# 2009 Kia Sportage still has a rough idle **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** sportage, kia\ **Created:** [February 26, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-kia-sportage-still-has-a-rough-idle/175451 "2021-02-26T17:14:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![D05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@D05](https://community.cartalk.com/u/D05)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-kia-sportage-still-has-a-rough-idle/175451/1 "2021-02-26T17:14:08Z")
got new plugs installed, still a semi-rough idle ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-kia-sportage-still-has-a-rough-idle/175451/2 "2021-02-26T21:02:09Z")
Then the plugs weren’t the problem or at least not the whole problem. What prompted you to have new plugs replaced? Is the check engine light on? Assuming the air filter is clean, a bad oxygen sensor is one possibility, so is a dirty throttle body. ---
**Author:** ![mrbreezeet1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@mrbreezeet1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mrbreezeet1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 5:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-kia-sportage-still-has-a-rough-idle/175451/3 "2021-02-28T05:47:55Z")
Maybe vacuum leak too. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-kia-sportage-still-has-a-rough-idle/175451/4 "2021-02-28T21:48:50Z")
> [@mrbreezeet1](#): > > Maybe vacuum leak too. Entirely possible. Is the check engine light on? Regardless, take it to a good independent mechanic for a proper diagnosis and repair. If a shop recommended the new plugs give them one more chance to get it right. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-kia-sportage-still-has-a-rough-idle/175451/5 "2021-03-01T21:49:54Z")
Just my 2 cents, but one should always rule out a mechanical fault before replacing parts. This means a compression test. In cases where the plugs are difficult to access a pre-test could be done with a vacuum gauge. If the vacuum gauge shows an issue then it’s time to pull the plugs and run the compression check. You might elaborate on whether or not the CEL is on, who changed the plugs, and the reason for doing so unless it was just guessing and guessing can become time consuming and expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-kia-sportage-still-has-a-rough-idle/175451/6 "2021-03-01T21:54:05Z")
Try removing and cleaning the Idle Air Control valve. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/d/2/d2a522736f9a108cfa5069029e9d1977e1a527a4.jpeg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 10:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-kia-sportage-still-has-a-rough-idle/175451/7 "2021-03-01T22:21:32Z")
Is this an engine that needs valve adjustments? ---
**Author:** ![mrbreezeet1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@mrbreezeet1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mrbreezeet1)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-kia-sportage-still-has-a-rough-idle/175451/8 "2021-03-02T18:29:01Z")
Yeah, good point! Vacuum gauge May jump and not read steady if there is a mechanical issue.