Q: I recently bought a 2003 Kia spectra with 144k miles on it. It ran fine till one day I started and the check engine light came on

asked by on May 23, 2017

I had check engine light come on and it was rough idling and misfiring. Drove 2 miles to get a scan done. Was told the 3 cylinder was not firing. Replaced plugs. Light is gone but now it lopes at idle. Should I go on ahead and replace coil packs and wires. Or should I go straight to timing belt. As far as I know it hasn't never been replaced. Checked air filter and it's clean. Didn't have this problem till all the sudden.

My car has 144000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

97 Honda Accord makes pulls while turning
First thing you want to do is jack the car up in the air, pull on the wheels and see if anything's worn out. A lot of times the tie rods are worn out and they wobble so change that....
Car stalls when it is heated up
These vehicles have a lot of issues with the wiring modules and harness connectors. The pins and connectors are really small and can loose contact really easily. The reason the MAF and fuel pump is going bad is not the...
Hard shifting when engine warms up
Hello there, many different things that can cause the transmission to shift hard. The most common causes include: low fluid level, shift solenoids (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-shift-interlock-solenoid), torque converter, or the transmission linkage. If you decide to get this fixed, consider enlisting a...
The car cannot start, oil pan dented, lost oil pressure
Hello there, there are a few problems that could result in the loss of oil pressure and not being able to start. If the pan was hit in the right place it may have interfered with the oil pickup. The...
there some oil dropping down from the acclerator pedal also engine there a noise thought it was exhaust but got that checked out
Hello. Thank you for writing in. The first thing you want to do it's find the cause of the oil leak (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/oil-fluid-leak-inspection), and make the appropriate repairs. The leak coming from the accelerator is likely coming down that pedal from...
oil pressure light came on shut engine I add pint of oil no light yet
If the oil level is low, oil should be added until the level reaches the full mark on the oil dipstick (no higher though). Adding oil to the full line on the dipstick will give you a safety margin just...
Low rpm idle
Since you had the battery disconnected the computer needs to relearn the idle again. I would recommend having the throttle body cleaned and then the throttle relearn process done so the idle can stabilize and be relearned by the computer....
When turning left or right clinking noise in the front.
Lift the hood and have someone turn the wheel back and forth while you feel the top of the strut under the hood and listen and feel for the upper strut bearings making noise. They may need to be replaced....

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Kia Optima
Kia Kia hasn’t always had the best reputation. In fact, for years the Korean automaker was known for making cheap vehicles that didn’t last. Today, though, that reputation has drastically changed, thanks in large part to the 2012 Kia Optima....
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Live in a Rainy Area
When When considering purchasing a used car, you have a lot of decisions to make. You need to consider price, size, gas mileage, how much cargo space you need, and of course the appearance of the car as well. And...
The Best Used Cars to Buy for First Time Car Owners
Owning Owning your very first car is an exciting time in a person’s life. Likely you want to put a lot of thought and research into the process to ensure you get something that meets your needs, is fun to...