Starting System - Hard Starting

SOURCE: Kia Technician Times

TITLE: Hard Start Update

APPLIES TO: Sephia

SERVICE TIP:

CONDITION

One or more of the following starting conditions may be experienced:
- No start
- Hard start/extended cranking when cold
- Starter stall during cranking

CAUSE

A no start condition is many times caused by an inoperative ECU relay or fuel pump relay (assuming battery condition, cranking voltage etc. are OK).

The hard start/extended crank when cold and starter stall in A/T equipped vehicles is related to deflection of the engine flexplate when starter is engaged. This deflection results in a corrupted crank angle sensor signal which in turn can alter injector pulse width and ignition timing during cranking.

CORRECTIVE ACTION

When diagnosing for a no start condition, make certain both the ECU relay and Fuel Pump relays are functioning. As for the hard start/extended crank when cold and starter stall conditions in A/T vehicles, the factory is developing and testing a more rigid flexplate. At this time, we don't have any production change or field fix information, however, as soon as we determine what the fix will be, we'll get the information to you.