How to Change an Ignition Coil Pack on a Kia Sportage
by Russell Wood
Some models of the Kia Sportage run a distributorless ignition system, which has individual coil packs mounted on the valve cover that control the amount of spark that goes to each spark plug. This ensures that the engine is always running as smoothly as possible. If a coil pack goes out, your engine will run less one cylinder and thus run poorly.To fix the problem, the damaged coil pack needs to be replaced.
Step 1
Pop the hood and disconnect the negative terminal from the battery using an open-end wrench. Unscrew the intake tube from the top of the engine using a flathead screwdriver. Pull away the intake tube so that it's out of the way.
Step 2
Unbolt the accelerator cable bracket from the engine using the ratchet, then unbolt the coil cover from the top of the cylinder head, also using the ratchet. This will expose the ignition coils.
Step 3
Unbolt the ignition coil tray from the cylinder head using the ratchet. Lift up the tray and twist off the spark plug wire to the coil you want to replace, and pull it off the coil pack. Bolt the replacement coil to the tray and reinstall the spark plug wire by pushing it in place.
Step 4
Bolt the coil tray back to the cylinder head using the ratchet, then reinstall the coil cover, the intake tube and the accelerator pedal to the engine. Reattach the negative terminal to the battery using an open-end wrench. Start the car to make sure it runs correctly.
Things You'll Need
- Open-end wrench set
- Flathead screwdriver
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- 3/8-inch ratchet and socket set
- Replacement ignition coil pack
Writer Bio
Russell Wood is a writer and photographer who attended Arizona State University. He has been building custom cars and trucks since 1994, including several cover vehicles. In 2000 Wood started a career as a writer, and since then he has dedicated his business to writing and photographing cars and trucks, as well as helping people learn more about how vehicles work.
