# Problems with 2008 kia sportage when it rains

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/problems-with-2008-kia-sportage-when-it-rains/87529>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [October 6, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/problems-with-2008-kia-sportage-when-it-rains/87529 "2014-10-06T02:18:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@hug](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hug)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/problems-with-2008-kia-sportage-when-it-rains/87529/1 "2014-10-06T02:18:28Z")

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My college age daughter is driving a 2008 kia sportage. She tells me that when it rains the battery light goes on and the steering wheel locks up. Can someone tell me what to ask the mechanic?

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**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/problems-with-2008-kia-sportage-when-it-rains/87529/2 "2014-10-06T02:51:29Z")

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Does the engine also quit or does it continue to run when this occurs.

Also is the “check engine light” on.

I have a feeling that the engine dies, and this triggers the battery light to go on because the alternator is no longer being turned by the motor. And the power steering pump is not being turned, so she loses power steering and considers the steering locked, not just that she lost power assist to the steering.

Yosemite

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/problems-with-2008-kia-sportage-when-it-rains/87529/3 "2014-10-06T02:59:12Z")

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I also have the feeling that the engine dies. For me…replacing the spark plug wires usually does the trick but it could be any number of ignition component problems.

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**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/problems-with-2008-kia-sportage-when-it-rains/87529/4 "2014-10-06T03:35:38Z")

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This is the key question…does the engine die? If not, it would appear to be a slipping belt.

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**Author:** ![bscar2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar2/32/2468_2.png) [@bscar2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar2)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 4:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/problems-with-2008-kia-sportage-when-it-rains/87529/5 "2014-10-13T04:22:44Z")

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If she can, have her leave it overnight or while she’s at class when it’s going to rain to see if the mechanic can reproduce the problems

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/problems-with-2008-kia-sportage-when-it-rains/87529/6 "2014-10-13T17:55:59Z")

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**“it would appear to be a slipping belt.”**

+1  
As long as the symptoms don’t include engine stall, then the solution to this problem is likely to be simply replacing the serpentine belt (and possibly the belt tensioner).