The 2000 KIA sportage EX SUV is dying......... it seems it may be the fuel filter or fuel pump. It has, for the past 4 months, been having trouble starting. I have had to try up to 10X to get it to start. Yesterday was no problem starting. It has it's start days and off start days.

The battery is fine. Soon I will be taking it in for winterization.

Looking into getting the part for the vehicle at Part Source. One of the folks there has the exact vehicle as me and he is having the same problem with his KIA too.

I have been looking around online but have stopped since I do not have a down payment, so will have to save.

Any suggestions for a new SUV that is not expensive, reasonable priced??

Any suggestions about getting a used SUV??

I do not want a small SUV.

Sometimes I just want to take this thing out to a field and blow it up

Do plenty of research, plenty...

I rely on these guys...

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/ - best for reviews.

http://jalopnik.com/ - just an informative blog.

A good 4 part series... PART 1

you mentioned that you do NOT want a small SUV - so maybe this is all for naught ... i really know little about the kia sportage - i think that is kinda simlar to a ford explorer in size ...

i was just goin to say I have a honda crv , which i jokingly say is my "disposable car" . I got it with like 67K on it for like 10K and I am constantly amazed at how when you put the key in , it just starts and generally NEVER takes any $$$$$ . (ok i said that now and somethin horrible will happen in the next few weeks ) .

I have never washed it . I have never put any $$$ into it . It has 134 on it now .

I have friends who have Honda Pilot , but I think they are kinda expensive , more like 15k - 20k used of course .

I need a smaller car for all the running i do . I also have a FOrd Explorer , older style . 02 . It keeps kickin and has around 130K on it .

NOt sure that helps . I have always been a VW fan , but i wouldnt recommend anything of theirs at this point lol . They really dont make a SUV that i consider competitive ...

FOrd has an escape that might be reasonable for ya , if you can deal with the size .... and the edge , which some people really like . The explorer new style I cant get used to .

The Toyota 4 runner I loved for years - thought that would be my next SUV ... but they have a 6 cylinder which really doesnt help me with gas milliage ...

ok . that was just my lil car thing lol .

Luv, I don't know ALOT about cars, but I don't think that the fuel pump is enough to make you dispose of the car.

What's the mileage on it?

Are there OTHER issues that make you want to get a new one?

PurpleJedi said:

Luv, I don't know ALOT about cars, but I don't think that the fuel pump is enough to make you dispose of the car.

What's the mileage on it?

Are there OTHER issues that make you want to get a new one?

I was gonna post something similar but why deny someone the joy of a new/used car... kick that clunker to the curb!!

besides, if the damn thing runs well enough you'll get good trade-in value...

PurpleJedi said:

Luv, I don't know ALOT about cars, but I don't think that the fuel pump is enough to make you dispose of the car.

What's the mileage on it?

Are there OTHER issues that make you want to get a new one?

I can live with getting a 1 - 2 year old used SUV.

It is 12 years old. During cold weather the release button on the break won't depress, so I cannot shift into reverse right away. I have to have my foot on the break and 'pump' the release button with my fingers for up to 20 minutes or more (depending on how cold winter is). Even now, it is starting up again, I have to pump it with my finger till it releases. During warm or hot weather, no problem, instant release.

It is falling apart. It is a lemon, unfortunately

2 Summers ago it got broken into, reported it to the police, they took info, etc. Someone popped the right door lock. It will cost me over $100.00 just for some one to take the door panel apart (and that is not including parts and labour) and retrieve the lock and then seeing if the lock is ok. So I am using a club on the steering wheel.

The built in car alarm goes off in winter when I would unlock the door (drivers side). The dealer changed the lock on the front passenger side, so I have 2 different keys, one for driver door and the other door, well I don't need that key as the locked was popped I have no idea why the idiot changed to a diff. lock, but I feel I got taken

There is a major leak.

The theromstat, bought a new one from Part Source this summer. It does the same as the other one. In hot weather during idle in bumper to bumber traffic, the temp guage goes up. I have had to drive fast and or pull over while I feel/hear the bubbling going on.

It is not worth throwing money into anymore. I just keep the general maintenance up so it will run from A to B. Battery check, change of oil, fluids topped up, etc.

Hence the reason I want to take it out to a field and blow it up

luv4u said:

PurpleJedi said:

Luv, I don't know ALOT about cars, but I don't think that the fuel pump is enough to make you dispose of the car.

What's the mileage on it?

Are there OTHER issues that make you want to get a new one?

I can live with getting a 1 - 2 year old used SUV.

It is 12 years old. During cold weather the release button on the break won't depress, so I cannot shift into reverse right away. I have to have my foot on the break and 'pump' the release button with my fingers for up to 20 minutes or more (depending on how cold winter is). Even now, it is starting up again, I have to pump it with my finger till it releases. During warm or hot weather, no problem, instant release.

It is falling apart. It is a lemon, unfortunately

2 Summers ago it got broken into, reported it to the police, they took info, etc. Someone popped the right door lock. It will cost me over $100.00 just for some one to take the door panel apart (and that is not including parts and labour) and retrieve the lock and then seeing if the lock is ok. So I am using a club on the steering wheel.

The built in car alarm goes off in winter when I would unlock the door (drivers side). The dealer changed the lock on the front passenger side, so I have 2 different keys, one for driver door and the other door, well I don't need that key as the locked was popped I have no idea why the idiot changed to a diff. lock, but I feel I got taken

There is a major leak.

The theromstat, bought a new one from Part Source this summer. It does the same as the other one. In hot weather during idle in bumper to bumber traffic, the temp guage goes up. I have had to drive fast and or pull over while I feel/hear the bubbling going on.

It is not worth throwing money into anymore. I just keep the general maintenance up so it will run from A to B. Battery check, change of oil, fluids topped up, etc.

Hence the reason I want to take it out to a field and blow it up

In that case, I can tell you that my parents had a bad experience trying to get a new car/SUV.

The people at the Toyota dealership near my mom's job pretty much bent over backwards to get them into a car they wanted and could afford.

They bought a brand-new RAV-4 and they LOVE it.

Check out what features you want and which ones you NEED. You may very well be able to afford a NEW car for only a couple of dollars more than a used one.

Also - if getting used, don't forget to ask for the CARFAX!!!

Good luck-!

my husband and i are planning to buy a new car in spring of next year, so we've already started planning ahead, saving up a down payment. and test driving cars we think might be good for our family. my main thing is having a car with a good warranty. the car we have right now is a kia, and it's been a great car, we've had it for over 6 years, it has over 100,000 miles on it. it's never had any major repairs that's been needed. and it just passed it's smog test, so we're thinking about buying another kia of some sort.

i hope you're able to find something that will work well for your family. i don't know much about cars, i wish i could be more help.

PurpleJedi said:

luv4u said:

I can live with getting a 1 - 2 year old used SUV.

It is 12 years old. During cold weather the release button on the break won't depress, so I cannot shift into reverse right away. I have to have my foot on the break and 'pump' the release button with my fingers for up to 20 minutes or more (depending on how cold winter is). Even now, it is starting up again, I have to pump it with my finger till it releases. During warm or hot weather, no problem, instant release.

It is falling apart. It is a lemon, unfortunately

2 Summers ago it got broken into, reported it to the police, they took info, etc. Someone popped the right door lock. It will cost me over $100.00 just for some one to take the door panel apart (and that is not including parts and labour) and retrieve the lock and then seeing if the lock is ok. So I am using a club on the steering wheel.

The built in car alarm goes off in winter when I would unlock the door (drivers side). The dealer changed the lock on the front passenger side, so I have 2 different keys, one for driver door and the other door, well I don't need that key as the locked was popped I have no idea why the idiot changed to a diff. lock, but I feel I got taken

There is a major leak.

The theromstat, bought a new one from Part Source this summer. It does the same as the other one. In hot weather during idle in bumper to bumber traffic, the temp guage goes up. I have had to drive fast and or pull over while I feel/hear the bubbling going on.

It is not worth throwing money into anymore. I just keep the general maintenance up so it will run from A to B. Battery check, change of oil, fluids topped up, etc.

Hence the reason I want to take it out to a field and blow it up

In that case, I can tell you that my parents had a bad experience trying to get a new car/SUV.

The people at the Toyota dealership near my mom's job pretty much bent over backwards to get them into a car they wanted and could afford.

They bought a brand-new RAV-4 and they LOVE it.

Check out what features you want and which ones you NEED. You may very well be able to afford a NEW car for only a couple of dollars more than a used one.

Also - if getting used, don't forget to ask for the CARFAX!!!

Good luck-!

Yes, thank you, will do that as well as checking the VIN number and mechanic look over, IF I go the 'used' route.

Will compare new and used prices as well.

I can't be of much help, I can't stand trucks and can't understand people wanting them.

But the overheating doesn't sound like a thermostat, probably something else in the cooling system

paintsprayer said:

I can't be of much help, I can't stand trucks and can't understand people wanting them.

But the overheating doesn't sound like a thermostat, probably something else in the cooling system

If you are right, then there is no point throwing money into this dying thing.

paintsprayer said:

I can't be of much help, I can't stand trucks and can't understand people wanting them.

But the overheating doesn't sound like a thermostat, probably something else in the cooling system

By "trucks" do you mean SUV's?

If so...you apparently have never travelled with kids.

PurpleJedi said:

paintsprayer said:

I can't be of much help, I can't stand trucks and can't understand people wanting them.

But the overheating doesn't sound like a thermostat, probably something else in the cooling system

By "trucks" do you mean SUV's?

If so...you apparently have never travelled with kids.

I had 3 young ones, for a little while we had a mini van (bleh), usually a car was fine.

luv4u said:

paintsprayer said:

I can't be of much help, I can't stand trucks and can't understand people wanting them.

But the overheating doesn't sound like a thermostat, probably something else in the cooling system

If you are right, then there is no point throwing money into this dying thing.

I would start with a coolant flush and making sure the electric fan is kicking on when needed.

paintsprayer said:

luv4u said:

If you are right, then there is no point throwing money into this dying thing.

I would start with a coolant flush and making sure the electric fan is kicking on when needed.

The fan seems to work