One of the most critical engine components in your Kia Optima is the alternator. If you suspect that you have alternator problems, it’s something that should be dealt with before you end up stranded somewhere. Your Optima’s battery will not be able to keep the accessories and engine systems running for long without a properly … Read more
If your Kia Optima is stuck in Park, the odds are that you’re not stranded. We’ve made this guide to quickly help you get back on the road if your car doesn’t shift into gear. Most vehicles with an automatic transmission have a linkage that connects the gear selector to the transmission. Recently, more vehicles … Read more
One of the most common issues your Kia Optima is likely to develop is a stalling problem. The most challenging part of diagnosing a stalling problem is reproducing the conditions that led to the stall in the first place. Stalls can happen at any time, and it can be incredibly jarring when it does happen. Before … Read more
It can be very jarring when your Kia Optima shakes when idle. If your Optima has this problem, many issues can cause it. We’ve lined out some of the most common causes below. The most common reasons a vehicle shakes when idling is a misfire or bad motor mount. Table of Contents Kia Optima Shaking … Read more
Your Kia Optima’s service engine soon light is there to let you know that some sort of problem has been detected with the vehicle. Any vehicles made in 1996 or newer use OBDII codes, which can easily be retrieved from a good code scanner. A flashing service engine soon light is telling you that something … Read more
Your Kia Optima‘s brake light indicator is there to inform you of an issue with your car’s brake system. It is a light different from the anti-lock brake system, which has its own ABS warning light. The brake light indicates a problem with the physical braking system itself. Check the Emergency Brake First If you … Read more
If you own a Kia Optima and it’s idling rough, you may be feeling frustrated. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common causes of a rough idle in the Optima and how to fix the problem. The most common cause of a rough idle is misfiring. What an Engine Needs to … Read more
Your Kia Optima’s ABS Light comes on when it fails a self-diagnostic cycle. When on, it indicates that your car does not have Anti-Lock brakes and the safety they provide. Your Optima’s ABS system uses a system of sensors to determine wheel speed when braking. If one of the wheels starts to lock up, it’ll … Read more
One of the most annoying things that can happen when we are driving our vehicles is when we get the reduced engine power light. Most of the time, reduced engine power doesn’t make commuting home possible since the max speed your Kia Optima will reach is not going to be enough to keep you … Read more
Black smoke coming from your Kia Optima’s exhaust is definitely a concerning problem. Different colored exhaust can mean different things. Black smoke is typically of greater concern than white smoke. Dark black smoke coming from the exhaust of your Optima indicates that there could be a serious engine problem, and indicates that the air/fuel mixture … Read more