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Kia Sedona problems
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Comments
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5403348/
My previous response was deleted due to the fact that I published *links* to other forums. I forgot the "policy". Hopefully you saw the original before it was yanked.
If not, here's the "Cliffs Notes" version:
- Make your photo site a clearing house of your related communications with KIA, NHTSA, etc.
- Offer your site up to host pics and info of other Sedona fire victims.
- Post your site's URL on every automotive and family-based forum board on the web. I found over half a dozen with a quick Google search... you should be able to do the same. The KIA forum on Google Groups (USENET) (gee... can I say that in here?) has a person currently with a Sedona that had a battery explode and whack a lot of electronics/wiring under the hood. The van now has *major* electronic gremlins running around it, several which seem to be causing some unintended acceleration problems. The USENET poster, a guy named Paul, claims to have email addresses to honchos at Hyundai/KIA's Korean headquarters, and he's posted a website address that you can reach him at. Someone who read his posts forwarded the addresses to him, and I bet he'd be willing to pass along the favor.
If that doesn't get you some kind of reaction from KIA, then nothing but a spanking from the NHTSA will get the job done!
Good luck,
-SM
Secondly, Has anyone experienced problem with the internal lights not coming on while the switch is in the correct middle position?
Finally, has anyone experienced a problem with the keyless entry and the car locking by itself. I understand the component exists when your back door is open but after a minute it is scheduled to lock for safety, but this occurs with no regularity nor consistency. Van will just lock up with out being activatied to lock?
ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED
TOM
Did you ever follow-up on the alt.autos.kia thread on Google Groups (USENET) and contact 'Paul', the guy with the KIA HQ email list? If not, here's the form on his website where you can do that. http://www.the-coach.com/askcoachpaul.htm. Tell him that you saw his posts on USENET, and would like him to forward you the same addresses. Someone on the 'Net sent them to him, so I'd think he'd be interested in helping you out.
If you read his most recent two posts below, it appears that by contacting Korea directly, he's getting some action. Why don't you do the same and let us know on here what happens.
-SM
BEGIN POSTING EXCERPTS FROM USENET:
plitwack Jun 20, 6:31 am show options
Newsgroups: alt.autos.kia
From: "plitwack" - Find messages by this author
Date: 20 Jun 2005 03:31:19 -0700
Local: Mon,Jun 20 2005 6:31 am
Subject: Re: UPDATE - 1 week later re: Kia Battery Exploded - still VERY unsafe
Thanks for your kind reply.
Unfortunately Canada does NOT have similar Lemon Laws and the
President's office has been involved since the day after the battery
exploded.
We are trying to avoid legal action as this fiasco has already drained
us emotionally and financially. To be honest, I think that is what KIA
wants ... for us to just go away. We will not.
That is why we are writing to the Korean HQ directly. We have obtained
some key email contacts there since my earlier post.
... Paul
Reply
plitwack Jun 22, 7:11 am show options
Newsgroups: alt.autos.kia
From: "plitwack" - Find messages by this author
Date: 22 Jun 2005 04:11:25 -0700
Local: Wed,Jun 22 2005 7:11 am
Subject: Re: UPDATE - 1 week later re: Kia Battery Exploded - still VERY unsafe
UPDATE: June 21, 2005
We have heard back from KIA Motors (Head Office in Korea) - they are
very interested in helping us. So I'll hold further posts for a while to see how they can help.
Thanks for your encouragement and interest.
... Paul
The dealer can't find anything (that's if they even looked) since they took it for a short drive around the block and nothing happened.
Anyone out there experiencing the same problem? If yes, was it fixed? How?
Thanks! :confuse:
Got a video camera? If not, can you borrow one?
Since this is happening several times a week according to your post, make a video tape with the date/time turned on, showing the described symptoms occurring multiple times.
With that type of evidence available, I'd start pressing the dealer to simply replace the speedo and/or gauge cluster. It would at least be a starting place for them.
Let us know what the final outcome is.
-SM
We'll see how it goes.
Meanwhile, in an effort toimporve what I thought was poor gas mileage, I am seeking advice on performing my own throttle body, fuel induction/injection cleaning to hopefully improve mileage. KIA wants $425 to perform the 60K service which includes those things, coolant flush and brake cleaning. I suspect I can perform most of those things, if not all, for a fraction of the cost, not including what my time is worth. I'm just not sure about throttle body cleaning. Can anyone suggest or describe how to go about perfoming this maintenance?
Thanks,
John
I had my 30K maintenance done and they stuck me for around $325 - what a rip. I will do myself (or have someone else do it) for the 60K.
As far as MPG go, my only suggestion (and I have not tested this yet) is to remove all the seats in the van when it's only going to be you in the car. Those bad boys weigh around 60 LBS a piece - I know it's a pain to haul them out and store them, but that may be a quick way to save a little gas. I can't do this as I'm constantly transporting my 2 kids around (Child-safety seats are a pain in my you-know-where).
Also, since you have a 2002, the original tires have probably been replaced. I noticed an increase in MPG without those Khomo tires (sorry for the spelling).
I've had a few problems that you should be aware of - just don't freak out if these things happen to you:
1) Gas pedal fell off - not while driving, but still!
2) Two of the door handles broke - one pulled out, the other just broke.
3) Driver-side map light burned out (make sure you replace this before 12,000 miles or they'll charge you 8+ dollars for this)
4) Radio/CD Player shorted out.
All of these were under warranty (except that stupid little map light).
Hope this helps, and you get the answer to your throttle body question.
Mike
My wife thinks it's the rear windsheild washer pump, but I don't think that's it. Hopefully someone who knows of this problem will see our posts and offer some better insight. For a while there, I thought I was hearing things. Glad to see someone else is hearing the groaning.
I would read the manual on the "lock-itself" problem. I know you can program the car to do different things with the keyless fob. Maybe yours was programmed differently than when it came from the factory. What year is your van?
Let me know.
Mike
We just brought the Van in for the recall on 04 and these two problems. The service tech beleives it is related to the power steering system...seems plausible, but he is unsure of how to fix it. He is contacting others to see if there is a system problem that is fixable.
It could just as likely be something in the fuel pump or brake line assemby, but who knows...it is just bothersome.
Your 'groan' discription is better and more accurate...they were unable to hear it since, as you know, ti never seems to occur on demand.
I will keep you and everyone posted on what i find our via KIA
TOM
I don't know if the battery is on its last legs or if it is some sort of issue.
We need to make a dealer appointment soon for various warranty items, so I may add this to the list or I may just have a new battery installed this weekend.
- Inflate your tires to at least 38psi. The van won't ride as nice, but the higher air pressure in your tires stiffens them up so there is less rolling resistance.
- Run 5w30 full synthetic oil. Synthetic oil is more slippery than conventional oil and not only will it protect your engine better, but it allows less internal friction which will help gas mileage.
- This one makes the biggest difference. Drive gingerly. Don't accelerate quickly from a stop, or accelerate quickly when trying to speed up. The slower you speed up the better. The 3.5L engine in the Sedona offers nice power but at a price. When ever you are using it to get up and go it is sucking a lot of gas to move the almost 5,000 pounds. I have noticed if I make a conscious effort to be light on the gas pedal I can eek 2 or more miles a gallon on average per tank. All of these steps have gotten me to 20mpg, a mileage that other vans start at. Oh well, hopefully the next Sedona will be lighter.
- Chad
Eight days ago, we heard back immediately from Kia Head office in Korea and were given the direct email and phone numbers of their key executives responsible for Kia operations in North America (US and Canada). We emailed them and received email 'read receipts' that same day. So we knew they had opened our email in their Inbox.
As of yesterday when no reply had been received, we wrote our original contact, the KIA Director of Worldwide Communication to ask status.
He was embarrassed his executives had not had to courtesy to reply that Kia company policy is to leave it in the hands of the local country. (aside: if this were true 8 days ago, why wouldn't they say so then??).
We were given a Kia Head Office representative who resides here in Toronto and we left a voice mail this morning asking for assistance.
Instead of him calling back, someone else did - specifically referring to the call we made him
He was direct and curt, identifying himself as 'George' the Kia CAMVAP representative and said he was proud to be involved in the Kia decision process for our car from the beginning. (aside: I wouldn't be so proud ;-)
His sole purpose seemed to be to read a prepared statement from the company that future communications with the company would only take place at a CAMVAP arbitration hearing. He was not prepared to answer any of my questions.
CAMVAP is the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan - a Government sponsored program set up to help consumers resolve disputes with vehicle manufacturers in a way that is fair, fast, free and final.
So that is our next step, by their choosing.
If anybody reading this forum has experience in preparing for a CAMVAP hearing, please do help.
Thanks and for our many Canadian and US readers celebrating July 1st and July 4th - have a good long weekend.
... Paul
You can pay Kia a few $ and get access to their Sedona mechanics manual at Kia.com. However, remember the 60 K service also includes a new timing chain/belt, as I recall. Good discussion on this previously, and it looks to be pretty hard for us shade tree mechanics. I'm sure Kiatech will weigh in here soon.
Lots of impacters on gas mileage as stated...stop and go on a heavy vehicle is a killer. I store one of my seats using a bicycle hoist I purchased at Target...avail from others as well. Basically, it is set up on a window blinds hoist so I can raise it to the ceiling of the garage (finished garage) when I don't need it, and lower it/install when I do. I keep the seat stored in a large plastic bag while in the garage. Tire inflation is critical, as is make/type of tire, as already pointed out. The 60k service also includes new plugs.
1- Kiatech is giving us fantastic info...THANK YOU
2- As to the fires...those pictures were very sobering.
As I recall, the battery is excluded from the 5 yr warantee, just like light bulbs. I'm away from home on travel now, but I do remember a lot of discussion about Kia OEM batteries only lasting 1-2 yrs, so you did well.
When mine goes out, I intend to get the biggest battery (cold cranking power) I can find that fits.
FYI, I bought a trickle charger that desulfates a battery at Northern tools ~$45. If it works as advertised, it will remove the sulphur coating on the plates that kills the battery ultimately. I leave it attached to my pickup that only gets driven on the occasional weekend. Did it earlier this year. Sort of a test project. My OEM battery in my '97 Ford F150 (purchased in '96) is still going strong (max life is supposed to be ~5 yrs) so thought I'd see just how much life I can get out of it, just for fun...might be a sea story in there somewhere.
v/r JC
If you are on line I have a questions for you...my wife reports both low beams don't work, but high beams and fog lights do. (2003 EX). Fuses check OK on swap out. My guess is that one bulb burned out and she didn't notice that, followed by the other. Just curious if you knew of something else it might be. We use the low beams all the time as driving lights. If I don't hear from you, I'll check the on-line manual. Just wanted to see if it might be a circuit. Headlights looked to be interesting challenge to change as I recall, but it has been awhile since I looked at them.
Naturally, I'm away from home right now for a long business trip, and she just left on a 1000 mile trip this am to pick up our daughter tomorrow. Thanks for any insights you have.
Have a good holiday weekend, all.
I just saw this on an 05 Sedona that I test drive. All of the gages would read zero and everything electric resets. (IE radio, cruise control etc.) I could make it happen every time with more electrical load on the system(radio, A?C on full, etc) It seems the battery was low on charge. I don't know if they have a string of faulty batteries or a recharge will fix it. In my case, I took the car back to the dealer, made them replace the battery and test drove it again with no problems.
Good Luck
I'm new to the forum, read the posts about alternator. I own a 02 Sedona, have had some problems and poor service as well. My Sedona started acting strange last Dec-Jan time frame where as the radio would just blank out, sort of like someone pulled the fuse. And within a half minute the car would just cut off - like someone turned the key off. If you tried to restart immediatey - would get nothing. If we let the car sit for a while something would reset and the car would start and run fine. We would have to reset the radio/clock. This has gone on for months, then one day the check engine light came on. And the electrical drop out would reoccur. I told my wife to get it to KIA.
Anyway, took the car to KIA in May 05 and they found bad canister valve (check engine code), and replaced the radio but NO answer for the car cutting off. Car was just over 60k warranty - and they did the repairs at no cost.
Yet, took car home and during next two months (may-june 05) car still acted goofy, radio cut out, engine cut out every once in a while. Then last week, it went really haywire. It was hot outside, 95 degrees, took a 40 minute trip with A/C on. On return trip home car started to act goofie again only worse. First radio blanked out, then A/C blower was oscillating, the air bag warning light came on, ABS warning light, then brake warning and finally battery warning. Car was running rough, I turned all electric off, opened windows and it limped home. Couldn't close power windows/sunroof at all. So obviouly it drained the battery. I waited about 4-5 hours, the battery bounced back and I was able to close windows. But car wouldn't start. Jumped it the next day, and it limped to dealer. Barely ran, same warnings came on. Car now has 65k, dealer says bad alternator AND won't cover it. I'm stuck w/ $500 repair. Called KIA national - they tried to help - but DPSM says he sees no link to previous 6-7 months of issue. Such b.s. I think the alternator was slowly dying since Jan and the hot day with the A/C running finally put it out of it's misery.
can you offer any tips or anything that can help me deal with service manager who won't budge?
regards, Bob
This may not be the thread for this, but I have a question for you. We are interested in purchasing an '05 Sedona EX. We want one with a DVD system, but no sunroof (hard to find in the color we want). Is it possible for the dealer to install the same system as the facory's and does it work as good? Our local dealer told us they could install a DVD system (don't know if it's the same), but that it really wasn't that good and we'd be better off buying one from Wal Mart that hung over the seatback. However, I don't care for this solution.
Also, does the sunroof push the DVD system far enough back that it is uncomfortable for an adult to watch in the second row? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Kallen
Just got back from having both low beam headlights replaced. (03 EX) Not unexpected as we run all the time with headlights on. ($25 each plus labor, $116 total)
Thought you might like to know there is a TSB (049) May 2005 out for EX's for the rear hubs/bearings to check/replace. Right now these are out of stock, so you might want to get yours checked/replaced. I found it out on the Kia.com service manual website ($79/yr to access BTW) although you can find it on the mycarstats.com website for free.
In regards to post 732/733, your rumble may be your air conditioning compressor. If it hasn't been replaced with a new one yet, the original unit seems to be noisy and usually fails at/near the end of warantee life. We noticed ours at 1200 miles, and the tech just ordered a new one at 42k. Still works good, though.
Stay safe, all. r/JC
Special KFX
Your lighting issue may be the switch itself. It controls the current to the lamps. Only way to verify is to be able to duplicate.
Door locking issue. May be that the door handle rods are hanging up on the inside of the door panel and in turn the switches arent going to the fully closed or open position. In turn the door locks will seem to have a mind of there own at certain times. I have seen the door lock rods hang on the vapor barrier. Hope it helps.
Will I strengthen or weaken my chances of that free warranty repair by showing up with a fresh new battery? I'm ready to get new battery installed today since we will be driving the van this weekend. Planning to make appointment at dealer for sometime next week.
This OEM battery lasted almost 3.5 years so I'm not all that disappointed.
The problem has gotten worse gradually over the past 6-12 months.
Am I likely to get any static when returning to the dealer and expecting this to be corrected free under warranty? We're well under the 5 yrs / 60k miles, but I would hate for the dealer to say, 'this is not RUST-THROUGH so it isn't covered.' I don't expect that to happen, since they already acknowledged the problem by trying to fix it once before.
Fortunately our 2002 EX still has the original bulbs all around.
Is it tricky to replace a headlight on Sedona? I've done so on other vehicles without much trouble. Now that I ask the question, it seems this has been discussed here before -- perhaps quite a while ago?
E.g. my parents have a 2003 Sedona and they can never seem to get more than 20 mpg even on the highway. Our 2002 Sedona routinely yields us 22-24mpg on the highway. We live in the same area. If anything, my dad drives a bit slower than I do.
Some reports of super-low fuel economy are hard to believe, but I do think that somehow -- perhaps due to proper or improper engine break-in -- certain units are more fuel-efficient than others.
For all: Even though they are called bumper to bumper warantees, if you read them, things like tires, batteries, light bulbs usually are 12/12 and may be prorated after that.
10 times in 18 months your vehicle has been in the shop for what? More details please. You have a 10/100 drivetrain warranty,one of the best warrantys offered by any manufacture,a 6/60 warranty that will cover 99% of all the other misc.stuff. I would be willing to bet that all of your complaints were taken care of also,or we would be hearing about them also,in your post.
Before you go "lemon" best learn what apply's before you go down that route.
Everyone that owns any vehicle including myself could complain to the cows come home about any and everything if we wanted to. Its got a great warranty,use it to its max.
No disrepect meant.
Sincerley Kiatech
After the above is done,if it applies,I would look at the throttle plate first to see if it needed cleaning,if so,I would have done that first. Then once that was done I would then look at base idle. If it then needed to be adjusted,I would adjust as needed if needed. These are NOT warranty issues by the way. This would be considered normal maintance.
The throttle cable being replaced has NOTHING to do with your above complaint. Its a upgraded cable because there were issues with the exsisting cable in extremely cold climates when moisture was present. The cable freezing baiscally,if i remember correctly.
If the check engine light is coming on most likely there is a dtc. It just doesnt come on for the heck of it,alittle humor there to lighten the situation at hand.
Oh yea and by the way if ya didnt know you can thank uncle sam for all this also. Emmisions,arent they great. I will take a set of points,set of plugs and a two barrel carb anyday and get the fuel mileage most efi vehicles get today.
Have fun,good luck and dont forget to thank the one that is trying to fix your car for you. We are a dieing breed. You think its tough now,wait till you see whats coming.
Sincerely
Kiatech