Mechanic Advice

276 readers

1 users here now

This community is for getting help with vehicle or other mechanical problems.

Remember, there are no stupid questions, we want everyone to feel welcome. If you don't want to answer a question that you think is silly, then just move on and keep it to yourself.

Rules:

Don't be a dick

That is all.

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

ikidd

BallsInTheShredder

Brandonb0013

Kia Optima Stopped Running while Driving (self.mechanicadvice)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by 4lan to c/mechanicadvice

15 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Here are the details:

2015 Kia Optima automatic 75k miles

I was driving today and my car turned off out of the blue. A bunch of lights came on in the instrument cluster and I was able to coast to a safe spot.

When trying to start the car there is a very short sound indicating it is trying to turn over, but maybe 1 second of this then silence. No clicking or whiring.

My friend came and tried to jump start my car. Before attaching jumper cables I checked my battery voltage and it was 12.4V. After 15 minutes of charging my car would still not start. Even with the jumpers still attached from his battery.

I went to AutoZone and borrowed their code reader, but it came up with 0 codes.

I checked every fuse and they all appear fine.

My thoughts are it could be the ignition coils or starter, but wanted to get another opinion before swapping things out.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

Edit: it turned out to be the engine has seized and it is being replaced for free under the recall. Got a 2023 Stinger as a loaner and very happy with how this turned out. Such a relief. I am considering selling my Optima and going Subaru or Toyota.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] Hazdaz 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Why would it be the starter since the car was already running? If you really think it is the starter, before you replace anything, an old trick is to tap the side of the housing to see if you can get it spinning again.

You have probably already checked, but did you try the fuses? A popped fuse wouldn't show up under any engine codes but it might explain why it was dead.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A popped fuse wouldn’t show up under any engine codes

It will on a car this new, since losing power to one of the electrical systems will at least show up as a CANbus fault when the ECU can't talk to a subsystem.

[–] Hazdaz 4 points 1 year ago

Good to know!

[–] 4lan 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah I checked each fuse one-by-one