My 98 Kia Sportage wont start. It has power from the battery but when you turn the key...nothing. Any ideas?

Please better define "no start".

Does the engine crank yet fail to start?

Or does nothing happen when you turn the key to start?

Nothing happens. The engine doesn't turn over. The battery is fully charged. It does nothing. No noise no movement nothing.

If your Sportage is a clutch, you may check your clutch switch. If it's bad or not being engaged, it will act like you're describing.
If it is a bad switch, you should be able to wire around it until you get a new one.


Good Luck,
Everet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Automatic. No clutch.

OK, then the problem is no crank. Common problem is the soleniod wire to the starter. There is a connector that often gives trouble. The starter is tucked up underneath the intake manifold towards the back of the engine. Coming off the soleniod is a small wire, if I recall it's blue. Follow that wire and there should be a connector. Check it, that might be the problem.

Another way to check if that connector is the problem. Get a metal screwdriver. Short the screwdriver across the soleniod connector to the main battery cable right on the starter. Be careful that you don't short the screwdriver to the frame of the starter. If the starter cranks it's good and the problem is the connector. If no crank the starter is bad.

How do you get to it? I can't even see it. Can you get to it from underneah or do you have to remove something?

It worked. I found the blue wire and the connector was loose. Took care of that and it started right up. Thanks.

AXE IS THE MAN!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Axe, do you think the blue wire could be my cold weather delayed starting problem I had last winter? It's been working fine all summer so I forgot about it, this post reminded me. let me recap, when it's cold below 45 or 50 when I first go to start it I have to hold the key to the start position sometimes up to 20 or 30 seconds before the starter kicks in. The colder it is the longer the delay. It was a little cold this morning and It still does it.

Dennis