[OldSoul2018]

Hello folks. I’m somewhat unsure if this is the way to introduce myself but I imagine I’m not the first person to find and join the forum trying to get information on a problem.

That said my wife and I just retired and are splitting our time in NY and FL. We had beern taking the Autotrain and bringing our NY car to FL but that was getting tiring so we decided to get another car to use while we’re in FL and pick up a used 2018 Soul with 79K miles on it.

Long story short we start the car, ride on the highway for 4 miles to our exit and the car starts to run rough and lose power. We stop and there is white smoke coming out of the exhaust with a strong odor of gasoline. I decide to turn around and go home (don’t want to get stranded with my severely handicapped wife). The car continues to run rough at idle and slow speed but on the high runs smooth and no visible smoke. We make in the 4 miles home but off the highway exit ramp continues to idle rough, smoke and the check engine light comes on.

One positive thing is the engine did not show any sign of overheating. The temperature gage remained just below the midpoint of the dial.

I’m thinking some mixture control problem but would appreciate any insights others might have. Unfortunately the dealer can’t fit us in until the 18th so I’ll have to rent a car for the short term.

 

[Flatsole]

Welcome!

Did this happen right after you bought it? It almost sounds like it happened on the drive home from the car dealer. It probably needed to be returned immediately but I understand health concerns.

Can you tell us what trouble code(s) turned on the check engine light?

 

[OldSoul2018]

Welcome!

Did this happen right after you bought it? It almost sounds like it happened on the drive home from the car dealer. It probably needed to be returned immediately but I understand health concerns.

Can you tell us what trouble code(s) turned on the check engine light?

I had put about 500 miles on the car prior to this happening. I had one earlier incident of rough running and idle prior but it lasted a few seconds, went away and I didn’t anything more about it. I had driven the car a few times since then with no issues.

As far as trouble codes, I didn’t see a code displayed, just the check engine icon light up.

 

[MonsterSoul]

You can try an OBD code reader, or many auto parts or mechanics will check it free.
Then sell you a fix.
Or go back to the seller.
Good luck.

 

[SoNic67]

Running rich can have numerous causes. Simplest ones involve a disconnected vacuum hose. In that case you can hear a wooshing sound inside the engine bay, when the engine is running.
But also it can mean something more serious (white smoke is bad news). Is your coolant level OK?

 

[bwdz75]

That type of smoke usually turns out to be an injector but of course the description is a little vague to call it from the keyboard side. Pull your oil dipstick out and see if it smells like oil or has a fuel smell to it, don't be surprised if it smells like fuel and the oil level is high.

 

[OldSoul2018]

Thanks for the advice. I’ll start with the easiest things to check which are the coolant and oil level and check for the smell of gas on the dipstick. I’ll follow that with checking OBD codes and report back.

 

[OldSoul2018]

The good news is coolant and oil levels are correct. The bad news is there is a smell of gas on the oil dipstick. It’s going back to dealer. The question now is what’s it going to cost to fix the problem.

 

[OldSoul2018]

So the conclusion by the dealer is the fuel injectors have to be replaced at $1899.00. For the mechanics out there if one or two injectors are bad do you normally go ahead and replace all of them? How many hours of work is involved?

 

[bwdz75]

It's about an hour labor, maybe a little more. Of course it depends on what they are charging you for diagnostic and it will also need an oil change if fuel leaked into the oil. Cost of injectors is around 500 for all 4.

 

[thayertrudy]

Hello folks. I’m somewhat unsure if this is the way to introduce myself but I imagine I’m not the first person to find and join the forum trying to get information on a problem.

That said my wife and I just retired and are splitting our time in NY and FL. We had beern taking the Autotrain and bringing our NY car to FL but that was getting tiring so we decided to get another car to use while we’re in FL and pick up a used 2018 Soul with 79K miles on it.

Long story short we start the car, ride on the highway for 4 miles to our exit and the car starts to run rough and lose power. We stop and there is white smoke coming out of the exhaust with a strong odor of gasoline. I decide to turn around and go home (don’t want to get stranded with my severely handicapped wife). The car continues to run rough at idle and slow speed but on the high runs smooth and no visible smoke. We make in the 4 miles home but off the highway exit ramp continues to idle rough, smoke and the check engine light comes on.

One positive thing is the engine did not show any sign of overheating. The temperature gage remained just below the midpoint of the dial.

I’m thinking some mixture control problem but would appreciate any insights others might have. Unfortunately the dealer can’t fit us in until the 18th so I’ll have to rent a car for the short term.

So sorry this happened to you. Please do some research on Souls; I had a 2015 key-start Soul, loved it cause I have some arthritis in one hip and this little gem was easy for me to slip into it and easy to get out of it. BUT I was just about to change insurance companies and at the very last second the agent told me the insurance I was getting would not insure my Soul because it was a key-start which made it a "high theft item". Never heard of such a thing. And I began a trip of fibs from the dealership (yes Kia made and anti-theft device) at the time they didn't. And because the credit union contract states all vehicles must havef insurance for them to carry the contract. blah blah it went on and on. I am 77 yrs old, don't drive at night any more, don't use the freeway extensively anymore, just to the store once a week or so and maybe a Dr. visit. Long story short, I ended up doing a voluntary repo; and am now working with y states' Attorney Generals office to not pay the remainder. I have no car right now, maybe soon. Kia has an 8 million car recall for the engine issues and there is a class action suit; check on it. Good Luck.

 

[OldSoul2018]

So sorry this happened to you. Please do some research on Souls; I had a 2015 key-start Soul, loved it cause I have some arthritis in one hip and this little gem was easy for me to slip into it and easy to get out of it. BUT I was just about to change insurance companies and at the very last second the agent told me the insurance I was getting would not insure my Soul because it was a key-start which made it a "high theft item". Never heard of such a thing. And I began a trip of fibs from the dealership (yes Kia made and anti-theft device) at the time they didn't. And because the credit union contract states all vehicles must havef insurance for them to carry the contract. blah blah it went on and on. I am 77 yrs old, don't drive at night any more, don't use the freeway extensively anymore, just to the store once a week or so and maybe a Dr. visit. Long story short, I ended up doing a voluntary repo; and am now working with y states' Attorney Generals office to not pay the remainder. I have no car right now, maybe soon. Kia has an 8 million car recall for the engine issues and there is a class action suit; check on it. Good Luck.

I’ve heard of the high theft issue. Hopefully you can find insurance at a reasonable rate.
Meanwhile we’ve put 2,000 miles on the Soul since replacing the injectors and it’s running great. We really like the car and hope there will be no major issues going forward.