Question: 6 Common Reasons Your Kia Sorento Won’t Start Just Clicks

What should I do if my Kia Sorento won’t start just clicks? This question is common among many concerned and frustrated Sorento owners whose vehicles fail to ignite. As a car owner, there is a high chance you have had your fair share of difficult starts. Some are easy to overcome, while others can drain you to the core.

Your Sorento won’t start just clicks due to a bad battery, corroded terminals, a faulty alternator, loose/worn-out connections, and engine failure. Most of the starting issues in this car mainly point to a problem with the electrical unit.

Herein, I’ll examine each issue and offer solutions.

Answer: A Bad Battery

The battery is at the hub of the vehicle’s electrical system. Its malfunction reflects directly on electrical components and accessories. A faulty battery won’t produce adequate power, which shows through dimming headlights and hard starts with clicks.

Depending on the battery’s state, the engine may turn over after several ignition attempts or fail entirely. The accompanying clicks are usually rapid.

Other signs of a bad battery include:

  • Swelling and bulging
  • Battery emits a foul odor
  • Leaking fluid
  • The battery warning light is on
  • The Idle Stop and Go (Kia’s start-stop function) doesn’t work

The battery may malfunction when cold, as the low temperatures may affect its chemical reactions. Sometimes, the battery is old and needs replacement.

The Fix:

Inspect the battery immediately if you notice any of the mentioned signs. Jumpstarting will help in low-voltage situations. Some batteries lose their voltage-withholding power over time and may call for frequent jumpstarting, which can be quite demanding. Such a situation calls for replacement.

Replacement is also the way to go for swollen and leaking batteries. The swelling is probably due to overcharging, hinting at a faulty alternator or charging assembly.

Avoid using old and worn batteries on your Sorento, as hard starts will become part of your routine. Get a new battery from reputable dealers. If possible, go for an AGM battery, which is more resilient than conventional batteries.

Answer: Corroded Terminals

Still, on the battery, and why Kia Sorento won’t start just clicks, the culprit may be corroded terminals. The typical pointer of corrosion is the accumulation of whitish or bluish powder around the terminals. This substance is lead sulfate, and it may block current flow as it is a bad electricity conductor.

The causes of sulfate buildup on battery terminals are:

  • Overcharging
  • Hydrogen gas leakage
  • Electrolyte leakage, mostly due to overfilling
  • Chemical reaction on the copper clamps

How to fix:

Fixing corroded battery terminals is straightforward, requiring items like a brush, sandpaper, baking soda, soda, or a commercial battery terminal cleaner. Disconnect the terminals before cleaning them.

If you are using baking soda, you should create a thick paste, which you apply to the posts, and let it rest for a while before scraping the residue with a stiff brush. Wipe the terminals with a damp cloth and coat them with grease or petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion.

Pour some soda on the worn terminals and wipe them with a sponge or cloth. Soda contains carbonic acid, which eliminates the sulfate. Phosphoric acid in soda is an anti-rusting agent. Commercial battery terminal cleaners do an excellent job of removing battery terminal deposits.

Alternatively, you can scrape off the lead sulfate deposit with sandpaper. Be careful when using sandpaper to avoid wearing the terminals.

Besides coating the posts with grease or petroleum jelly, you can prevent corrosion by getting top-quality copper clamps. Severely worn battery posts may prompt a battery replacement, which can be costly. The good news is that you can solely fix the terminals, though at the expense of battery life.

Kia Sorento won't start just clicks

Answer: A Faulty Alternator

Sometimes, the battery is in excellent shape, but you still notice rapid clicks upon ignition, and the engine does not start. You should test the battery’s voltage to see if it is alright. Low voltage points to a faulty alternator.

The alternator charges the battery, and low voltage indicates a problem. Alternator hitches may also reflect in an overcharged battery, noticeable via a bulging body and leaking.

In other instances, a bad ground connection may be to blame for a malfunctioning alternator. The ground connection connects the Sorento’s body to the battery’s negative terminal, completing the vehicle’s electrical circuit. This connection may wear due to rust or corrosion.

Signs of a bad alternator include flickering lights, sudden vehicle stalling, and frequent battery voltage drops.

Solution:

Test the alternator to determine whether it is the cause of your Sorento’s electric hiccups. You can test the alternator at home by starting your car, and as the engine runs, you unplug the negative battery cable. Engine stopping after cable removal indicates a bad alternator, which cannot sufficiently keep the motor running.

Seek professional help to address a failing alternator. Moreover, check the grounding connection and fix it if corroded or rusted.

Answer: A Troublesome Starter

A bad starter likely explains why your Kia Sorento won’t start just clicks. The starter converts electrical energy from the battery to mechanical energy in the engine. You can tell you have a bad starter by a single loud click upon your ignition attempts, with the engine failing to crank.

Dimming lights, smoke from the hood, whirring or grinding noises, and dash lights coming on when starting the car are other symptoms of starter failure. The problem might be the starter motor, solenoid, or relay. An oil-soaked starter is another potential setback. Many auto pundits consider an oil-soaked starter dead.

The Fix:

Inspect the starter assembly to determine the cause of the snag. You should replace an unresponsive starter, especially if it is oil-soaked. You can rely on several tricks for starting a car with a bad starter, such as hitting it with a stick. Nevertheless, these measures are temporary, and you may have to abide by them whenever you start your car.

Diagnosing a problematic starter is challenging, particularly if you are a novice in vehicle mechanics. It calls for an experienced eye to accurately point out the trouble.

Answer: Loose Or Worn-Out Connections

Your Kia Sorento may fail to start due to loose or worn-out connections. By connections, we refer to Sorento’s electrical circuit components, such as wires and fuses. You might be dealing with loose battery clamps, blown fuses, or broken wires. Besides starting difficulty, the check engine or check battery light might light up on the dashboard.

Fixes:

Fixing bad electrical connections on your Sorento entails checking out potential stubborn zones, such as the battery terminals and fuse box. Tighten the terminal clamps if loose and clean the terminals if corroded.

Next, replace blown fuses and fix broken wires. Once done, your vehicle should start hassle-free.

Answer: Engine Failure

While starting issues primarily originate from the car’s electrical system, it is sometimes free of guilt. For instance, a failed engine won’t start, and you may notice clicks, meaning the starter is trying to work the engine but failing.

Your engine may fail due to broken components, lack of lubrication, and overheating.

Engine diagnostics will reveal the problem’s source. Change engine oil if dirty, old, or insufficient, and fix broken components. Attend to the cause of overheating and seek preventive measures to avoid future recurrence.

Answer: 2023 Kia Sorento Specs

Name2023 Kia Sorento LX FWD
Vehicle typeMid-size crossover SUV
Engine191 Hp 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine
Torque181 at 4000 RPM
Transmission6-speed automatic
DrivetrainFront wheel drive
Overall length189 inches
Width without mirrors74.8 inches
Overall height66.7 inches
Wheelbase110.8 inches
Fuel tank capacity17.7 gallons
MPG24 city, 29 highway
Maximum trailering capacity2000 lbs.
Passenger capacity7
Manufacturer recommended priceStarting at $30090

Wrapping Up

This piece examines why your Kia Sorento won’t start just clicks and how to deal with the situation. The key takeaway from this discussion is that the electric unit is mostly to blame for the failed starts. Nonetheless, do not rule out engine failure and fuel system malfunctions. 

You can avoid a troublesome start on your Kia Sorento by regularly servicing the electrical system and engine.

Kia Sorento isn’t the only model that experiences hard starts. The Honda Odyssey also shares this issue.

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