Q: Kia Rio cranks but stutters, revs high but won't accelerate

asked by on May 21, 2016

Even though my car 'will' crank, the car stutters when it does. It revs very high and won't accelerate. I can't get the gear shift to go past 2nd gear. What is causing this? I really need your help - thank you!!

Engine idle speed is high Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

This is not a common complaint and I would speculate the engine has a major vacuum leak or a mass air tube leak between the throttle body and the sensor.

I can only recommend having a mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, run a diagnostic on the high idle speed condition, which would include checking the computer and the items I mentioned.

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

How do I adjust the lumbar support on the bucket seats?
Lumbar support is a convenient feature that makes long trips much more comfortable. Proper lumbar support makes the seat more evenly support the passenger. In a truck with manual bucket seats, the lumbar support is adjusted by spinning a 5-pointed...
Car has problems starting.
This code means that there is a configuration problem with your instrument cluster module. This could mean that the instrument cluster module was not reprogrammed after installation. I would contact the shop where you had the work done and ask...
Hesitation, stumbles, and sometimes stalls when accelerating
Hi there, thanks for writing in. It looks as if you've covered almost all of the bases. The only thing that I could think of without being there to complete a diagnostic inspection is that perhaps the idle control valve...
Car won't start after driving without the cap on the antifreeze.
Hi there. From the description you have provided, antifreeze getting on the alternator would not keep the engine from turning over unless the battery was low. The alternator (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/alternator-replacement) could have been compromised by the antifreeze, if your vehicle was...
How much horsepower does my car have, and what is the correct tire pressure?
Hi there. According to the factory, your 2009 Jeep Wrangler with the 3.8L V-6 engine has 202 horsepower. The recommended tire pressure for your vehicle, assuming it's a Rubicon edition, would be 37 lbs of pressure on all four tires....
Gear shift is broken off. The car is stuck in park and cannot be moved - 2002 Ford Explorer
Hello. If your vehicle's shifter was broken, then it will need to be replaced before the vehicle can be driven again. Once the shifter is replaced, I would also recommend taking care of the issue that is requiring you to...
The car stalls occasionally as if the fuel is not been pumped
It sounds like you may have a fuel supply issue that corresponds to the load put on the motor when you turn the A/C on. This may be related to a faulty MAP sensor. The Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor...
No hot air inside the cabinet ? Unbalanced air temperature comes from outlets 2010 Toyota Prius
Hi - your symptoms suggest the air blend doors (https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/blend-doors-not-working-properly) in the heater air control box are not selecting the right proportion of heated air. This may possibly be aggravated by an engine that is not completely up to running...
Interior lights work but car won't start and power locks won't work 97 Honda passport
You possibly have a dead battery. Batteries that are "partly" dead can often still run lights, dash lights and so forth but will not have enough power to run the starter motor and start the car. The very first thing...

Related articles

Starter or Car Battery: How to Diagnose Which Part is Bad?
A dead car battery is a common cause for a car not starting condition. A faulty car starter motor can have similar symptoms, but the fix is different.
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...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Distributor Rotor and Cap
Common signs include engine misfires, car not starting, the Check Engine Light coming on, and excessive or unusual engine noises.