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Kia Sedona problems
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Comments
Sure the gas mileage could be better but afterall it is a mini van. I didn't expect to see any better than 25 MPG on the highway.
The dealership (West Herr - Hamburg, NY) did a great job in helping with our decision and following up after the sale.
I don't have a repair book (haven't found one), but from past experiences on cars, a check engine light means that there is a problem with the emissions system. Some of these things include the O2 sensor, the idle control sensor, the speed sensor, the air pump (if the care has one), the catalytic converter and more. Most of these systems are tied into a computer that monitors them and kicks off the check engine light when there is something abnormal.
A fouling spark plug or something in the running circuit could cause the light to kick off as it would affect the emissions system.
On some cars, you can ground out one of the computer input wires and get it to flash a code telling you what part is defective. This requires a book and some knowledge.
If the car is not in warranty (which I assume it is not because of the mileage), a trip to Precision Tune where they can put in on a computer (used to be around $30) and tell you what the problem is, is a cheap way to diagnose it.
If you need any more information, contact me.
Hang in there,
Phillip
I've recently noticed a low hum in the front end. Of course, neither my wife nor the mechanic could hear it, but to me it's quite obvious. Anyone had a similar problem? Any thought what it might be?
Has anyone heard of this.
Also I now have 79,000 miles on this vehicle. I refuse to pay the dealer to replace the timing belt.
I intend on doing this myself. Does anyone know of where I would purchase an aftermarket belt and could I pay someone to mail me the installation procedure from a manual.?
Has anyone heard of this.
Also I now have 79,000 miles on this vehicle. I refuse to pay the dealer to replace the timing belt.
I intend on doing this myself. Does anyone know of where I would purchase an aftermarket belt and could I pay someone to mail me the installation procedure from a manual.?
The manual is available on line at the Kia site. Used to be free. Now you have to pay, but would be worth it for something like the timing belt.
Pls let us know how it goes.
Check out NAPA for the belt...they seem to have just about everything I've needed for the Sedona so far.
Your second comment about the timing belt,I would strongly recommend rethinking that. Not to be rude or disrespectful but I would be willing to be you have no clue what you are up against if you decide to change it yourself. Nor the tools quite frankly.
Putting off changing the belt well if the belt breaks IT WILL bend every valve in both heads. It is a interference engine. So then you will not only have the expence of the t-belt but also the engine repair.
Good luck
Good luck
As far as the shifting issue is concerned you may be no knowingly compairing the shift patterns to the GM. Cant do that. There transmissions are self learning,meaning driver can actually dictate shifting patterns. But they are a very smoothly shifting tranny. And also a very good transmission also.
Your window "popping" noise,that can be corrected with the replacement of the window regulator,simple repair.
Front strut noise is actually normal. Yes there is noise and most likely replacement of the bearing plates will take care of the majority of it .But here is the biggest issue. Your practically sitting on top of the strut towers so therefore you WILL here alittle more suspension noise. Welcome to the mid engine world.
Tire wear,check the alignment. Rotate on a normal basis,35 psi.
Wasnt attempting to be rude,jsut helpful.
Just a suggestion
Your two quick e-mails have addressed the majority of Kia problems routinely talked about on this board. The two other major ones talked about are the a/c hum/noise that seems to be common with the Sedona, and the electrical fires that a few folks have talked about.
Appreciate your comments.
Lets put the ac issue in hand first. Sure of the some of the vans over time will experience a "ac hum". AC compressors will begin to make noise,regardless of manufacture and or model. If ya have 50,000 vehicles sold dont expect everyone to be perfect. It aint going to happen. Now with that said some 02-03 sedona's built before 12-02 may experience a "humming noise of vibration noise". There is a revised low side hose that is lcoated on the ac compressor itself to correct this issue,if it is related to your complaint. Remember just because you read this doesnt mean that is automatically the problem. Kia offers a awsume warranty for issues. Use it. Replacement of the compressor,if that is in deed the issue will of course fix it. No biggy.
Some 02 and 03 models may experience a "roaring" noise from the back AC. Cut off 12-20-03 is dictated by production date. That noise is the result of the expansion valve in the reaer unit. A upgraded valve corrects this issue.
Hope some of this helps
Sincerely
You have to kind look at it from my point of view when it comes to replying to comments.
Enjoy and have a great day
Are you interested in other Kia discussions as well? If so, you can find them with the Browse by Vehicle search feature on the left.
You've made some great posts that are sure to help many, many people.
Enjoy our Forums!
Pat
Roving Host
Sincerely
:shades:
If I had to play the odds I would be willing to guess that the reason for the light coming on was most likely because of either a CCV or the Purge Solinoid Valve,ie small evap leak or gross evap leak. Just a guess.
Engine issue,why was the engine replaced?
Post have already been made in reference to the strut noise.
Enjoy :shades:
Thanks! :surprise:
At least two people posted with electrical fires in the dash. Generally, if you compare this with 631 postings for a car that is now 4 model years old, the complaints are pretty few.
Your comments are valued. Hope you keep posting!
While getting it inspected previously at another dealer in the city, I had asked about this problem. (I could not duplicate it then...probably because I was so close to the signal) He said that what he was doing in situations like this was adding an extra ground connection to the radio.
Any suggestions? :confuse:
Isn't it wonderful to own a Kia. I just wish this was my only complaint. My van came with a DVD system, (the main reason I picked this one over the Ford I was looking at), and it was broken before I left the lot for home with it, and broke again after that. I just wasn't ready for that, I never thought to ask myself what am I going to do when the paper work has been signed and the brand-new van has something that needs replacing on it before I leave with it, hindsight aside I should have kept my Malibu.
Ok the timing belt.
I have done many tb's but as you know each type or make of vehicle has it's own circumstances. I still want to do this . I know I can save some $
I just didn't want to have to buy the manual.
The gas smell.. Some of you have wrote and mentioned some possibilities.. ie loose cap cat converter.... no no no no no . I have been there done all that.
This is raw gas like if you spilled it on the floor strong raw gas! My wife and family think were going to blow up.
I used to work at a ma and pa service center so I know enough that this is not right. It can't be wet gas though because it tends to dissipate quickly.
It seems to come in the air vents like its coming off the fuel rail or something. I have given the dealer as much info as I can
1.
During the warmer months I get intermittent occurrences of raw gasoline smell inside my vehicle. it is not from the road surface or other vehicles. by the time i get it to the dealer they cant duplicate the problem.
Has anyone heard of this.
2.
Also I now have 79,000 miles on this vehicle. I refuse to pay the dealer to replace the timing belt.
I intend on doing this myself. Does anyone know of where I would purchase an aftermarket belt and could I pay someone to mail me the installation procedure from a manual.?
3. to reply to some of the topics.
I have also found that the pulsing brakes may have more to do with the rear drums . I even had a dealer service rep tell me they were fine. At 270000 mi and then at 33,000 tell me the brakes are shot. He also told me that Kias don’t have automatic adjusters It’s a DOT requirement that they have those. Anyway I fixed those brakes myself.
4. My 2002 Sedona gets really bad mileage 17 hwy if I am lucky Dealer said it was normal.
5.
Also now the air bag indicator has come on. about 5 months ago I had trouble with the A/C and heating cluster. At that time I also had my windshield replaced.
Could a wire have been loosened?
Another forum I saw where someone said this was due to the switches in the safety belt couplers..... what what do they have to do with an airbag system. They must be thinking of the seat belt light instead. or could someone comment?
6.
My AM Radio stinks also especially when my cell phone charger is plugged in. It almost seems like old cars when you could get Impedance mismatch on the antenna and you had a trim capacitor to tune calibrate the antenna to the radio.
In most of these issues the dealer has tried to blow off my concerns
#4261 of 4265 Re: 2002 Sedona Gas Smell [mnkids2kias] by claires HOST May 04, 2005 (1:01 pm)
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This forum is for the discussion of the features, attributes, etc. of the Kia Sedona. You might want to post your question in the Kia Sedona Problems discussion to see if the folks there have answers to your problem.
Claire
Hopefully, this doesn't keep occuring, lol.
Mari
I bought a new 5 speed manual Carnival (I am in Australia) last July and am very happy with it.We bought it because we wanted room as we trade at antique fairs and the seat removal and 2 sliding doors is ideal to get heaps of stuff in the thing. Nothing has broken or fallen of the vehicle. OZ has the 2.5 litre petrol motor in them which is OK but not startling although it cruises very well above the speed limit when it is safe to do so.The only problem(s) I have with it, and the dealer can't find them, is an intermittant rattle which seems to come from the left front wheel and a clunking noise which comes from the right font wheel the first time it is used each day. This clunking only last for the length of our drive way and doesn't come back for the rest of the day. In the old days I would have said that it is a lack of grease in the CV joint (ah la Mini Minor) but the mechanics shrugg me off as knowing nothing as they are the experts. Has anybody else had experiences with these noise?
Cheers from OZ
Yesterday I took the gas cap back off and put it back in according to the dealership, drove it for a little bit and the check engine light went off (yippee). Unfortunately, when the hubby drove it to work last night it came back on. Only thing he did that I don't do is use the cruise control.
Could that be causing an issue? I really don't want to have to take it to the dealership if I can avoid it.
Mari
I'll just have to take it to the dealer's to find out what the problem is.
What I don't understand is I have checked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website where they keep a database on safety issues for all modern vehicles. I was surprised to not find any reported fires listed for the Kia Sedona. I don't understand how a safety problem of this magnitude would not be documented. If two or three have been reported here, there must be more, but on the NHTSA site it's as if the problem doesn't exist. Can anyone comment?
Please go to the nhtsa web sight, under nhtsa quick links, go to what are you looking for... go to recalls. Under recalls find complaints and click on search. Then go under ( vehicle ), then year ( 2003 ), make ( Kia ), model ( Sedona ), type ( passenger car ), componet-first try ( electrical systems ), don't forget to check the "see full summary box", read the 3rd entry. Then next go under ( electrical system wiring front underhood ), then try ( electrical systems wiring ). If that is not enough you can also look up 2002's and find a few more. It is a bit time consuming to find the information... but it is well worth the information. So sorry, but the problem does exist.
The a/c moaning was supposedly fixed by a new hose design. Sounds like they should be replacing the a/c compressor. See KIATech's post on the subject. I'm sure he will have words on your post.
The thump you hear could be the door/gate closing with vaccum to switch vents around (defrost to dash to floor or a combo), or the compressor kicking in. On some cars that is quite pronounced.
Our Sedona caught on fire today May 20, 2005 sitting in Mcdonald's parking lot while my wife and two children were inside Mcdonald's. There is nothing left of the inside of the van.
Can you post a link to some photos?
In addition to being informative to examine, it would help eliminate any doubts that your post is authentic.
Thanks,
-SM
EXCERPT
AUTO INDUSTRY REPORT: Kia to recall minivans
May 26, 2005
Kia Motors America Inc. said Wednesday it's recalling more than 37,000 minivans because of possible damage to a rear wheel bearing that could cause a crash.
Kia said a defect might exist on 37,358 Kia Sedona minivans from the 2003-05 model years that have alloy wheels. Company engineers found that moisture can accumulate around the small steel cap that seals the rear hub and bearing assembly on alloy wheels and lead to damage to the wheel bearing.
The company said a failure can occur without warning and cause a crash. The company said it's unaware of any accidents the defect caused. There have been four warranty claims due to the problem, said Kia spokeswoman Rose Krupp.
The majority of the vehicles, more than 26,000, are from the 2004 model year, the company told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
-SM
I have taken it to the dealer and they haven't been able to verify either way.
I have a 2003 Rio Cinco and both go to 9999.
In my opinion if it only goes to 999 it is pretty much worthless. I use one to keep track of my mileage and the other to track mileage between oil changes and/or total mileage on long trips.