Kia Hatchback Range

It’s possible that the same problem is causing both the check engine and oil light to light up. That’s because a low oil pressure or oil level light will sometimes trigger both the oil and check-engine lights. I assume the basics such as oil level (on the dipstick) have been checked.

Continuing to drive a car with a flashing oil light on the dashboard is asking for trouble, to be honest. This needs to be investigated and you might want to look for another dealership who can better manage this stuff.

Either way, it’s a dealership problem because this sort of thing should be covered by the factory warranty if there really is a problem. But even if it’s just a computer glitch that’s lighting the warning lights up now and then, you need to know what that is and put it right.

That’s a crazy set of circumstances, but it wouldn’t be the first time an apparently unrelated component has thrown another into disarray. On the surface, there’s no way the climate control or headlights could affect the way a transmission works, but here we are…

The most likely explanation is that the electrical gear that’s locking the transmission into third gear is somehow affecting the transmission’s speed sensor that tells the computer the vehicle is travelling fast enough to select fourth (top) gear. The body computer could be the culprit, but there could also be a problem with the car’s wiring loom that is creating this havoc. A poor earth could also be causing the problem and is a more common cause of transmission problems than many people imagine.

Frankly, about a thousand different things. Poor idling and performance can be down to the ignition system, fuel system or mechanical wear or problems anywhere within the engine. And within those three things can lurk potentially thousands more reasons for poor running.

A mechanic familiar with this make and model is your best bet. They will probably start with the basics such as fuel supply and quality, spark strength and timing and a compression test to make sure all is well within the engine itself. This is a case where it’s important to go back to first principles of fuel, spark, compression and then start to look at the more intricate systems that control the engine.

Honestly, though, it could be anything from a dud sensor in the intake system, the same problem with the cooling system (not allowing the engine to reach full operating temperature) or even something mechanically fundamental like a blocked catalytic converter, dirty filter or slipped camshaft timing. Or a multitude of things in between. A good workshop will be able to sort it, however, without simply swapping parts that may or may not be the problem.