2003 Kia Spectra cranks slowly and won't start when engine hot.

40

Asked by Doug Apr 13, 2012 at 10:18 PM about the 2003 Kia Spectra Base

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Things replaced/checked: Battery, alternator, starter, timing belt, thermostat, coolant temp switch. Starts normally once the engine is cool or barely warm. If the engine is hot from running in traffic, it will only start if the hood's been up for 30 minutes or more.

1 Answer
80

Andrei answered 12 years ago

Your engine has Oil jets that spray on the cylinders. these are not working most likely sluge in the jets. Your pistons get too hot with lack of oil and expand inside the cylinders so this is going to be very expensive to fix and the damage done so far is most likely really bad. Try a engine sluge flush mix but do not drive the car just rev for a few minutes then drain and put oil back in. This may not help as the sluge from other places in the engine will get loose and may clog other stuff. By now your piston rings and pistons are so burnt up you most likely have lower than recommended compression.

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