Problems on a project vehicle aren’t always so straightforward to fix, but we seem to have had luck on our side recently with our Kia Sportage. The leaking screenwash reservoir couldn’t have been simpler to remedy when Rob removed the engine undertray and spotted the bottom hose that’s connected to it wasn’t fully fitted. Consequently, the weight of all the fluid inside the reservoir when it was momentarily full resulted in it leaking out but left a small amount inside that was enough to still operate the screen washers and trigger the low-level warning on the dashboard.
The lack of cruise control and the warning light on the dashboard for hill descent were instantly fixed with a new clutch pedal switch. Admittedly, it was a finger-crunching job to replace, but Mark Shipman at AES York saved the day and knew what was involved. He also has the diagnostic equipment to check that the new clutch pedal switch was working properly (and he diagnosed the problem). We now not only have cruise control, but also brake assist, which is useful for holding the Sportage for a few seconds when setting off uphill, although Rob is a traditionalist and can’t keep his hands off the mechanical handbrake.
One problem we’ve yet to
