I would still at least pull the plugs and take a look. After that I would try pulling each wire plug by plug to see if there is a non-firing cylinder. I'm not sure how well that will work with the plug wire being integral with the coils for two of the cylinders though. I'm sure the coils use their mount as a ground as well. I think they were just talking about a parts store scan.
I'm not here to be "right". All I'm saying is that the "throwing parts at a problem" method can get expensive. All I want is for Xav to get his car fixed correctly and as cheaply as possible. It is my belief that the problem should be found first and foremost before "fixing" it. You can plug the car in or test the coils or slap on parts until it's fixed....whatever.
This poor Kia is a 2003 Optima with the 2.4 engine right?? Coil packs look to be about 80 bucks at Advance Brothers. And I bet the poor little Kia takes 4 of them being a 4 cylinder? Not an item to buy to "see" if it'll fix the problem.
Which is why it would be a great idea to do some diagnostic work first. I would get onto a Kia forum and ask around there. I'm sure they'll be able to better direct you on specifics than us. You can have codes read for free and they may even test your coils for free if you are nice at the parts store. I would research first how to test the coils because more than likely the parts store guy won't know how. All you'll need is a VOM to get started.
Guys... I understand finding the real problem. It has been a constant factor with this car and its health. Yes it is a 2003 KIA Optima 2.4L 4 cylinder. I know that at one point the only mechanic I trust in the whole area said that one of them seemed like it was going out. Now my near constant ignorance of the the weird complexities of how each part can effect or cause to affect a problem never seems to shrink because the more I learn the more I found out there is a lot I don't know or understand. For me, The coil pack seems like the most likely culprit. I am going to take the car tomorrow over to O'Reilly's since tomorrow I don't have to go anywhere or do anything else. I spent the early half of today walking around Joplin. I have been sweating my @$$ off, my joints are killing me, and we had to overdraw my bank account, again, to cover our potential costs to fix the car...
Do some research on a Kia forum before you go to the parts store. These guys are not typically trained to diagnose cars at all. Basically what you are trying to do is diagnose your car using their tools. You'll want to have as much knowledge about how to do that as possible before you go. I'm guessing an hour or two on a Kia forum will help you with the diagnosis part as well as lead to other potential areas to look.
Xav. I would check those few things that you can check yourself before taking it down to O'reilley's. NY had some good points. Check as many of those as you can. If it is one of those issues he mentioned and you need to unplug one of the wires before driving it to prevent any further damage. If you can't then you just need the free scan. But unless the cables are cooked on you should be able to check them pretty easily.
Long story really short... I drank a couple beers and just did my first sparkplug change. Swapped all 4 and it starts, runs, and drives great. I still need to do the o2 sensors but I cant yet. Thanks everybody for your help. The KIA lives!
This just shows the power of beer! And changing the plugs was probably the cheapest thing that could have been done. When you get a chance you probably should make sure the plug wires are okay. And if you find a junk yard with decent coil packs it wouldn't hurt to pick up a few. Oh, stop and get another six pack too! By the way, don't be pulling a silverfox at some deserted backroad. Don't think the Kia would live thru 145MPH------or you!
No high speed chases! Save the brewskis for after the work is done for Kia sake. Glad the Kia is feeling better.
You can call me anytime brother I'm glad I could help in some way, really awesome talking to you today, brings a whole new demention to this whole thing. Next I'm getting Cat, Fox and Mikes numbers!:2_thumbs_up_-_anima
See, you get a bunch of guys on the internet together and we imagine all kinds of things that can go wrong. Ususally plugs just don't fail. You'll be a mechanic in no time. You saved yourself a butt load of money. Congrats.
