Kia Sportage Maintenance Guides - Common Kia Sportage Repair Questions Answered
This is our guide to the Kia Sportage with in-house Who Can Fix My Car expert answering the most-asked questions concerning the vehicle and giving you an overview of its features and maintenance.
A great family-sized spacious car, the compact crossover SUV is a popular choice for its attractive interior and the comfortable ride that it offers passengers. The Kia Sportage also scores highly for reliability and a favorable resale rate.
Kia Sportage Tyre Pressure
What is the recommended tyre pressure of a Kia Sportage?
KIA recommends a minimum tyre pressure of 2.4bar for the 2019 Kia Sportage, equal to 240 kPa and 35 psi.
The exact tyre pressure required for your vehicle differs depending on the exact model and year.
Therefore, it is best and most accurate to refer to your vehicle’s manual for recommended readings.
How to check Kia Sportage tyre pressure?
The tyre pressure of your Kia Sportage can be checked at a Garage Station’s tyre refill point as well as by a trained mechanic.
Though, you can gather tyre pressure readings at home on a regular basis using a handheld pressure gauge.
These can be purchased for around £10, are simple to use and give precise pressure readings between servicing to guarantee safety.
Make sure to refer to the value in your owner's manual as a reference for recommended tyre pressure when using your handheld gauge to gather readings.
What should I do once I see a tyre pressure warning?
The tyre pressure warning light illuminating on your dash could be an indication of several tyre-related problems.
Firstly, the issue at hand could be as simple as a tyre pressure top-up.
Use your handheld gauge to ensure that the pressure of all tyres is correct, if the warning light does not go out upon this check and refill, it is likely your car has either a slow or serious puncture. In this instance, make sure to contact a garage as soon as possible to get the problem checked out.
How do I reset a Kia Sportage tyre pressure light?
To reset the tyre pressure light on the Kia Sportage, it is imperative that you first make sure all necessary work has been carried out which triggered the light to come on I the first place, so that your tyres are in tip-top condition.
To reset the light, turn the key to ‘ON’ position, but do not start your car. Hold down the TPMS (tyre pressure monitor) reset button until the tire pressure light blinks three times, then release it.
Start the car and wait 20 minutes for the sensor to refresh. The tire pressure monitor reset button is usually located beneath the steering wheel. If you can't find it, check the user's manual.
Kia Sportage Warning Lights
What do the warning lights mean on a Kia Sportage
The warning lights in your Kia Sportage are designed and operate to make driving your vehicle safer and to cut damage costs by giving you an indication of any problems early on. The exact meanings and nature of your warning lights will be detailed in your car’s manual.
The main warning lights to keep a look out for include:
Anti-Lock Brake System
The ABS is responsible for pulsing your brakes under very specific circumstances, therefore this warning light is imperative to the safety of your vehicle.
Charging System Warning Light
Signposts any issues with your battery which must be resolved ASAP
What does a Kia Sportage engine warning light mean?
Most of the time a warning pops up because of inexpensive problems to repair. Occasionally, the check engine light can come on when absolutely nothing is wrong with the car. The check engine light could even be lit up because of a minor issue such as a tank of bad gas or a loose gas cap. In such cases, the light should go off by itself after a short time after adjustments are made.
However, the engine warning light can be an indication of a more serious problem, such as an emissions system fault, a blocked diesel particulate filter, an issue with the mass airflow system or indeed an ignition system fault. Nonetheless, regardless of the extent to which each of these issues affects your car and safety, the engine is the heart of your vehicle and thus any issues should be dealt with promptly.
How to reset a Kia Sportage oil warning light?
Kia’s have both an engine oil level warning light and an engine oil pressure warning light. The illumination of either of these warning lights should trigger you to check the oil level of your vehicle immediately.
The engine oil level light illuminating usually means the oil level is insufficient for safe driving, whereas the oil pressure light indicates that the car isn’t getting the pressure it requires to keep the engine running properly.
Kia Sportage Service Intervals
When are Kia Sportage service intervals?
The Kia Sportage is recommended a full service every 12 months or 12,000 miles; whichever milestone you reach first.
This will reduce the risk of your car breaking down and will help maintain the resale value.
We would also recommend an interim service of your vehicle in between each full service, around every six months, if you undertake a high mileage.
Kia Sportage Common Problems
Are clutch problems common on a Kia Sportage?
The dual clutch transmission in the Kia Sportage has had a few reported issues of lagging, particularly when taking off from a standstill.
Some drivers have expressed a difficulty changing gears too, although problems of this nature can occur in any car and are best fixed by a trained professional.
We recommend that you find a local garage with the best price for you and reliable reviews via our Who Can Fix My Car services form.
What causes a Kia Sportage clutch to shudder?
Clutch shudder is a common issue for all cars and occurs when the clutch is released. It consists of a strange chattering noise and is easy to identify within your vehicle, thankfully as it is often an indication of further clutch damage.
It may be a result of a warped flywheel, pressure plate distortion, clutch disc problems or even a damaged release bearing.
If you are not mechanically-minded, we recommend that you visit a trained professional for a full diagnosis and clutch repair or replacement.
What’s the noise I can hear coming from my Kia Sportage?
The Kia Sportage can make a light clatter when idle and when producing a light frottle.
This is noisier than other cars of its nature, but the sound rapidly diminishes as your speed increases.
When revved hard the sound dissipates and tackles motorway speeds smoothly and near silently.
Kia Sportage Oil
What is the oil capacity for a Kia Sportage?
The oil capacity for your Kia Sportage is dependent upon the specific model and the manufacturing year of your vehicle. However, the majority of Kia Sportage’s have a capacity that sits between 4 and 6 litres.
What to do if a Kia Sportage leaks oil?
Oil leaks are a common issue with most vehicles yet determining the cause and location of the leak is a battle of its own.
Fixing the oil leak should be a top priority, as when left to develop it can cause potentially serious damage.
The location and cause of the leak must be identified to progress with the repair.
Therefore, we would recommend that an oil leak be tackled by a mechanic whom can fix the problem efficiently and provide assurance of safety.
What are the oil change intervals of the Kia Sportage?
Kia Sportage models that have been sold since 1995 require their oil to be changed around every 5,000 miles.
Some models have extended intervals of 7,500 miles, thus it is vital to check your owner’s manual to verify when you should be scheduling in your oil changes.
Kia Sportage Battery
What are the signs that I need a new battery?
There are numerous signs that your car battery is dying, the first of those being a slow starting engine and dimmer lights. Alongside these, you may notice that the check engine light is on or there is a bad smell of rotten eggs when you open the bonnet. Visually, you may also notice that the battery connectors are corroded and/or the battery case itself is misshapen or swollen.
What to do if a Kia Sportage battery dies?
If the battery in your Kia Sportage does die, you will require a battery replacement service. The battery is an integral component of your vehicle, its functionality ensures the safety and capability of your car. Enter your car details and postcode on the Who Can Fix My Car website form, to receive no-obligation quotes and customer reviews to choose a local garage for your battery replacement.
Kia Sportage Common Questions
How is visibility in the Kia Sportage?
It can be hard to judge visibility to the rear of the Kia Sportage; particularly corners in tight spots. This is due to the back pillars of the car’s rear blocking a larger portion of the view than most SUV’s.
However, all Kia Sportage’s are fitted with a rear-view camera to eradicate this issue. Some of the more recent versions of the model are also fitted with rear parking sensors.
You need not be concerned about visibility thanks to these handy features and the fact that the Kia Sportage was awarded a 5-star safety rating when tested by Euro NCAP.