kia check engine light troubleshooting as text on image of check engine light indicator

What Does It Mean When the Check Engine Light Appears in my Kia?

Kia Check Engine Light Troubleshooting

.07 watts

That’s how much power the average LED light, used for the check engine indicator on your instrument console, uses. Unfortunately, it has a lot more power than that – the power to completely rob you of your peace-of-mind.

It’s true, really nothing can ruin your day and immediately pull up anxiety like your check engine light. The fact that one light can indicate a number of problems, ranging in severity from “No big deal, I’ll get it fixed before the next presidential election” to “Call a tow truck 10 minutes ago!” is nerve-wracking.

Compounding this anxiety, the fact that most automotive repairs to drive train or power train are not known for their inexpensiveness makes seeing the check engine light feel like discovering a hole in your wallet that is draining your money into a dark dimension.

The good news? It’s often not that bad.

How Bad is the Check Engine Light on Kia Cars?

A solid check engine light is usually no cause for panic. The indicator is triggered when your Kia’s on-board computer (ECU – Electronic Control Unit) finds something out of the normal with its usual function. When it discovers a problem, it records it using a diagnostic code.

Although accessing and diagnosing that code should be done at your local Kia-certified service center, many auto parts stores, such as Auto-Zone or O’Reilly’s will read the code and help diagnose the problem at no cost.

Often, you’ll find that the source problem of a solid check engine light indicator is actually fairly inexpensive to repair. The most common problems are a loose gas cap (didn’t tighten to the click when you refilled your KIA), or a spark plug that needs to be replaced (again, a fairly inexpensive repair).

It can indicate more expensive problems like a mass airflow sensor, but it will still be safe to drive the car to a service center to have this diagnosed and estimated.

man filling up his car with gas

Flashing Check Engine Light on a Kia Car

>>|||<< IT IS NOT SAFE TO OPERATE A VEHICLE WITH A FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT >>|||<<

Here’s where we have to be less positive and uplifting. A flashing check engine indicator is always cause for concern. It means some function necessary for your vehicle’s continued driving and operation has been damaged and is in need of immediate repair. Since cars are complicated machines with over 2,000 parts needing to function in synchronicity, you should never continue to drive a vehicle with a flashing check engine light.

When it is safe, pull over and call a tow truck, have your vehicle taken to the nearest Kia-certified service center. Failure to heed this warning could lead to your engine experiencing catastrophic failure.

Lucky for all Kia drivers, the on-board diagnostics and repair systems are getting better and better every year. The 2018 Kia Sorento, for instance, features a number of important features that make driving safer than ever.


[2018 Kia Sorento Safety Features]


If you have questions about safety in your Kia, or are in need of a diagnostic check, contact us today! We’d love to help.


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