I’ve been in the automotive field for over 20 years, but this one is stumping me. My 2020 Kia Soul ran out of gas the other day, so I put in a half gallon of what I thought was good gas. I drove a quarter mile and it shuddered and shut off. I added over a quarter tank of fuel and it ran for another half mile, then shut off again. Now it won’t start. I’ve tried putting a bottle of HEET in the tank. I pulled the line off the fuel rail and tried to start it, and it shot a 3-foot stream of fuel out. That’s the only way I know to check if the pump is working because there’s no valve on the fuel rail. I pulled the fuel rail and injectors out, cleaned them, and replaced them. I also pulled the plugs, cleaned them, and reinstalled them. Still no start. It only starts when I use starter fluid, but as soon as I stop spraying, the car shuts off again. I pulled the mass air flow sensor plug and tried starting it; it spun a little faster but still wouldn’t start. So I plugged it back in. I’m out of ideas on what to do next. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Did you check the fuse for the injectors?
rsquarles said:
Did you check the fuse for the injectors?
I pulled the injectors and cleaned them, same result. I haven’t checked the fuses yet. Which ones should I check? Could it be a sensor?
Since the issue started after it ran out of gas, I’m thinking the fuel pump might be the problem, even though you confirmed it’s pumping fuel. Running the pump without fuel could have caused some damage. Do you hear the fuel pump hum when you turn the key to ignition?
@Thomasenia
I don’t really hear a hum. Yes, it’s a key start, not push to start.
bernardelliots said:
@Thomasenia
I don’t really hear a hum. Yes, it’s a key start, not push to start.
If it’s like my 2017, you might need to remove the backseat cushion to hear it better. The access panel is under the driver side backseat.
@Thomasenia
I’ll try that and see if I hear it hum.
Which 2.0 engine do you have? The 2010-2016 models had two different 2.0 engines: the GDI and the MPI.
lilly said:
Which 2.0 engine do you have? The 2010-2016 models had two different 2.0 engines: the GDI and the MPI.
It’s the MPI motor.
It sounds like your throttle position sensor (TPS) might need cleaning. It could be causing the issue with the throttle position not being recognized correctly. Try pulling the throttle body and cleaning it.
@Gracie
So, even with bad gas and everything I’ve done, it could be as simple as a TPS?
bernardelliots said:
@Gracie
So, even with bad gas and everything I’ve done, it could be as simple as a TPS?
It very well could be. There might be some carbon build-up in the throttle body. The problem seems to be somewhere in your air intake system. For the engine to start, you need fuel, spark, compression, and oxygen. You said the fuel rail is getting fuel, and the plugs are good, so you’ve got fire. It’s unlikely that you’ve lost compression all of a sudden, so that leaves oxygen. Check the air filter, TPS, throttle body, or any other components between the intake manifold and throttle body. I would start with the basics, like checking the air filter.
Also, you don’t have a MAF sensor; you have a MAP sensor. It’s located between the throttle body and intake manifold. Was the sensor you cleaned in the air filter housing or was it on the hose running between the housing and the throttle body?
@Gracie
It’s directly on the throttle body.