2003 Kia Spectra
2003 Kia Spectra questions and answers
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Q: I drive a 2003 Kia Spectra, are there any special tires you can recommend for the snow?
I live in Connecticut.
A: We have Blizzaks on our Mustang Mach 1 and it makes it manage as good or better than our other vehicle. They are definately worth the price, but only put them on in the winter so you're not wearing them out all year. They are also not great for overall performance, but definately tear up the snow.
Q: Why does my 2003 kia spectra sedan looses power going up the slope?
I have my Kia spectra 2003, it burns to much oil. I have to buy two oil every two weeks. When driving up the slope it slows down to thirty mile and on flat area its slow to pick up speed. On rany season, it doesn't pick up speed in either flat area, down the slope or up the slope. When I press gas, it sounds like a choking cow in a slaughter house. I change oil, tramsmision fluid, spark plugs. any suggestion what might be the problem
A: I would take it to a KIA dealer. Kia's are usually 4 cylinder so there not the best at speeding up fast. The only thing I could suggest is a mechanic.
Q: The oil in my 2003 Kia Spectra turned to sludge, Is there any way to clean it from the engine?
It is possible the oil has not been changed for 1 year, or about 140000 miles. The car runs fine with no engine noises and no warning lights. I took it for an oil change and they told me the oil is stuck unfer the valve cover and is not draining down to the Pan. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
A: On some models you can see the valves through the oil fill opening on the engine, since that opens right on top of some valve covers. If there is sludge built up around the valve springs you have a problem, I would not trust over the counter fixes or strange mixes to correct that problem. If you damage an oil seal with that stuff; your engine will leak all over the place or worse yet right into a cylinder! Take it to a reputable shop and ask about cleaning the engine out. Over using oil leads to viscosity break down; the oil turns real watery first then into a gum like substance, at that point your engine performance is going to take a big hit and it will not be able to cool like it should either. An honest shop will tell you to change your oil every 3000 miles its not to earn a buck but to save your car from costly repairs. Some manufactures will tell you to change it every 5000 to 7500 that’s pushing it to the extreme and its only to make the car look like it wont cost as much in under normal maintenance, basically a selling point at the cost of long term repairs to your car.
Next time don’t forget to change your oil every 3000 miles!
Q: how much does a tune up cost for a 2003 Kia Spectra?
I don't know if it matters but it is a 4 cylinder I think, it has 70k miles on it and I've never had a tune up done before.
A: Newer cars don't need tuned as often as the older ones. i would buy a Haynes manual and do it yourself. I would also check to see if this car has a timing belt and how often it needs changed.
Q: I have a 2003 KIA Spectra. It seems the hotter it gets the harder it is to start the car. Any Ideas?
I am getting great gas mileage. The check engine light has not come on. The plugs look fine.
A: Mixture too lean
Plug gaps too wide
Defective starter or battery
Fuel pressure too low
Faulty O2 sensor or circuit
Faulty eng temp sensor
Faulty MAP sensor, MAT sensor or MAFsensor
Boiling fuel rail
Faulty PCM
These are just a few of the possible causes so you need to get it checked out properly
Q: I have a problem with a 2003 kia spectra?
the mil light is off there are no codes but I only have 5 of 7 monitors set. I have driven over 200 miles and the last two monitors will not show ready.
A: Which monitors are they ?
Let me know which ones they are then I can give you specific driving instruction to set them.
Q: 2003 Kia Spectra - dead battery. Need to move car. Trans is on "Parking" cannot move lever b/c no power..Can
I somehow move the transmission to neutral in order to push it?
A: Look to see if there is a small rectangular slot located on the shifter plate near the shift lever. If there is, insert the ignition key into it. This will over-ride the shifter lock and allow you to place the vehicle in neutral.
Consider charging your battery, but remove it from the vehicle before charging it. This ensures your onboasrd computer will not be adversely affected by any possible power surge from the charger when hooking it up.
If you jump-start the battery, be sure to connect the negative (-) lead to a grounding point on the vehicle engine block or chassis. This, too, prevents a power surge from harming your vehicle computer.
If all else fails, lift your hood and look for a rod or thick wire that connects to a flat bar atop the transmission. This bar is most likely your shifter linkage. Dislodge the rod or cable from the shifter bar, and click the bar twice downward (horizontally). That should put your vehicle in neutral.
Q: Squeaking/Whistling coming from my Rear Wheel - Kia Spectra 2003?
I've notiched a squeaking/whistling sound coming from the rear passenger side wheel/back of my 2003 Kia Spectra.
I just changed the tires out this fall and it has 33K miles on it.
Any idea on what the problems could be? - AND most importantly...what it may cost for me to have it fixed?
Thanks for any help.
Mdiddy.
The noise occurs when I'm moving...and not hitting the brakes.
Does that help clarify things at all?
Thanks for the help so far.
Mdiddy.
A: Previous poster probably correct on the reason for the sound. Might be a good time to find out if their warranty is worthwhile:
Kia has a lot of confidence in the quality and endurance of all its new vehicles. So much confidence, in fact, we offer an industry-leading 10 year/ 100,000 Mile Warranty Program. The program consists of various warranty components including a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a five-year or 60,000 mile limited basic warranty, and a five-year or 100,000 mile limited anti-perforation warranty, each of which provides coverage until either the yearly or total mileage figure is reached, whichever occurs first. In addition to this warranty coverage, the program includes a five-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance plan.
Q: 2003 Kia Spectra stalling & sputtering?
My 2003 Kia Spectra stalls when in 3rd or 4th gear or when at a stop light. When in 5th gear or when slowing down, the car will buck or sputter. Anyone have the same problem? Any ideas of what it could be? I had a similar problem at 83,046 miles. Now at 95,000 miles I have the same problem and then some.
A: There are many things that could cause a car to stall. Fortunately, this usually does not signal a major repair to your vehicle, and it can generally be fixed through some relatively minor adjustments or repairs.
Consider the complexity of your car before beginning and take your car to a trusted repair shop. Modern cars (mid-nineties or later) are extremely computer controlled, and it will be difficult for you to make any adjustments. You will want to take it into the shop to address this problem.
The stall is likely caused by either a problem in the electrical system or in the fuel system. Your engine stops running because it is not igniting gas in the cylinders, this occurs either because there isn't gas to ignite, or because it lacks the electrical charge to ignite it.
Drive the car up and down steep hills. Does this change the performance of the engine, or cause it to stall? This might indicate a clogged fuel filter. Replacing the fuel filter is relatively cheap and easy once you find out where it's located.
Does the car idle roughly and stall when at idle? If your car has a distributor, you may need to adjust the timing. With the right tools and know how, this is an easy and free task. If your vehicle has fuel injection, you can check the injector by using a screw driver or mechanics scope. The injectors will make a clicking/snapping sound if working. No sound would indicate a bad injector available at most DIY auto parts stores. Also check the ICM, idle control motor that controls the air mixture.
If your car has a distributor, you might consider changing the cap, rotor, wires and plugs. This is effectively a tune up. This can usually be done even by a relative novice to car repair, and take a couple of hours with the right tools. It seems counterintuitive, but even the wires and distributor decay over time, and transmit less electricity. This tune up may solve your stalling problem -- even if not, your car should run better and get better mileage.
If your car diesels when you turn off the ignition, it often signals the need to replace the spark plugs. Dieseling describes the situation where you turn off the key, yet the car continues to run for a few seconds or longer, eventually sputtering to a stop.
In rare cases, your car may stall due to what is commonly called a "vapor lock". It is actually a vacuum in the fuel line that causes fuel to eventually stop reaching the engine. Try opening your gas cap. If you hear a "whooshing" sound, like when you open a can of coffee, it's vapor lock. Now try starting the car. It should work after a couple tries. This is usually found only in older cars. If you have it, this will probably happen again, so your fuel line should be checked for blockage. A cheap fix is to drill a small hole in your gas cap to allow air in and prevent the vacuum from forming, but it should not be left this way.
If you can find a friend who knows how to work on cars, ask them to teach you how to do these things.
HOWEVER: Just because a "friend" supposedly knows how to fix a car, take care to get as much information as possible to determine if they have only done certain vehicles or a wide variety of years, makes, and models. No two cars are ever truly the same, even if the year, make and model are identical. If you choose to allow anyone other than yourself or a reputable auto repair shop diagnose a problem with your vehicle, you run the risk of having your car, truck, or other type of vehicle sustain even further damage because of a significant lack of experience in the person attempting repairs. If this does happen to you, you are going to be responsible for the bill of repairing the initial problem, as well as the damage your "friend" did. (that hassle can be completely avoided by going to a repair shop that has experience and INSURANCE!!!! yes, they do cover the repair cost on the stuff THEY screw up.)
Working on your car can be dangerous. Don't attempt any of these fixes while the car is running!
Q: where can i find a KIA SPECTRA 2003 body kit?
i'm lookin for a body kit all racy lookin for my Kia spectra 03. HELP??
A: that would look so lame, don't bother
Q: 2003 Kia Spectra, thought it was alternator but had it tested and its fine. Not the battery either. Help!?
I have a 2003 Kia Spectra that will not start. The battery will hold a charge for about 5 minutes, then goes down from there. When the car initially had problems, it seemed to be the alternator. I had it checked at Autozone and it was fine, so my boyfriend put the alternator back in the car. The battery is new and seems fine, but yet it won't hold a charge. It still seems like the alternator, but it can't be. I am at a loss! The wires going to the alternator were pretty rusted, could this be it??
A: sounds like a dead short some where . the best thing to do is take to a good mechanic and they will find the problem
Q: my car is a 2003 kia spectra (standard). names?
What should I name my 2003 gray Kia Spectra?
I've had her for a few months and the other day I decided to name her.
This is basically what it looks like:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://allstarcars.net/html/media/car_images/2276a.jpg&imgrefurl=http://allstarcars.net/html/index.php%3Fcatid%3D19%26blogid%3D1&h=225&w=300&sz=57&hl=en&start=17&um=1&tbnid=ik_-oLuxFk_YEM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3D2003%2BKia%2BSpectra%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
(sorry for the long link)
A: Kick it again (KIA)
Q: If You Have A 2003 Kia Spectra Sedan 4D Please Answer ONLY?
Are They Good On Gas Do You Have A Lot Of Problems Out Of It IS It A Good Car To Buy, Please No People That Say They Are Junk Unless You Have One
A: I an a vehicle inspector of all types of cars and been a mechanic over 30 years. The KIA is not a bad car if it was well maintained by the previous owner, but to be safe go to NHTSA.gov and do a Recall and TSB search and see how many problem complaints have come up on it. All so contact the DMV an check to see if it was registered as a Lemon in the past.
Good Luck and God Bless
Q: 2003 Kia Spectra noise from front tire area?
I got into my car this morning and while driving, the front started making a funny noise. Not from engine, but tire area. Checked tires, they are ok. Every time the wheel turns, it makes a clunking noise. Any ideas????
A: I have a Kia Sportage, I had sound from my front tires too... Turned out to be the bearings in the drive shaft. I had the entire drive shaft replaced, it was cheaper than just having the bearings fixed.
Q: how do i replace the retaining wire in the headlight of a 2003 kia spectra?
A: is it the clip that hold the bulb in. what u can do is look at the other side but do not take the other side apart