The four-cylinder engine in your car is fitted with a timing chain which should be good for the life of the engine. Other Kia engines including the V6 used a rubber timing belt which requires periodical replacement. However, it’s not that simple and some owners have found that even engines with timing chains need these replaced long before the engine has worn out.

It’s sometimes a case of flawed design or poor quality parts that causes this, but in the majority of cases, timing chain failure is caused by a lack of proper maintenance on the part of the car’s owner.

Oil manufacturers recommend a 5W20 or 5W30 fully synthetic oil for this vehicle. For the record, you’ll need 4,5 litres to perform an oil change, and don’t forget to replace the oil filter at the same time. Putting clean oil through an old, dirty filter makes no sense.

You're on the right track with looking at the camshaft-angle sensor. But rather than the actual sensor itself, the problem is likely to be within the wiring that connects the sensor to the car's computer. Without a good, solid condition, the best sensor in the world can't relay the information that the computer needs to command the engine to start.

The next step is a visit to an auto electrician who should be able to test the cam-sensor circuit and check for problems with fuses, wires, connectors and any other component that could be causing the information breakdown.