Engine Control System in KIA – Errors And Ways To Solve

If you own a KIA car, you may have already seen an error that says "Engine Control System - Possible Engine Condition". This is a scary message, but the first thing we want to say in this article - don't worry! Yes, this may mean that something is wrong with the electric part of the engine, but usually, it means you will have to go to the dealer and spend one or two hours drinking coffee in their lounge zone.

However, the problem may be more serious. Today, we are going to dig deeper and investigate the cases when your KIA may send you a message saying that something is wrong with the engine in your car. At the end of the article, you will know what to do and how to react when you see this message.

Here's what we are going to talk about:

• KIA engine problem message - when can you see it?
• The most popular problems that happen with modern KIA engines.
• The longevity of the modern KIA cars and mainly engines.
• How to deal with the error "Engine Control System"?

Let's get started!

Why does this message appear on your dashboard?

The second part of the message causes more panic than the first one. When you read "Engine Control System", you think about the ECU module or some sensors. But then KIA engineers added a phrase that may cause panic - "Possible Engine Condition". And now you start thinking about the engine itself.

If the message appears when your vehicle already has 150,000 miles on the clock, you will immediately think about changing your car and buying a new one. But very often KIA throws this message when it has extremely low mileage. Something like 5000 miles or 20,000 miles. What can it mean then? A manufacturer's mistake?

Here's what can go wrong:

• All kinds of sensors in your engine may trigger this message on the dashboard of your vehicle. The sensors start malfunctioning which changes the way the engine works, the ECU registers problems and throws the message.
• Bad fuel may also be the reason why this message appears. When you have really poor-quality fuel in the tank, it is ignited badly and doesn't always push the cylinders. When the cylinder isn't pushed, the ECU registers problems.
• The clogged filters may be the reason for the problem. Clogged filters don't send the needed amount of fuel and/or air to the combustion chamber. This causes bad air-fuel mixture and problems with engine work.
• Some problems with the ECU may also be the reason why your engine control unit starts throwing those messages. Maybe, it was hit, overheated, or got into the water.
• Also, any other problems with the engine that are measured by sensors may be the reason why your ECU throws this message on the dashboard.

You shouldn't be scared. It doesn't mean that you will need to find a new engine. In most cases, you will just need to visit the dealer (or any other specialized service station) and order diagnostics. With the help of some special electronic equipment, these guys will tell you for sure what's going on with your engine.

Fortunately, in 95% of cases, the problem will not be very bad and expensive to solve. But still, you should remember some bad signs that come with messages of that type. For example, if you're your car goes crazy when the message appears, this means that the problem is more dangerous.

The most common problems that trigger the message

You may have heard that KIA vehicles are pretty long-lasting and reliable. But we are talking about the average vehicle, not about every KIA car. Sometimes, these Korean cars start malfunctioning long before they reach 100,000 miles.

Electronics are the first thing that may go wrong with these vehicles. You shouldn't think that Korean electronics is easy and cheap to repair.

Here's what you should pay attention to when you see the "Engine Control System" error:

• mass airflow sensor - one of the biggest problems in all engine electronics in KIA cars;
• throttle sensors - KIA offers a lot of types of these sensors, and each one can be malfunctioning or damaged;
• throttle sensors wiring - one more problem that is common for a lot of Korean vehicles;
• engine sensors like a crankshaft position sensor and many others - they may malfunction at low mileage;
• spark plugs - they usually live long, but when they malfunction, this message may appear;
• ignition coils - again, they are long-lasting and reliable, but the time will come and they will die;
• fuel pump - when the engine doesn't have optimal fuel pressure, it will trigger some messages;
• air intake problems - again, this will change the air-fuel mixture quality, so it will throw the message.

As you see, a lot of problems may happen with your KIA. So, you will not be able to locate the problem by yourself unless you have some special equipment for this.

By the way, some shops and sites now sell compact diagnostics modules that will decode the errors and help you understand what's going on with your cars. They may really help in such a situation. But you still better go to a specialist who knows what to do.

Can you drive when you see this error message?

Well, it's not necessary to immediately stop your car and turn off the engine. It's recommended to do so in those cases only when your KIA experiences a set of other problems and symptoms like extremely harsh work of the engine, bad vibrations, engine knocking, etc. Also, you shouldn't drive your car if it loses a lot of power.

In other cases, you can drive. But it doesn't mean that you can ignore this problem. First of all, driving with a warning light on the dash of your Kia vehicle is not the best choice. Secondly, any minor problem with an engine sensor may eventually grow into a fatal issue with the powerplant. So, it's always better to deal with the problem before it affects the engine.

What should you do when you see the "Engine Control System" message?

If your KIA starts warning you that the car has possible engine problems, you should analyze if the behavior of the vehicle has changed. For example, it may lose some power, it may take more fuel, and it may start messaging you with other mistakes and warn you that you should stop. In these cases, it's better to stop driving and then get your car to the service station with the help of a tow truck.

But in most cases, you will be able to drive the vehicle. Anyway, go to the service station and order diagnostics. This will help you see which module malfunctions.

Here's what you should do to get rid of the problem:

• Go to the service station immediately.
• Describe what happened with your vehicle.
• Order diagnostics to see what's wrong.
• Get the report from the mechanic.
• Buy the parts you need to repair the vehicle.
• Head to the service station and repair the car.
• Drive it and see whether the problem has been solved.

This is a small instruction of what to do. Sometimes, people ask us whether they can drive their cars for another 100 miles or something when they see this message. If your vehicle doesn't change the way it goes, you can drive. But if it goes to limp mode or just starts malfunctioning all the way, you should call a tow truck. Be careful with your engines in KIA, because repairing them after big problems can be really uneasy.

What's the longevity of the KIA engines?

We can't say that KIA vehicles are really bad or really good in terms of longevity. But we can say for sure that if you see the "Engine Control System" error within the first 50,000 miles, this message will almost certainly mean some minor problem with one of the sensors. In many cases, the message will only mean that you will have to reset something in the ECU - no repair will be needed at all.

Regarding the engine longevity, we should say the following:

• On average, KIA engines will survive up to 200,000 miles, sometimes more.
• If you don't service your engine, don't change the oil on time, it will die at around 100,000 miles.
• The engine may die even sooner if you don't follow the restriction of payload and towing capacity.
• Engines in KIA aren't made for sport, they are made for calm driving, so driving habits are also important.
• Before KIA engines die, they usually start burning quite a lot of oil, and the "Engine" message on the dashboard will not light up.

Here's another problem. The message we are talking about today usually appears when some electronic systems connected to the engine start malfunctioning. But if the engine starts wearing physically, like piston rings, valve seals, or engine block, the sensors will not feel this and they will not light up the message on your dashboard.

What are the consequences of the ignored "Engine Control System" error?

You should know that if the condition that sits behind the "Engine Control System" error in your KIA car is very serious, the ECU will put the engine in limp mode and limit its power and speed. Obviously, this is a clear sign that you should immediately take your car in for the inspection.

But what if nothing bad happens and you just see this message on the dash? In this case, you may decide to ignore it till you have some free time or money to go to the dealership.

But it may actually affect the health of your car and cause some other unpleasant consequences:

1) Engine damage

If the problem is, for example, in badly misfiring cylinders, the engine may be damaged because of knocking and excess fuel combustion in the exhaust system.

2) No-start problem

After you turn the engine off, it may just not start again. For example, this may happen if the "Engine Control System" error appears on the screen because of the low battery.

3) Stalling in the middle of the road

If the issue keeps deteriorating, the ECU may decide to cut the fuel supply to avoid engine damage. In this case, your KIA may just stall right on the road and put you in a dangerous situation.

4) Voiding the warranty.

If you keep driving with this error illuminating on the screen for several days before you visit the shop, the dealership may reject paying for the repairs even though the car is still under warranty.

Final thoughts

You shouldn't be afraid of different error messages in your car. KIA vehicles love sending these messages from time to time. And they sound like you have to get ready to replace the engine. But actually, the problem can be so small and cheap to solve that you should just go to the service station.

In most cases, your KIA will go up to 200,000 miles or even more if you service it correctly. To prolong the life of your KIA engine, just make sure you change the oil on time, buy the needed type of oil, order diagnostics from time to time, and don't overload your car. If you see any errors or messages on the dashboard, just take your vehicle to the specialists as soon as you can.