Scotty, I bought a 2009 Kia Rio ( Manual transmission ) to drive during the week to work. Wanted to reduce the mileage on my truck. I paid $10800 from a dealership when the car had 29,000 miles in June 2011.
The car has 99,000 miles on it now. I've had some issues with it, but the problems have been fairly easy and inexpensive to fix. Now the starter is going out. It hasn't completely gone out. When I turn the ignition it makes a sound like the starter isn't engaging with the flywheel. At first, it would do it every four or five starts. Now it does it all the time, but after the third time of hitting the starter it finally starts up. Watched Youtube videos on this starter problem, takes about 30 minutes to replace the starter. However, most videos I've seen the starter doesn't even crank at all, they turn the ignition and nothing, like the car battery is dead.
Could it be my starter or the fact that this car is a manual tranny and you have press the clutch down for the car to start. Oh by the way, I think this a Mitsubishi transmission in this car, could I be correct? What is your experience with Hyundai / Kia sub compact cars years 2008 - 2012? Thanks Eric Jones
There is a lock out switch attached to the clutch pedal that prevents the engine from being started until the clutch is disengaged, even in neutral. Either replace the switch or jump wire it so it's inoperative.
The Kia Rio is not one of the best cars on the road. The transmission is also not the best. For the starter question- I would replace the starter.
