Kia Sedona (2005 and Earlier)

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Comments

  • mobilmacmobilmac Member Posts: 60
    I was wondering what to do with that plate and screw. My wife will be thrilled, thats one of her pet peeves, the mat sliding under the gas and brake pedal, she detest that. Thanks again.
  • yoloyolo Member Posts: 57
    No leak or noise in mine. It is a little loud in the open position though. Not any louder than other sunroof equipped cars I had though.
  • akwilliamsakwilliams Member Posts: 40
    Ours arrived yesterday. We bought our van on February 4th. The mat showed up two days after my email to Mr. Stapleton. Pretty impressive customer service, imo.
  • mfbonomfbono Member Posts: 48
    I bought a "universal" rear deck mat at Wal Mart for about $16 , its all rubber, black and fits perfectly behind the rear seats.. I think the measurement was 48" x 14".. no need to trim... :>)
  • hj92606hj92606 Member Posts: 14
    Hello,
    When I purchased Kia Sedona, the dealership told me that I need to keep "SEVERE" maintenance schedule, because I live in Los Angeles area. Is this be true?
  • 1badhippie1badhippie Member Posts: 10
    Well, Ody 1, if you had actually bothered to navigate to the link I provided for Auto Pacific, and spent more than 15 seconds viewing their site, you would have found the following information:

    "AutoPacific, Inc. is North America's largest, exclusively automotive marketing and product consulting firm."

    They have been in business since 1986.

    Oh...and it doesn't hurt that their analysts are quoted in such publications as:

    The New York Times
    The Orlando Sentinel
    The Chicago Tribune
    USA Today
    The Dallas Morning News
    The Detroit News
    The Plain Dealer
    The Christian Science Monitor
    The Baltimore Sun

    Need I go on? Hardly obscure, I'd say.

    As far as Edmunds and Consumer Reports picking the Odyssey #1, that is fine and no doubt deserved. However, AutoPacific bases their information on feedback by actual owners who live with the vehicle day in and day out...not a couple of people who drive a borrowed vehicle for a couple of hours or days, notate a few opinions for publication, and then toss it aside and move on to the next car to review.

    That IS why you lurk on these boards, isn't it, to see what other OWNERS are saying about their respective vehicles?

    C.G.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Let's keep the discussion focused on the Sedona please - thanks!

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • bluedevilsbluedevils Member Posts: 2,554
    Ours doesn't spend much time open, but I've noticed no unusual amounts of wind noise at any time. We do NOT have the wind deflector.
  • bluedevilsbluedevils Member Posts: 2,554
    Ours doesn't slide around very much. It stays in place so well that I haven't bothered to install that bracket to secure the mat.
  • bluedevilsbluedevils Member Posts: 2,554
    It's ca@kia.com. Paul Stapleton seems to respond to ALL inquiries to this email address. Kia's web-based customer service may be a one-man show, but from what folks have experienced it's a very impressive operation.
  • bluedevilsbluedevils Member Posts: 2,554
    Most owners manuals for most vehicles distinguish between normal and severe on the basis of the type of driving you do, environmental conditions, etc. For example, extremely hot or cold weather, frequent short trips, dusty conditions, etc.-- lots of time spent in these situations would mean you should follow the more aggressive "severe service" maintenance schedule.

    If you do a lot of highway driving in moderate temperatures, you would be just fine to follow the "normal service" maintenance schedule.

    I've never heard of a manufacturer recommending the severe service schedule simply because of where you live. However, because of the smog problems in L.A., perhaps this is a valid recommendation. There's only one other reason I can think of why your dealer is recommending the severe service schedule: they want you to visit their service department more often and give them more business!
  • jhan759jhan759 Member Posts: 24
    Well, after 3 weeks in the body/mechanic shop at the dealer, we finally got our Sedona back on Friday. It was supposed to be Tuesday, but on the last checkup/test drive before releasing to us the test engine light came on and they(dealer) couldn't get it to go off. Part was needed - ordered - installed - no good - got another - installed - worked; hence, Friday.
    The service manager told me it was the oxygen sensor which may have gotten nicked in the accident, or might have just been bad, since he said they have been replacing a variety of sensors/solenoids/sending units that have caused check engine lights to go on. I think that's been commented about in this forum already.
    Anyway, bottom line was $6200! Glad I have State Farm!
    On her way from picking our son up from soccer last night, my wife said that the headlights weren't properly adjusted, so I guess I'm taking it back in next week.
    While we were waiting I did email Mr. Stapleton and received the rear floor mat (purchased ours Feb. 9, 2002).
    The thing that was the coolest about Mr. Stapleton is that I emailed him on a Friday night, he emailed me back on a Monday, apologizing for it taking so long to get back to me! We had the mat on Wed. via fedex. Wow!
  • hj92606hj92606 Member Posts: 14
    Hello,
    I purchased 2002 Sedona EX model in a dealership in Cerritos, Los Angeles/Orange County, California.
    They had advertisement $3,000 discount from MSRP for all EX models in stock. I bought one with the exact discount. With ABS, Sunroof, homelink, leather...purchase price was $20,735.
    Actually I did not want sunroof nor homelink. However I cannot find one with ABS, Leather but no sunroof. I believe it is not a bad deal.
    I also got 3 year 0% financing too.

    Some people may be interested.
  • bluedevilsbluedevils Member Posts: 2,554
    Dealer in today's Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press was advertising a big '2002 Sedona EX clearance sale'. No pricing specifics, but I got the impression that they were ''moving them out.'

    Perhaps the model year-end discounts are already upon us, for Sedonas anyway. Granted, it seems about 3 months early since '03 models won't be coming out until late summer/early fall.
  • mobilmacmobilmac Member Posts: 60
    somewhere on this. Anyone had any outstanding results. This paint is wierd on the sedona. I waxed it 3wks ago, it stopped beading the water over a week ago. I have never had that happend to any vehicle i have owned. Any comments. HAY, Bluedevil, wake up. Okay steve, where are you.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Heh, heh, heh. Well, there's car wax and then there's car wax. How much time do you have?

    Store Bought Waxes Part II (No Zaino Posts)

    Zaino Car Polishes/Products--Your Experiences (Part 2)

    (When you check out the Zaino discussion, you'll better understand my evil grin, LOL).

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • mobilmacmobilmac Member Posts: 60
    Those guys are deep. I want simplicity, and the rest of my life to do something else besides waxing. I guess i will use my old standby, which has been pretty reliable, consumer reports.
    Hopefully it won't be ancient. Btw steve, i posted on aanother group discussion on oil, can't remember how to get to it, any help would be appreciated.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    The two big ones are:
    Synthetic motor oil

    and
    Engine Oil - A slippery subject Part 2.

    There are others that can be found with a Board Search.

    (btw, one can of Meguires paste wax has lasted me 3 years now <g>).

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • tlaquepaquetlaquepaque Member Posts: 3
    Does anyone know if KIA continue the APR Incentives past 04/30/2002?
  • mikeymike01mikeymike01 Member Posts: 31
    My Kia salesperson told me today that new Sedonas are getting two keyfobs (door lock remote controls) instead of just one. I wonder when they made the switch to two keyfobs.

    The Kia salesperson also said that new Sedonas are not arriving with the 3rd row floor mat.

    I took my Sedona EX in for an repair estimate. The Sedona had the right rear bumped gashed and the taillight and quarter panel dinged by a inconsiderate person that backed into our parked vehicle (and took off). The estimator said that the Sedona was not showing up in his system so I have to wait to get pricing. I did find pricing for the parts off of Kia's website: about $400 for the bumper and $90 for the just the light reflector.

    Just some FYI to pass along to everyone. Have a nice day!
  • excelent3excelent3 Member Posts: 197
    Here's the response I recieved from Stapleton. Not what I had hoped for.

    Dear Mr. Voll:

    Thank you for your correspondence. We are sorry to inform you but your vehicle was sold prior to the date we have set to ship the mat to. We will only send a mat to those customers who purchased their Sedona vehicle on or After February 1, 2002. You may contact your local Kia Dealership to purchase one if you like.

    Sincerely
    Kia Motors America

    Maybe my dealer will nice enough to give me one, after all we did pay for them did'nt we????
  • sound4himsound4him Member Posts: 6
    I emailed Kia on Fri at 1300, Mr. Stapleton replied by 1330 to call customer service. Which I did, I gave them my VIN# and they are sending me a mat.
    I received 2 door lock remotes when when I purchased my vehicle.
  • hoyahenryhoyahenry Member Posts: 399
    ...after all we did pay for them didn't we?

    In all fairness, I signed a sales contract for a vehicle that did not have a third row floor mat. I am also paying 2.9%, while others got 0% the day after I bought mine. Such is the free market economy.

    I think a dealer/salesperson might agree to pass it along at cost based upon a discreet discussion on the merits of doing so.
  • bluedevilsbluedevils Member Posts: 2,554
    the answer to excelent3's original question is, unfortunately, 'no.

    Each buyer got only what Kia had promised at the time of that particular sale. The 3rd row mat thing was a little iffy, and I think that's why people who were denied by Kia's web-based customer service (i.e. Paul Stapleton) are so frustrated/disappointed. But it's been made clear to us when the mat should have been / was part of the deal and when it shouldn't have been.

    Often, manufacturers make significant changes to a vehicle in mid-model year. E.g. buyers of "1998" Ford Contours got a much more content-rich package than the unlucky/uninformed folks who bought the "1998.5" Contours.

    I know this is frustrating for people, but I really think you should not blame Kia for its handling of things.
  • momx2momx2 Member Posts: 14
    I am in the CNY (Central New York) area and my husband and I are ready to purchase a Sedona. I called a dealer and he claims that he will sell for $200 to $300 over invoice. The dealer is about a 1 hour drive from where we live. I informed him that I am ready to purchase and if there is a discrepancy in the price when we arrived, that I would purchase from another dealer. He encouraged me to bring whatever pricing information that I had, (I specifically mentioned Edmunds). We meet on the 18th, I will inform everyone if this "too good to be true" deal really exists.
  • hoyahenryhoyahenry Member Posts: 399
    Do they have the van you want? Will they have it on the 18th? Why wait to "meet"? Except the signatures, I would recommend nailing it all down in advance with the intention of signing the paperwork and picking up the van on the 18th. Just a thought. Otherwise, it's your time and gas.
  • bluedevilsbluedevils Member Posts: 2,554
    from hoya. While you sit for the next 18 days, assuming that everything will be fine and dandy come May 18th, the dealer is holding you captive, so to speak. Why not get the paperwork in order, just so you know everything is all set? Otherwise, if something goes wrong and this dealer won't meet your requirements on the 18th, you are back to square one and you've wasted 3 weeks of your time waiting for the magic transaction date that never materialized.
  • hj92606hj92606 Member Posts: 14
    Hi,
    I got new 2002 Sedona EX model last weekend. I am quite satisfied so far.... However, I cannot figure out the "RR HTR" button. When I push the button, the "rear heater" shown below rear fan knob.

    Due to the lack of description in the owner's manual, and poor dealership sales persons knowledge, I still cannot figure out what would happen with this button.

    I'll describe my assumptions below. Please correct me, if I am wrong.
    - In the front, the air temperature is controlled with red/blue knob. The A/C switch to control on/off air conditioning for the front.
    - For the rear seat, the control know with (rear/0/1/2/3/4) knob in dashboard to control rear fan. Rear air conditioner and temperature is controlled with same knob for the front seats.
    - The control knob in the rear seat can control fan speed, when front one is set at "rear". A/C and temprature control by the main knob in dashboard.
    - The ""RR HTR" button, per salesperson, is diverting heated or cooled air thru floor duct, in liew of ceiling mounted vent. (But the maual was not very clear..)

    Thank you very much for help.
  • rrc2rrc2 Member Posts: 1
    Our EX's headlights & tail lights automatically go on at darkness. However, the dash panel lighting does not! The panel lighting does illuminate when the headlight/parking lamp switch is turned on. I'm wondering about the purpose of automatic headlights if the interior panel lights aren't on the same automatic circuit? There's basically nothing in the owner's manual on this. Can anyone explain this?
  • hj92606hj92606 Member Posts: 14
    The auto light should also control dash panel lights, as same as headlight & tail light. Mine lights up when parking linght on, head light on, and when "auto" in low light condition. I believe you should take it to dealership to fix it.
  • claywaterfillclaywaterfill Member Posts: 534
    Have you all been voting in the Edmunds Reader Poll (or whatever it's called)? In the minivan segment, I did not vote for Sedona (I would rather own a Town & Country); but, I did give the Sedona my vote as Vehicle of the Year (question 30). Make sure you remember to vote!
  • bluedevilsbluedevils Member Posts: 2,554
    Your assumptions sound pretty much correct.

    If you want warm air from the rear vents, you must press the RR HTR dash button. The air comes out of a vent in the right rear of the vehicle, above the right rear wheel well. From most owners' experience, it blasts some pretty large quantities of warm air on the 3rd row passengers' feet!

    If you want cool air from the rear vents, make sure the RR HTR button is NOT pressed. The cool air comes out of the 4 vents along the outside of the headliner (there is one vent above each of the 2 middle row seats, and above each of the 2 outboard 3rd row seats).

    For a while, I thought the rear heater in our van didn't work. I couldn't get any warm air to come out of the upper vents. Through discussions on this forum, I realized that the warm air doesn't come out of the upper vents; it comes out of the single big lower vent, and you must have the RR HTR button pressed in order for this to happen.

    Hope this helps clarify things.
  • bluedevilsbluedevils Member Posts: 2,554
    I filled out the survey. I voted for Sedona as the minivan, but I left question #30 blank.

    You'd really want a T&C over a Sedona? Too many potential problems with a Chrysler minivan, in my opinion.
  • yoloyolo Member Posts: 57
    Mine turns on the dash lights too. Maybe your dimmer is turned way down? Check that first before taking it in.
  • mcperrmcperr Member Posts: 74
    The auto-on headlights feature on our EX also does not turn on the dash lights. Maybe this is a Canadian spec. thing. I will be checking with the dealer.
  • lagavulinlagavulin Member Posts: 20
    My EX exhibits the same behaviour, i.e. dash lights do not come on with auto lights. Could be something to do with the fact that Canadian models by law must be equipped with day-time running lights.
  • claywaterfillclaywaterfill Member Posts: 534
    I'm not trying to start a "Chrysler vs Kia" thing; but, yes--if money were no object, who wouldn't take a Town & Country over a Sedona (or anything else)? Power rear liftgate (and both sliding doors), 3.8l engine, large interior and leather captain's chairs like Barcaloungers make it a no brainer for me. That being said, I do recognize that the Sedona is a fine van. That is why I voted for it in question 30. I believe the Sedona will do more to change Kia's perception in the marketplace more than anything else. Be honest here--how many proud Sedona owners out there would not have been "caught dead" in a Kia a couple of years ago?
  • bluedevilsbluedevils Member Posts: 2,554
    claywaterfill:
    Not only would I not have been caught dead in my own Kia, but a couple years ago I wouldn't have recommended ANY Kia to ANYBODY.

    As for the T&C, your views are fair enough. Personally, power rear liftgate and power sliding doors are of dubious value to me; I can open my own, and the manual versions are less likely to break. I'm sure the T&C is MUCH more luxurious and feature-packed, plus it's much larger. It would be difficult to resist those charms, but in the end I'd rather have something that I expect to be more reliable. And believe it or not, in the past 4-5 months I have developed the opinion that the Sedona is pretty well built and is gonna hold up over the long haul.

    Not having driven the T&C or anything with that 3.8L, I'm guessing it would be a wash vs. the 3.5L in the Sedona. I know it has something like 215hp, but isn't the T&C's 3.8L fairly low-tech?
  • mobilmacmobilmac Member Posts: 60
    post#1687 he's got the answer.

    When we bought our sedona, it was dark when we left the dealership and all sales persons were gone, we had the same problem, except the real problem was, we were unfamiliar with the instrument panel lay out.
    We had to pull over because we couldn't see the dash, 15 mins. later, finally and with the owners manual, we were on our way with dash lights.

    On page 2.3 of the sedona's owners manual, is a diagram with the switch layouts.

    On the lower left of steering wheel beside the rear wiper switch is the instrument panel illumination knob roll it up or down to illuminate the dash.

    Hope this helps.
  • mobilmacmobilmac Member Posts: 60
    I can't beleive you guys let him off that easy, and yes, i'm yelling (all caps). 2 keyfobs, and no one ask how,why, do they work.

    Your slipping bluedevil.

    How did you get 2 keyfobs, and do both work, i've got to hear this.

    I am a keyfob fanatic, our previous vehicle had 2 fobs, and i'm not much into making sure i don't scratch the paint up trying to get the key in the hole, you know that takes it toll on that paint on the door after a couple hundred times of repetitive locking and unlocking.

    My wife has the fob and i have the key.
  • jcrider2jcrider2 Member Posts: 46
    Has any one else noticed that it has to be darker at dusk than you like when the auto system turns on the head lights?. I find most everyone else on the road already has their lights on quit a while before my lights come.
  • mobilmacmobilmac Member Posts: 60
    our headlights are, i have to say thay are pretty bright, we always have oncoming traffic flashing their lights asking us to dim even though they are on low beam, has anyone else experienced this.

    Just a thought.
  • mobilmacmobilmac Member Posts: 60
    yet, when you go under a bridge for a small instant, they come on.
    You can always lay something on the dash sensor to make them come on. I know that kind of tacky, but it works.

    I was also disappointed that we didn't have daytime running lamps, i thought we did for a while, unless ours doesn't work, i couldn't find anything about it in the manual.
    But sometimes the stuff they right in that manual is bizarre.

    But who knows, sound4him got 2 keyfobs, so anything is possible.

    You surely can't beleive everthing a salesmam says

    I would think kia would not overlook that safety feature.
  • momonthegomomonthego Member Posts: 14
    My husband is rather unhappy with our present one key fob situation. Ok, that's putting it mildly. I am the primary driver and therefore I have the key fob. He has found not having one to be annoying enough that we are having an after market dual keyless remote installed on Saturday - has anyone else done this ?
  • sound4himsound4him Member Posts: 6
    Let me clarify. When I purchased last week, the salesman gave me one and said he could not find the other. Which he ordered. I picked up on Tues. and I have to go in on Sat. for a Tech to program it, so I will let you know what happens. I also cried that I didn't get a third row mat,he is going order me one. I just received mine from Mr. Stapleton, so you might see it on E-bay:)
    I will probably turn it around and put it in the rear cargo area.
  • bbailey9999bbailey9999 Member Posts: 6
    Great board!!!! Wish I had found it before purchasing my new Sedona EX this past Saturday. I have seen a lot of discussion regarding floor mats. Mine has mats in the front and a large single mat that goes around the middle seats. Is there supposed to be one for the rear seats/cargo area? Am I missing one???

    In addition, the review on Edmunds by Karl Brauer states that there are four power ports, including one in the cargo area. I've only found two in dash and one in the rear seating area. Does anyone know where the elusive fourth power port is located?

    Any info would be appreciated!
  • bluedevilsbluedevils Member Posts: 2,554
    sound4him, we are all curious to find out if you end up with 2 working Kia key fobs. Other folks have gotten a second one, had it programmed, and then found that the first one no longer work. The claim by dealers has been that the system in the Sedona can be programmed to recognize only one fob. I hope that's not true, or if it is, that Kia is addressing it.

    After you get the second fob, make sure you check both fobs right away to see if BOTH of them work.

    So far, having only one key fob is the only thing I find annoying about our Sedona. It's pretty embarrassing to Kia, if you ask me.

    excelent3: I do plan to ask my dealer about this, but I just haven't gotten around to it. In 2.5 months of ownership, the only thing I need to take the van back for is a slight left pull. And that hasn't been enough for us to make the 45 minute drive each way. The van just hasn't had anything, even minor, go wrong!
  • bluedevilsbluedevils Member Posts: 2,554
    The 4th power port is in the cargo area (behind the 3rd row seat), down pretty low, against one of the side walls. I think it's on the right side but I don't remember for sure.

    If you bought your Sedona after Jan. 31, 2002, you should have received a factory floor mat for the 3rd row. If not, you can follow up with your dealer or with Kia customer service at ca@kia.com. Paul Stapleton will surely FedEx you a mat pronto, as he has done for several folks on this board (including me).

    As far as I've heard on this board, there is not a factory-installed cargo area floor mat.
  • hoyahenryhoyahenry Member Posts: 399
    To follow up, in addition to changing the air vent arrangement (re-directing air from the overhead to the right rear floor vent) the rr htr button likely activates a bypass valve which sends hot coolant from the engine back to the rear tire well heat exchanger.
  • yoloyolo Member Posts: 57
    I could afford a fully loaded T&C but I still went with the Sedona EX. Previous van was a 97 Dodge Grand Caravan (still have it because the lease didn't expire yet but will in 2 months and didn't want to trade in because it ended up cheaper to just keep it ) with the 3.8L and fully loaded. Sticker in 97 on it was $34,000. I looked at every van and my wife and I decided on the Sedona. It is an awesome van and the main reason I chose it was the 5 spd auto and the higher torque down low where it is useful for towing. We tow jet skis often and not too many people know that more torque lower in the rpm range is the best for towing. HP figures mean almost nothing to me. Torque is what you feel and those that own the Sedona will testify that it is very peppy with plenty of power. Since I still have the 3.8L GC, I can tell you that the Sedona feels more powerful even htough it has a smaller engine but it is more techologically advanced than the DC 3.8L. As far as power sliding doors, I never even wanted it or cared for it. Maybe for some it is important but I can't see why it is an inconvenience to grab the door handle and just open the door. The Sedona doors slide so easily and smoothly and feel the lightest out of any manual door I have opened. I was really excited when we bought the van and after close to 3 months of ownership, the excitement hasn't worn. I am convinced that this is an excellent quality van that will stand the test of time. I don't drive it often but when we take the family on weekend trips, I look forward to getting behind the wheel where before, I would just want my wife to drive.
    As a side note, I have gone to the NHTSA website to check for any TSBs or Recalls for 2002 models and there are none on the Sedona. There are several for the DC vans and TSBs for every other minivan.
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