Engine shut off while driving and will not start, check engine, oil and battery lights turned on

Tiny
BMW816
  • MEMBER
  • 2014 KIA OPTIMA
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 91,400 MILES
Checked the oil and it was low. Grabbed a couple of quarts and it was then at a good level. Tried starting the car and nothing. The car has power, but I only hear a quick clunking sound, like one click and nothing else. A friend showed up and we tried jumping the battery. We saw sparking and smoke coming from the starter. Any ideas?
Friday, December 10th, 2021 AT 8:03 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,692 POSTS
Hello, this sounds like an interesting situation considering the vehicle is not that old. Have you actually checked down at the starter motor connections to see if something may have shorted out or are there any melted wires down there? And how low on oil was the car? If you had to put 2+ quarts in the vehicle that's a big concern. Are there any obvious leaks you can, see? I'm going to post the starter circuit wiring diagrams in a minute as well.
In the third diagram, I'd like you to check that Start Fuse (7.5amp) too.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-car-battery

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester
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Friday, December 10th, 2021 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
BMW816
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I'll have to check the wires when I can, but no leaks that I saw.
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Friday, December 10th, 2021 AT 11:55 AM
Tiny
BMW816
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My friend said he hopes I didn't seize the engine being low on oil, but I never felt anything or heard anything. And two quarts put it way up on the district. So, I don't think that's the case.
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Friday, December 10th, 2021 AT 11:57 AM
Tiny
BMW816
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  • 6 POSTS
Dipstick*
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Friday, December 10th, 2021 AT 11:57 AM
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,692 POSTS
It is concerning though, being that this is a 2.4liter engine, it probably only takes 4.5 quarts and being halfway low on oil with no leaks at all is a major concern.
I'd recommend attempting to rotate the engine over by hand, with a socket and large bar on the crankshaft bolt. This is the way to assure its not seized up, which it may be.
I worked for Kia and these engines are semi fragile, running on two quarts of oil could have caused major damage, but I really hope it did not. The oil light did not come on before any of this happened.
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Friday, December 10th, 2021 AT 11:59 AM
Tiny
BMW816
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  • 6 POSTS
No it didn't. It came on along with the check engine and battery light all at the same time when the engine shut off.
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Friday, December 10th, 2021 AT 12:20 PM
Tiny
BMW816
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I don't know if this helps, but as you might know it's a push start. And when I tried to push the brake to restart it after the incident, the brake pedal was very resistant to push.
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Friday, December 10th, 2021 AT 12:22 PM
Tiny
AL514
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I would definitely recommend trying to turn the engine over by hand at this point, if the oil pump failed or anything like that and you start the engine, it will destroy the engine without oil pressure.
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Friday, December 10th, 2021 AT 12:23 PM

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