By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Normally the dealer should just keep a key serial number on record so you can get a replacement if you lose one or both of the keys you have, because you can't get these keys cut by a locksmith.
I don't know what book that you were referring to. I assume the manual for your alarm and not the owner manual from Kia.
Someone mentioned there is no info about the transmission fluid replacement on the owner manual. Isn't it at 30K miles? I think I did several changes on my 10 years old Accord (car sold). And I only used Honda brand ATF fluid. What about Kia cars?
I have about 7100 kms on my Sorento. I changed my ATF not because of millage but because I want the best for my truck. So I chose a TOP synthetic brand.
And no, the ATF which got in is not from Kia. I did not mentionned the brand because I'm not sure if it's ok to post brand names here.
Dealer names are ok, most stuff is fine. We ask that you not post names of salespeople or other individuals who may not want their names broadcast on a public forum. And no promoting competing auto forums please. Check the Member Agreement for more nitty gritty if you wish.
Steve, Host
The ATF my dealer put in is from AMSOIL. I chose this brand name because of their reputation.
Steve, Host
In my opinion, this was caused by over torquing of the Lug nuts by my dealer when they balance my tires @ 2,000 miles.
I did get my keys! The raido transmitters given to me were the ones that came from the " remote starter" manuf.
The dealer simply kept the Kia issued push button gizzzmos. The dealer has agreed to hand them over since I paid for them. I will Kia,s remote unlock/lock transmitters if I ever remove the remote starter unit (if it ever fails that is.)
Dealer was unable to provide me with the secret IMMO bypass PIN code. he indicated having talked to Kia Canada and confirmed that "my" PIN code to manually byapss the IMMO function, was in fact the PIN code listed "as an example" in the owner's book !
That means that every KIA SORENTO in Canada is coded with the same PIN code... !!! not very good if TRUE !
Dealer said he is waiting for some special computer to alter the default PIN code, Untill then, if I ever have IMMO problems I am to use the one listed in the book (user manual).
The dealer did specify that without the colored master key he would be unable to program a replacement ???? By the way I do have the little metal plate and number that came with the keys.
sorry for the confusion .....I did get all my keys !
At my next service visit...I expect a true "Personal Identification Number" not a default one !!! :-(
In my user manual , there is a section explaining the IMMO display. IMMO flashes 6 times when starting the Sorento.
The book says that in the case of IMMO staying lit for whatever reason the owner can manually bypass the IMMO bilizer function by manually keying in the PIN code. In the case of 2345 for example... the owner must alternate the key between ACC and ON at a certain rate and intervals to "morse code" in the PIN value 2345.
Alternate ACC-ON 2 shots
then 3 shots
then 4 shots
then 5 shots
and IMMO is suppose to go off . Then you start the car normally
Hence, a PIN code is required presumably for each Sorento otherwise any crook would know to use 2345 as the sequence to manually bypass the IMMObilizer function.
I assume a few things here, since I do not have technical specs on the immo function itself.
Maybe a simple parking lot jockey could copy the keys, get one's address on the registration in the car and then do a night time visit at home to steal the car by manually bypassing the IMMO with the standard PIN code 2345.
Not knowing any better till my dealer says otherwise, the Sorento seems to be like a 1000 Fort Knox each having the same coded lock on the front gate !
what I paid for it.... ? If you are talking the remote starter/anti-theft feature it was $500 at the dealer. I probably paid to much but if anything goes wrong......it ain't going to be ping-pong between the dealer and another supplier !!
The car... I paid $29826 less $11,00 trade X 1.15 for taxes = $21650 CDN (includes a/c tax, registration etc...)
I then added the trailer hitch(3500lb)for $500 and the remote starter/anti-theft for $500 ($1000+taxes= $1150) Grand total $22,800 CDN after trade in.
Aside from gas... the only little bug is the rear door latch which needs an extra firm hand to lock down good. So far so good but the honeymoon has only been going 2 weeks ! The car feels great, turns great and firm, accelerations are fully adequate for me. Looking forward to a long trip to test it out milage wise.
lok888,
I had a remote starter/alarm installed on my '03 Sorento 2 weeks after picking it up, in mid Oct. It is a solid 2way unit with full LCD display for main remote. It works well with all of the needed features. Remote starters are very handy and convenient in the winter. I had one on my previous vehicle and did not think twice about putting one in the Sorento. The addition of the alarm this time was necessary for insurance purposes and the fact that these are sharp looking suv's and would likely attract the eyes of a car thief at some point. Overall, my insurance increased for the new Sorento, but the new premium was lowered by ~$30/yr if I had an audible alarm installed.
My system is an UltraStart 4355 LR-AM ... $650 Can installed with keyless entry for doors and the rear hatch window.
American models are available to, you can check them out at the website www.ultrastarters.com
-Oct. 2002 - She purchases a Sorento, first lot that came here.
- Jan. 2003 - While parking at a mall, power locks go crazy, start to engage, disengage super fast. She takes the car to the dealer, they said problem was some electric part and that it would be months until the part gets here. Instructed her to temporarily lock/unlock the car using the key.
- Between Feb. 2003 and Sept.2003 battery went dead two times and several other electrical problems occurred. She did mentioned that an aftermarket alarm was installed in the SUV, but it was later removed by [u]cutting the cables[/u] by her dealer since they said it was causing problems. No further explanation was given by the dealer. They just handed over to her the control module with the wires cutted.
- Then, Oct. 2003... while leaving her house, she smelled something burning. Seconds later smoke was in the cabin. She stopped the car and ran out. To make a long story short, the cabin caught fire. YES, FIRE! The whole dash melted down. Front seats, windshield and inner roof liner damaged. "Fortunately" some security guards saw the thing and came with extinguishers and eliminated the fire. I saw the pics and believe me it was sad!
Now insurance doesn't wanna cover since it was not theft, wreck or vandalism. I can already hear them blaming the aftermarket alarm system. Also, they said fire originated in the car's computer.
What do you guys think?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
My car towed to the garage. A machine found an electrical problem with the aftermarket foglights and power door locks. My car had no power door locks. I added it in junction of the aftermarket auto alarm. However, I didn't have any problem with my other car ('93 Accord, car sold) with these aftermarket items.
It sounds like your co-worker has an improper installed aftermarket auto alarm system. I don't believe it is the car's problem. My questions are: Was she having the power locks problem after the alarm system has installed? Why the fire occurred in October when the control module unit was removed in September.
starting the Sorento with a remote starter.
In bad icing or snow conditions where the wipers are frozen in, remote starting the 2004 LX Sorento causes the wiper motors to force needlessly against the "ice-in" wipers. This could lead to burnt wiper motors or blown fuses on the wiper circuit. My previous Caravan never engaged the wiper motors on a remote start ! Is this a Sorento problem or a remote starter not having been hooked-up properly to bypass the wiper motors on a remote start mode. ???
-mike
I pretty much like a lot about Sorento. The only thing preventing me from buying it is the quality. It does not matter how many years of warrantees they have for it if the car is bad, because the long warrantees will become frequent visit to the shop.
Many professional reviews of Sorento are very good. Really interested in the true owner's view about it.
Mechanically it has been flawless so far, just had to become adjusted to some of the newer technology features and how they operated (ie. abs brake system, a/c operation). The engine is so quiet at idle that there is no body vibration felt, I can hardly tell it is running without checking the tach!
The only real mechanical issue may be that rear drivetrain vibration at speed problem reported by others which I was aware of from reading this forum and made sure to check for that during test drives.
The Jeep Liberty was one of a few other suv's that I was looking at and comparison shopping with the Kia and after seeing it just felt the build and interior layout/quality was less appealing to me than the Sorento. And now I have just seen here that the '02, '03 Liberty has been issued with a recall, so maybe I have made the right decision so far!
Liberty recall info at:
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031108/NE- - - - - WS08/111080135
BTW, do you have 4WD (either LX or EX)? I have found this thump feeling at the rear wheels when I left my foot on brake and just about to take off after I stop for light. This thump feeling is especially strong when I stop from high speed then take off again. I found most Sorento 4WD owners with the same observation from other car discussion website.
I do not have any thump feeling from the rear wheels after stopping from low or high speeds.
Have been impressed with the braking so far, can stop on a dime with these 4 wheel disc brakes. Very smooth and straight, with no pull to either side.
I do have a remote starter installed, so thought I would test the wiper thing and did find that mine will operate as well if left on. I don't think this is a problem/issue though as I suspect the wiper motor is working from a live circuit tied to the engine running or a fuse that the starter module has to be hooked into (ie. park lights). I don't leave the wipers on anyway so this won't affect me. As said by dekester, pretty easy to turn them off!
The Kia wiper de-icer feature has been great for frost and snow/ice conditions. That feature and the heated mirrors/rear defrost are being used a lot by me now that winter has set in.
Duncan
Doesn't sound like anyone has nailed the cause yet.
I've had mine for 11 months, 8200 mi. Only problems were a loose connector on the purge valve (emissions control) and a failed MAF sensor, which by the way is a Bosch component. These both occurred at 1500mi. and did not affect the car. I've used it getting through deep snow, long trips and towing up to 2500lb and I have truly enjoyed this vehicle.
I am still looking for my next car and my first SUV.
When checking out the Sorento, like you I read a majority of very positive reviews with no real problems. One auto journalist had a vehicle with this vibration and mentioned it as very bothersome and I read of a few owners on this forum with it, so I was looking for that when doing test drives. From the description of the vibration occurring in a certain speed window only it sounds to me like something is not balanced properly. This could be due to improper wheel alignment, drive shaft alignment, loose u-joint, etc. Since I don't have this problem it is obviously preventable and fixable, IMO.
It's likely that a majority of owners do not have this problem, and only the few who do have reported them here. Every vehicle that you research here, you will find owners that have a problem in common, decide how important it is and look for these in the test drives.
I'm not sure if the '04 models have this vibration or if Kia has recognized it as a problem and fixed it. I can tell you that my Sorento was a late production '03 and so far it has none of the little problems or annoyances that have been reported here from owners that were buying the first '03 models at this time last year. The few TSB bulletins out have only applied to the early production Sorento's so they would have been fixed in mine. Lately I have been listening for the crackling sound from the heater ducts that some owners noted last winter, so far have not heard anything with my heater now in use daily.
And from the above posts on the rear 'thump', it sounds like that is maybe a normal effect with the AWD/limited slip differential combination.
Hope those comments helps you some in your decision, good luck with whatever suv you end up buying!
Hope you enjoy your truck.
As far as remote starters go, I would avoid them at all costs. Heck, you can buy them around here for about $29.95 but the true cost is invisible. Yeah, have them installed by some high school kid at the local mass merchandiser. No wiring diagrams, no training, just let him wing it. As long as it seems to work, you're out the door!
The Sorento like many other vehicles today, uses a "body" computer. That's what allows it to shut off your lights after you left them on for a while or lock your doors after you unlock them with the remote and walk away without getting in. I was planning to alter the operation of some of the electrical devices until I checked the Sorento service manual- too many circuits pass through that body computer. It's just not worth the effort.
Apologies for the extensive posting.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I bought my LX 4WD (without TOD) Sorento back in Sept. 2002. In 2003, my dealer installed the LSD found on the EX model.
This summer, I had this " thump " at stops; which I never had in 2002. So I'm pretty sure that this thump sound comes from the LSD.