Car won't start sometimes

Since your CEL is lit, go to a parts house or some service center and get an OBDII scan. Don't pay for it..if they want to charge you, go someplace else. Then don't buy anything...yet. Some parts guys know what they are doing...others not so much, and if they talk you in to buying electrical parts, they can not be returned, even if never installed. Get the fault code(s) and bring them back here, one of us will be happy to help you with the most cost-effective solution.

Did you find a solution to this? My car is having the same problem

Just bought a 2013 kia rio 2 days ago. Mines doing the same thing.

Same thing happened to me... Kia rio 2013 ... in the garage now.

Here's a couple of posts from other forums regarding the same issue ..... "Hi, does the immobiliser/key light come on dash with ignition on? worth checking that light everytime you start up, if it doesn't come on then engine won't start. immobilser unit (kia call it SMARTRA unit) common fault." And a post from KIA: "More Info from Kia Tech: The immobilizer system will disable the vehicle unless the proper ignition key is used, in addition to the currently available anti-theft systems such as car alarms, the immobilizer system aims to drastically reduce the rate of auto theft. 1. SMARTRA type immobilizer A. The SMARTRA system consists of a transponder located in the ignition key, an antenna coil, a SMARTRA unit, an indicator light and the PCM(ECM). B. The SMARTRA communicates to the PCM(ECM) (Engine Control Module) via a dedicated communications line. Since the vehicle engine management system is able to control engine mobilization, it is the most suitable unit to control the SMARTRA. C. When the key is inserted in the ignition and turned to the ON position, the antenna coil sends power to the transponder in the ignition key. The transponder then sends a coded signal back through the SMARTRA unit to the PCM(ECM). D. If the proper key has been used, the PCM(ECM) will energize the fuel supply system. The immobilizer indicator light in the cluster will simultaneously come on for more than five seconds, indicating that the SMARTRA unit has recognized the code sent by the transponder. E. If the wrong key has been used and the code was not received or recognized by the PCM(ECM) the indicator light will continue blinking for about five seconds until the ignition switch is turned OFF. F. If it is necessary to rewrite the PCM(ECM) to learn a new key, the dealer needs the customer's vehicle, all its keys and the Scan tool (pro) equipped with an immobilizer program card. Any key that is not learned during rewriting will no longer start the engine. G. The immobilizer system can store up to four key codes. H. If the customer has lost his key, and cannot start the engine, contact motor service station. COMPONENTS OPERATIONS: PCM (Power Train Control Module)1. The PCM(ECM) carries out a check of the ignition key using a special encryption algorithm, which is programmed into the transponder as well as the PCM(ECM) simultaneously. Only if the results are equal, the engine can be started. The data of all transponders, which are valid for the vehicle, are stored in the PCM(ECM). - SMARTRA unit The SMARTRA carries out communication with the built-in transponder in the ignition key. This wireless communication runs on RF (Radio frequency of 125 kHz). The SMARTRA is mounted behind of the crush pad under panel close to the antenna coil for RF transmission and receiving. The RF signal from the transponder, received by the antenna coil, is converted into messages for serial communication by the SMARTRA device. And, the received messages from the PCM(ECM) are converted into an RF signal, which is transmitted to the transponder by the antenna. The SMARTRA does not carry out the validity check of the transponder or the calculation of encryption algorithm. This device is only an advanced interface, which converts the RF data flow of the transponder into serial communication to the PCM(ECM) and vice versa. TRANSPONDER (Built-in keys) The transponder has an advanced encryption algorithm. During the key teaching procedure, the transponder will be programmed with vehicle specific data. The vehicle specific data are written into the transponder memory. The write procedure is once only; therefore, the contents of the transponder can never be modified or changed. Antenna coil The antenna coil (A) has the following functions. - The antenna coil supplies energy to the transponder. - The antenna coil receives signal from the transponder. - The antenna coil sends transponder signal to the SMARTRA. It is located directly in front of the steering handle lock."

My 2012 KIA RIO has just started having the same issue. I put the key in and go to turn it and the radio and lights switch on but the engine doesn't come on. Mine turns on once I put it into drive then try turn the key again it turns on. Just wondering if anyone had some answers from when they took theirs to get fixed??

My Kia won't start the battery is new the starter is fine new fuel pump and filter what can be wrong?

Is anyone knows what is it? My Kia Rio 2012 did the same thing. Mostly at night and when I’m not home!! I try to turn it on, it turns on but turns off right after... It’s not the battery nor the starter, I even had weeks ago my check engine turned on and When my car got tested on that, I knew it was the knock sensor. So.. I replaced it, and a week later this is the 2nd time in 2 days. Usually I have to wait 15,20 min and try again and it works but yesterday it took 2h30 and I had already call a toing. I really don’t know what to do, this car cost me so much money until now....

I recently have been having the same problem. on top of my engine now not turning on right away though, I have been loosing power while driving, the engine docent feel like its picking up speed as quickly as it was (or does miraculously sometimes). I recently got the timing belt changed,(apparently a common issue for 2009 kia rios) and the catalytic converter and the problem went away for a couple of weeks, but has since returned. along with the check engine light.

Same problem with my 2013 Kia...put it from Park to drive back to park and it worked. Don't know if it is a solution, but definitely worth trying!

My kia rio did the same thing and nobody could figure it out. Since it did it randomly with no check engine light. I ended up changing the crank position sensor and it stopped. Every year it seems to do it and i just exchange the sensor for a new one. And exchange it for free since the sensor has a 1 year warranty. Hopefully this helps somebody.

I have a 2013 KIA Rio Rio and I had the same starting issue as the first few people had. Somtimes it would start and sometimes it would not. It was not the battery. I took it to my mechanic who said o immediately that it was the starter. He was right but it cost me 500 dollars. I thought it was strange that the starter would go so fast. The car had very low mileage when I bought it from a dealership last December I got a really good deal on it. Way cheaper than a no frills 2014 Rio -as in not even power windows- that was for sale. I really think there is a Factory defect in the 2912 and 2013 Kia Rio. This explains the low price. After reading these posts-I am convinced that the starter in 2012 and 2013 is defective. I had a 2001 PT Cruiser and I didn’t have any problems with it Sold it in 2015 to upgrade.

We had an on again/off again problem with our 2009 Sportage and it was a communication problem between the chip in the key and the immobilizer/something or other in the ignition/steering column! Unless the icon of a car showed on the dash upon attempting to start, it would not start. Once the part was replaced in the steering column (cheap fix) all has been good.

I have a similar problem, though I find it occurs soon after I have used the car. For instance, when trying to start my car after filling up petrol or popping into the shop. When it struggles to start it makes a clicking noise. Mine also is a 2012 Kia Rio.

2013 Kia Rio of mine has had multiple problems ever since I’ve made the purchase. First my radio stopped working which followed by my side view mirror folding capabilities. Shortly after that my check engine light came on for a knock sensor code that I was eventually told was due to a needed fuel injection. Now my car is having problems with starting as the car alarm goes off once I’ve turned my key in the ignition. Can anyone give me some help or possible solutions to any of these problems I’ve been having? Please email cdjenki@bgsu.edu

You need a new battery that happened to me with my KIA Optima.

Has anyone gone to the next step and cintacted Kia directly? There are definitely enough people with same issue. Definitely a manufacturer defect. Im not good at dealing with businesses or i would have done it already. I am dreading it. But i have already spent over a thousand dollars with no resolution. Im going to have to do it. Please, someone save me?

Just wanted to post that I had a similar issue and called Kia about it as well as the dealership. Nobody could figure out why it was occasionally not starting. Finally brought it to a place with excellent diagnostic tools. They discovered the neutral safety switch was not set correctly. It had come out of spec and so was thinking the car was in reverse sometimes even when it was set in park. They were able to adjust the cable that leads to the switch and all has been good since.

Today 8th November 2018..issue with a manual 1.4 Kia Rio 2011 model.. sometimes start..sometimes not.... This was being caused by a sensor that sits under the clutch pedal which tells the car the pedal is depressed prior to starting, i think it moved a tiny bit so sometimes wouldn't acknowledge that the pedal was pressed down ...!!! something to check on if you're having intermitant starting issues....!!

I also I gave Kia Rio 2012 sometimes I had it for about 8 months once it got cold out it started to have this starting problem I would have to turn the key serval times to get it to start I changed the battery and thought about taking it to a mechanic shop but I don’t want to waste money on this car then it’s some things with when I turn my bright lights on my radio clicks off everyone comments sound very similar alike this make me never want to buy a Kia again this is ridiculous

This same issues is happening with me did You find out the reason why ??!?

I had the same issue, check engine light on turning key wouldn't start was told it was the nock sensor. Took it to my mechanic who said it is the noc sensor go to dealership. Went to the dealership they said they updated the sensor system left it over night with them. About a week later did the same thing, Kia Rio is a lemon.

Same problem on my Rio 2013. Definitly a manufacture defect. My starter was changed 3 years ago because of this problem. It's been OK for 2 years and then the problem came back. I don't know what to do no more... It's hard to trust Kia since it's a common problem and they don't seem to know how to solve it.

Well we all should complain to KIA cause I have a KIA 2017 with the same problems so it is time KIA will do something about it

I have a kia forte 2018. Less than a year old. It refused to open the doors with remote key. After getting into the car by opening it manually, it refused to start. Not sure what to do. The battery never gave any signal that it's low on charge. Stuck with family somewhere with a car that doesn't want to turn on. Calling service or dealers on new years Eve is a pain.

I have an update, my car would not start again, once I got it started after 20 minutes I drove to the dealership. This was the second visit in 3 months, first time they replaced the Noc sensor and this time they said it was the crank shaft sensor. They gave me 10 percent off even though I just brought it in 3 months ago for a sensor issue. They said it wasn't the same problem. It seems to be running fine now. If you have a vehicle that is running and shits off or will start sometimes and not others, it is most likely the crank shaft sensor. Hope this helps. Happy New Year!

I replace my battery I replace spark plugs I had all my engine coils change and I still have the same problem when the temperature drops low

Have the transponder check because it’s possibly something to do with that, it will sometimes have an invalid or no response signal

My wife has a 2016 KIA Rio Manual Transmission. Also happened a few times that her car would not start - put the key in, all the lights come on but it will not start. Starter would not even turn on. Long story short. I figured out that you have to depress the clutch otherwise it will NOT start. It is a safety feature in case the car is in gear. So if you have a manual transmission KIA: VERY IMPORTANT: make sure to DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL before you try to start the car. Just wish KIA made a bigger deal about this in their manuals. Would save a lot of frustration and probably money.

Hy my kia rio is doing de same thing so did u get solution

I had this problem for few weeks last summer. Brought my car to Kia garage couple times, they always changed somethings and thought it was fix but it wasn’t... Finally after 4 times I decided to let them my car, they finally fix the problem.. The key. There was a problem with the key when I tried to start the car and they also change something inside (a connection I think, then the key and the inside part together make the car starts). Sorry, trying to explain the best I can, considering the fact I don’t know anything about cars.. But since then, never had this trouble again.

i brought my 2009 rio brand new i put over 100.000 miles only problem was a new timing belt but now it sometime shut off when i make a complete stop sometimes it start right up sometimes it wont and now the radio wont come on and the check eng light come on some time not all the time. if the check eng light start to blink i just shut the car off and turn it back on.

My 2014 Kia Rio is doing the same thing. Just replaced the battery in November so I know it's not that. It seems to start just fine after sitting for 20min or longer but not after short distances.

Am also having same problem my Kia Rio 2012 won't start,if you have solution please contact me 0761156898

I got the crank shaft censor an noc sensor replaced, has not happened since

I had the same problem untill I realised you have to push the clutch in. Lool

Lorraine I have the same problem. My car wouldn’t restart if I had turned it off very recently, I would need to wait 20-30 minutes. Then it started to stop when I was coming to a junction to slow down . Now it will stop at any time . My local garage thought it needed a new key reader , put a new one in and problem is still the same . I am taking it to a Kia dealer for a diagnostic test next week. I will need to pay £95 just for the test. I think there is a specific problem with the Kia Rio. Mine is a 2011.

Same thing here to, 2011 kia picanto, It was the switch on the clutch pedal, there's a little rubber pad, it fell off because it was crushed to death and the rubber cone part that kept it in place came away from the flat part the pedal bears onto the switch, by pushing the clutch pedal down and SIDEWAYS, got it to start every time! such a simple fix to replace that little rubber part! made one out of a rubber bung cut down with a sharp blade.

Have had a problem like everyone above for about 6 months. Mechanic couldn't find a problem. Then my Kia Rio 2008 started stopping whilst driving. Thanks to the post by the person who said it was the crank shaft sensor, my husband changed it, and bingo! All good ever since. Thank you.

Crankshaft sensor...

My 2010 is doing the same thing for a while and it has been at the mechanic 3 x and they cant diognos the issue cuase they say it keeps starting for them. So back in my driveway..

Change your crankshaft sensor. It happens to my Kia every year. I literally just had the issue again and changed the sensor and now it’s working.

Please for the people that have this issue. Change the crankshaft position sensor. It’s $71.99 in GA USA. I promise if your car won’t start or cuts off when you slow down to turn or stop. Or has a hard tim starting after putting in gas. This sensor is the issue and it rarely shows a check engine light.

I bought my daughter a new 2019 Kia Rio. She has had the same issue. She turns the key and lights come on but no start. We took it ti Kia and they kept it a week and could not duplicate the issue. They said they started it 100 times and it started every time. We picked it up and still do not know the problem.

@thetigerman see my post about the crank sensor. I would bet that’s the issue. Because that’s how mine starts to act when the sensor is bad.

I'm sure now it's not just my Kia that's got problems anybody know of a good auto garage near me in Banbury help!

I have a 2014 Kia Rio that has had this intermittent starting issue for a few years. At first I thought it was the battery, so in Jan 2019 I bought a new battery. The issue went away...or so we thought. The intermittent starting continued. The car seemed to start when I charged it up and intermittent when not charging. I bought another battery Nov 2019. Same issues and took this battery in today, Sept 11 2020, to our local store and the battery is rated for 550 amps and was putting out over 600 and read 12.5 volts. Nothing wrong with the battery. When I let the agent know what was happening, he said maybe its a battery terminal or terminal connection problem, but the terminals on the battery I brought in he said were mint. What he said struck me that when the charger was on the car, the car started but when the charger was removed, the issues continued. If the battery terminals were clean, maybe the clamps were dirty. i checked them and they seemed clean as well. I thoroughly cleaned the battery terminal and terminal clamps and reassembled and car starts every time. Aside from above, I thought it may have been the coil antenna in the ignition switch but the yellow car with the key logo on the dash came up each time which means the car is detecting the right key. Fingers crossed the fix continues.

My 2002 kia cerato had the same problem,i just checked all fuses,sparks,sensors needed cleaning as their was a little oil but was not the problem .so i checked behind clutch pedal and their was a broken plastic piece that originally is supposed to push in a button to enable the car to start when clutch was compressed.try checking that button push it in by hand and start the car then release i hope this helps all thanks

For my last post and photo their was no connection between the clutch pedal and the button as a plastic fragile piece broke off from the back off my pedal

Further to my post about a month ago, the issue still persisted and since then I took the car to the dealership and they discovered the car had, from the previous owner, a device called PassTime. These units get installed into high risk borrowers vehicles when they are purchased and it allows the car to be tracked and also the ignition to be disabled. The unit that was in our car was defective which was affecting the starting of the car and so now that it has been removed, the car has starts flawlessly every time.

I have a 2012 Kia Rio. At times when the shift mechanism is in park, the ignition won't start. It's not the battery. SOLUTION: Shift to neutral, turn key and it will start. Sometimes, the shift mechanism doesn't catch all the way while in Park.

I would like to thank Thedezz18 and those who confirmed his suggestion. I was having this issue too and googling it lead me to this page. Auto technicians at Canadian Tire couldn't figure out what was wrong with my 2013 kia rio vehicle because the they couldn't pick up any codes when they plugged it in. I decided to take the plunge over 3 weeks ago and took it an auto technician friend to help me have the crank shaft sensor replaced. Ever since that job was done, the car hasn't failed to start. So thank you to those who suggested this resolution. Saved me some cash and a whole lot headache over the issue.

If you are having trouble starting your car, change the battery in the key fob. This happen to my car and Hubby changed the key fob battery. and this fixed the problem.