2019 Kia stinger GTS losing power on the freeway after reaching a certain speed

[D.J.]

I am planning to do this on Thursday. Hoping that my OBD reader can display live ABS sensor data at higher speeds. Will see!

Any decent scantool can do this basic tasks.

The cheap $5 Bluetooth modules usually can not

 

[juan.s.03]

Wow, this really sounds exactly like what I'm facing right now.
The behaviour is very similar to yours. The car triggers TC in a straight line, only in comfort/eco/smart but NOT in sport. Once TC is triggered the car stops accelerating unless I lift off the gas and then reapply pressure.

In my case, the start of these problems coincided with me replacing the rear diff, meaning most of the rear suspension was taken apart and reattached. Including wheel speed sensors.
I took it to the dealer and they said there are no errors and blamed the new diff (which is an LSD).

Let me ask you this:
1. What is with that TPMS error in your dash?
2. Do you have an LSD or an open diff?
3. Did you do any changes prior to this problem appearing? Or was it out of the blue?

1. I am missing the two front TPMS sensors on the front. The tires were replaced and the sensors got lost so there are no sensors at the moment. Only the rear tires have sensors.

2. I’m not really sure. It’s a gts RWD. How would I be able to check?

3. i owned the car for 2 months before the problem randomly started happening. So out of the blue.

 

[juan.s.03]

@Juan.s.003 & 7Andrei7

Can either of you access and view the live data for your wheel speed sensors?
This video (different car) shows generally how to access the sensors with a scan tool.
See if one is lazy or delayed vs the others.

first random video showing live data on wheel speed sensors

Two wheels sensors are missing on my car. The front two wheels

 

[juan.s.03]

Have you checked the terminals inside the connector housings to se if any are bent or slightly dislodged?

I have not. I am going to check this weekend when I have time. Where would I have to look?

 

[juan.s.03]

Stingers do not do this. We can happily drive at any speed with TPMS errors or low pressures.

So then this should rule out the my missing tpms sensor as a reason to the TC issue?

 

[Thomby]

I have not. I am going to check this weekend when I have time. Where would I have to look?

So then this should rule out the my missing tpms sensor as a reason to the TC issue?

Just FYI, instead of creating a separate Reply for each message, you can hit Quote on each post you want to respond to, then go down to the text box and hit Insert Quotes, and it'll let you respond to multiple posts in the same reply (like I did here).

 

[D.J.]

Two wheels sensors are missing on my car. The front two wheels

Doesn't that throw a code?

 

[D.J.]

So then this should rule out the my missing tpms sensor as a reason to the TC issue?

Yes. You do not need functioning TPMS sensors for the TC to work

Many people drive without TPMS sensors.

 

[juan.s.03]

Doesn't that throw a code?

Yes. You do not need functioning TPMS sensors for the TC to work

Many people drive without TPMS sensors.

Yes it says to check tpms system. I’m not in a hurry to replace the tpms sensors so I’m glad to take out the tpms sensors out of the TC issue.

 

[juan.s.03]

I am planning to do this on Thursday. Hoping that my OBD reader can display live ABS sensor data at higher speeds. Will see!

Let us know as soon as you can please! Hoping it’s the ABS sensor issue

 

[7Andrei7]

Let us know as soon as you can please! Hoping it’s the ABS sensor issue

Unfortunately my OBD reader does not read speed sensor values at all.
I will check the sensor contacts and try to clean them. Will see if this changes anything…

 

[D.J.]

Two wheels sensors are missing on my car. The front two wheels

Isn't this the problem?

 

[GT Elite]

Did the MAF malfunction prompt any error codes?
They did a full scan of my car and found nothing wrong.

As I recall, there were no error codes in everyday driving. The codes only came up when traction/ control/stability control/ABS were trying to control wheel spin. Then those lights came on. This happened several times before the shop figured out the MAF issue. Not sure how they figured it out…this was over 12 years ago.

 

[7Andrei7]

Unfortunately my OBD reader does not read speed sensor values at all.
I will check the sensor contacts and try to clean them. Will see if this changes anything…

Ok, I cleaned the ABS sensor contacts. It was fairly complicated, not gonna lie. The left side is very hard to reach. Also, the plastic clip that holds the 2 connectors snug is a nightmare to open. Took me over an hour to unclip both of them and spray some contact cleaner on them.

I then took to the highway to try and force TC to step in. I did about 10 hard accelerations from 90/100kph to 150kph. The TC stepped in only once, while I was making a lane change under full acceleration. I suspect it was because the dotted line is a little slippery at -1 Celsius. I could not get it to step in before or after that moment.

I hope this is it. I'll keep it under observation in normal driving conditions.

 

[juan.s.03]

Isn't this the problem?

Tpms sensors*

 

[D.J.]

Ok, I cleaned the ABS sensor contacts. It was fairly complicated, not gonna lie. The left side is very hard to reach. Also, the plastic clip that holds the 2 connectors snug is a nightmare to open. Took me over an hour to unclip both of them and spray some contact cleaner on them.

I then took to the highway to try and force TC to step in. I did about 10 hard accelerations from 90/100kph to 150kph. The TC stepped in only once, while I was making a lane change under full acceleration. I suspect it was because the dotted line is a little slippery at -1 Celsius. I could not get it to step in before or after that moment.

I hope this is it. I'll keep it under observation in normal driving conditions.

sounds like yours is back to working normally.
Congrats.

Hopefully those contacts stay clean.

Were you able to inspect any gasket that may exist on the connector?
It may be wise to add some dielectric grease to the connector, to help maintain a good clean contact
something like





contact resistance with Nyogel - no difference from naked.

 

[D.J.]

Tpms sensors*

I misunderstood. Yes, TPMS sensors have no relation to your TC issue.

 

[juan.s.03]

Ok, I cleaned the ABS sensor contacts. It was fairly complicated, not gonna lie. The left side is very hard to reach. Also, the plastic clip that holds the 2 connectors snug is a nightmare to open. Took me over an hour to unclip both of them and spray some contact cleaner on them.

I then took to the highway to try and force TC to step in. I did about 10 hard accelerations from 90/100kph to 150kph. The TC stepped in only once, while I was making a lane change under full acceleration. I suspect it was because the dotted line is a little slippery at -1 Celsius. I could not get it to step in before or after that moment.

I hope this is it. I'll keep it under observation in normal driving conditions.

This is great progress. I’ll give this a try as well. Thank you for sharing this information as well! I don’t know much about this kind of stuff but patience is key.

Something I noticed while driving today is that the TC would turn on when driving in a curve. I’m assuming it puts more weight on one side of the car and the car thinks there is wheel spinning. I dug a little deeper and started doing some semi harsh-ish lane turns (in an empty freeway of course) and sure enough, TC kicked in. Give this a try next time you are driving.

Also, do you have a picture of where to find the abs sensor contacts?

 

[7Andrei7]

Here is where you can find how to find the contacts: https://www.kstinger.com/rear_wheel_speed_sensor-619.html
I just unclipped the connectors and sprayed them with a contact cleaner.

 

[7Andrei7]

Were you able to inspect any gasket that may exist on the connector?

I didn't notice any gaskets. They're just plastic and joint together with a very annoying clip.