does sound like vapor lock so suspect fuel pressure. Need specisl tools to test but maybe worth the cost. Fuel Pressure 34 kPa or 49.8 psi. May try cleaning fuel system with product called SeaFoam Walmart has it.
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, June 27th, 2015 AT 10:24 AM
Tiny
DED
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks! I will try the SeaFoam and possibly the fuel filter if I can figure out where it is on this thing. If not will ask my mechanic to check the fuel pressure or if need be buy/borrow one myself!

Thanks again and if anyone else has any suggestions I'm open to them since I can't afford a car payment right now!

David
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, June 27th, 2015 AT 10:28 AM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Filter in tank along with pressure regulator and pump it is under rear seat you will see two access panels one on left is what you want Other is sending unit
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, June 27th, 2015 AT 11:08 AM
Tiny
DED
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, June 27th, 2015 AT 11:28 AM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
You are welcome thanks for donation keep us posted
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, June 28th, 2015 AT 11:05 AM
Tiny
DED
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I put the seafoam in and it worked for a while, then had similar problems in the blazing heat again. Cooled off car and running rough. Been so hot I wanted to wait to pull the fuel tank filter, but did so anyway and that fixed a bit of the problems although I haven't run it in extreme heat yet (maybe later today when it gets hot and I have to go out). But along my way I've been searching the net for other solutions or potential problems. Seems there is an Air Filter for the fuel tank. Some call it a valve and it is supposed to be replaced every 30k miles. Well I live on a dirt road so for the last 186k miles I'm assuming it is clogged or clogs/sticks intermittently or more so when it gets super hot outside. Now get this. You have to remove the driver's side rear wheel, part of the wheel well to get to it and from what I can tell is notoriously difficult/damn near impossible to get out because of the location of the upper nut. I ordered one of those parts but it won't be here for a week so I'm going to inspect the old one and see if I can make it work or clean it out for the time being. Any thoughts on if this (if it is clogged/sticking) could be causing the vapor lock type symptoms?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, July 30th, 2015 AT 11:59 AM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Generally when that valve fails it sets a code and when tank cap is removed a lot of pressure is released. Before you subject yourself to that kind of repair think checking for proper is what I would do.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 31st, 2015 AT 9:16 AM
Tiny
DED
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I'm not sure I understood your response. But I have already put on a brand new filler cap so I'm hoping that this is the last in a long line of stuff I've tried in order for this thing to not clunk out on me when the temps go above 100. Which is quite often here in Southern Arizona.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 31st, 2015 AT 10:21 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Stall While Driving Content

Is it Safe to Drive Check Engine Light?
VIDEO
Is it Safe to Drive Check Engine Light?
Instructional repair video
Engine Stalls While Driving
GUIDE
Engine Stalls While Driving
An engine that stalls while driving and then starts back up again, either immediately or after a short time is different from an engine that just wont start or if the...
VIEW MORE

Sponsored links