Kia Sorento contains an RPM gauge, also known as a tachometer, to measure the engine’s speed. RPM stands for revolutions per minute, including the display screen to show the reading. In addition, the engine usually completes more than 10 revolutions in a second when you turn them on.
Kia Sorento RPM gauge not working can be due to loose wires in the dash screen, faulty sensors, defective accelerator pedal, fuse issues, broken displays, interference of electric devices, engine control unit issues, and faulty engine parts.
Sensors on the crankshaft and camshaft send the electric impulses to the vehicle’s computer system. These sensors generate impulses with the movement of the shaft. The computerized system of your SUV takes the information from these sensors and processes the received data to show the engine’s speed.
| Causes | Solutions |
| Loose wires of the dash screen | Check wires with a voltmeter |
| Faulty sensors | Remove the dust, grease and debris |
| Defective accelerator pedal | Clean accelerator pedal |
| Fuse issue | Add new tachometer fuse |
| Broken display | Replace display |
| Interference of electric devices | Check the ground connections |
| Engine control unit issue | Use scanner tools |
| Faulty engine parts | Use high-quality engine oil |
Loose wires of the dash screen
Kia Sorento tachometer shows the information on the display screen about the engine’s speed. They stopped working because of loose and damaged wires on the dashboard.
Damaged or poorly connected wires cannot provide the power to illuminate the screen. RMP gauges do not move or show any reading on the screen when wires are faulty.
Moreover, these also become bad because of the issues in the instrumental control module. Driving on uneven terrains causes damaged and loose wiring connections.
You can also see false readings on the screen because of the damaged and loose wirings. You cannot see the correct RPM reading on the screen because a loose wiring connection cannot give sufficient and accurate data to the computerized system.
The issue also comes when electric wires that transfer signals from sensors to the tachometer get damaged. These wires get damaged because of the heat from the engine compartment.
In addition, corrosion from engine parts also increases the risk of wear and tear on these wires. You can check the wiring by connecting them with a voltmeter.
Electric wires cannot supply power because of dead and weak batteries. Turn on the ignition and connect the voltmeter with wires to check the power supply. You can also take an expert’s help to check the wires’ voltage.
It is also necessary to check the gauges when the wires are fine and properly connected.
Faulty sensors
RPM gauges take information from the sensors that are present near the engine. These sensors are located on the engine’s moving parts, known as crankshaft and camshaft.
These sensors take the electric signals from these moving shafts. Its moving parts produce electric impulses that correspond to the engine’s speed.
You can see the engine speed in revolutions per minute on your screen. Sometimes, the tachometer stops working because of these faulty sensors.
Excessive high temperatures and vibrations in the engine compartment increase these sensors’ wear and tear risk. In addition, several contaminants also come on the crankshaft and camshaft sensors.
They cannot read the electric impulses and transfer the signals to the tachometer properly because of the contamination of their parts.
High temperature, contaminants, and vibrations decrease the working efficiency of the sensors, and you cannot get the correct reading on the screen.
Moreover, these factors also increase their risk of wear and tear. These sensors transfer the information or signals to the electric control module through several electric connections.
They cannot transmit the signals properly because of loose and corroded electric connections. These sensors also become faulty because of engine oil leakage.
It is necessary to clean these sensors to remove dirt, dust, oil residues, and contaminants from them. Turn off your SUV when excessive heat builds up in the compartment to maintain the temperature of the internal components.
Defective accelerator pedal
Many people complain that the Kia Sorento tachometer needle is not moving and showing engine speed when they turn on the ignition. The issue comes from a defective and contaminated accelerator pedal that does not make contact with the throttle valve.
The engine control unit gets the information from the accelerator pedal sensors. This module allows the opening of the throttle valve by taking information from these sensors.
The defective accelerator pedal and its sensors cannot give the correct information to the engine control unit as a result, it shows problems in the RPM gauge. They cannot communicate with the throttle valve because of the broken cable.
The sensors of the accelerator pedal also stop functioning because of the dust and contaminants present in them. Sometimes, the issue comes from bad electric connections and faulty throttle valve modules.
Clean the accelerator pedal to remove the dust and debris from them. Moreover, you can also scrub the pedal and remove the dirt with an old toothbrush.
Fuse issue
RPM gauge is the electric component and contains a fuse for their functioning. These stop working because of the blown-out fuse.
The blown-out fuse does not provide sufficient power to the tachometer. The issue also comes because of the blown-out fuse of instrumental clusters.
The fuse can blow out because of voltage spikes. A defective tachometer unit also draws excessive current from the system, leading to a blown-out fuse.
The issue also comes because of short circuits of electric connections and overloading of circuits. Moreover, corroded connections and water exposure also cause problems.
You can replace the fuse by locating them in the fuse box. The tachometer fuse is located inside the fuse box, and remove the old fuse to add the new ones.
Broken display
RPM gauge shows the engine speed on the tachometer display. These cannot show the reading and become irresponsive because of broken LED screens.
Kia Sorento’s damaged display does not show the reading on the screen about how fast the engine is moving. LED screens can break because of physical impacts during road accidents.
In addition, these can also break when hard material accidentally collides with them. Overheating can also interrupt functioning because of electronic control.
It is better to consult with experienced mechanics or dealerships to replace broken LED screens. Replacement of broken screen is essential because these also represents other valuable information about the vehicle.
Interference of electric devices
RPM gauges also stop functioning because of the interferences of the electronic devices. They receive the electric signals from the sensors and show readings on the screens.
Electric interferences from the other devices interrupt their functioning, and they cannot receive the electric impulses from the electromagnetic sensors, which can lead to wrong information.
Different electric components are present in vehicles that produce electromagnetic fields. The electromagnetic field disturbs their functioning and leads to erratic readings.
Moreover, radio frequency interferences from radio devices are also common. You can decrease electromagnetic interference by limiting the installation of after-market components in them.
Check the ground connections and ensure their proper connection to decrease the interference from the electric noises.
Engine control unit issue
Engine control units analyze and process the data they receive from the different components of the engine. They also manage the rotation per minute and receive data from the sensors to check engine speed.
The RPM gauge stopped functioning because of the faulty engine control unit. The defective engine control unit cannot signal the instrumental cluster screen.
Malfunctioning of its control units occurs because of faulty sensors, software glitches, electric interferences, and power supply issues.
You can detect the problem in the Kia Sorento engine control unit by performing diagnostic scans. These devices give the error code after detecting the problem in the specific components. Update its software and ensure that these are correctly programmed in your SUV.
Faulty engine parts
RPM gauge also stops functioning because of faulty parts. Defective parts do not provide enough information about the revolutions per minute.
The problem also comes in Kia Sorento because of damaged timing belts or chains. Timing belts or chains become faulty because of age-related deterioration.
In addition, lack of maintenance and contamination from the engine oil also increase the risk of their failure.
Check the timing belt and replace it to get the correct reading on the tachometer. Use high-quality oil to reduce the risk of deterioration of the timing belts.
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