Sorento owners: Watch your radiator overflow bottles!

[SpectraMan]

Hey Gang!

These postings on a KIA bashing site caught my attention because it sounds like it could be a legitimate "weak spot" with potential to cause catastropic engine failure.

I'm posting this NOT to bash KIA, but to warn Sorento owners of a potential problem that appears to be easily preventable.

Now whether you should HAVE to be preventing it in the first place is for you to argue about.

-SM


POSTING 1

2003 KIA Sorento -- Kia=Krap Imported to America

Date Posted: 10:12:16 11/23/06 Thu
Author: Margaret and Barry Jacques
Subject: 2003 KIA Sorento

Anyone who owns a 2003 KIA Sorento beware. Replace the coolent bottle before 70,000 miles. Mine cracked, leaked, idiot light didn't come on and engine is now ruined. KIA denies responsibility. It is a longer story than that but the bottom line is that KIA will go to any length to avoid paying off warranty claims. Our next step is a lawyer.



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POSTING 2

2003 KIA Sorento -- Kia=Krap Imported to America

Date Posted: 09:54:34 11/23/06 Thu
Author: Margaret and Barry Jacques (Ripped off)
Subject: 2003 KIA Sorento

2003 KIA Sorento owner. My engine destroyed itself because of overheating. Dealership blamed aftermarket timing belt installed by independent garage, The real reason was a cracked coolent bottle WHICH IS NOW ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. This tells me that there has been a major problem with these bottles.

The dealership and KIA denies responsibility so our next step is a lawyer and perhaps a class action lawsuit. How many KIA Sorentos are out there with ruined engines because of this bottle? How many times has KIA denied responsibility?

[gee6]

Anyone who is a regular visitor around the various Kia Sorento forums
will probably already know about this (it relates only to early models iirc). As far as I can tell, the leak, IF it happens, is small - not catastrophic.

If the owner is performing routine checks, then the drop in coolant level should be noticed before engine damage occurs. I have read of those who have had the coolant reservoir replaced under warranty. I could understand the dealer/manufacturer not allowing a claim for engine damage.

As to whether the leak should happen in the first place, I think it falls in the same category as sh!....

Regards

[beyond_help]

alot of vehicles have low coolant level sensors in the radiator, they are especiality critical in aluminum and aluminum headed engines

mfg's vehicles who do not have these are purely a cost saving measure, this doesn't eliveate the operators resoponsibility to check fluid levels weekly IMO

sadly gone are the days of "full service" service stations, and some people are just by no fault of their own "mechanicly disinclined" to the piont they can't tell the difference between the brake, coolant, windshield, resivours

[Murphwiz]

The point that something is on backorder is completely meaningless.
It could mean the 5 they had in stock for a country are sold.. or it could mean the 500 they had are sold... or... they have never held stock so need to import some for stock.

[riverider]

thank's for another heads up. I think anyone with the older sorentos and even the new ones should keep watching the plastic bottles. Better safe then sorry later. As the poster is tellingus Kia won't be of any help if this same thing happen to us.

[Alfer]

Arrrgh!! You all jinxed me!!

This morning my parents called me to tell me that the area on their driveway that I parked had a big trail of some kind of fluid...dad said it didn't really smell, but it had a slight oily feel.

Well today in my garage I notice a thin dried trail of something under the Sorento (2003 EX 4 x 4 with 30,600 miles).

Sure enough I notice some coolant residue (green) clinging to the underside by the passanger side of the vehicle.

I decided to take it out on the road this afternoon...we went to a local book store and after I parked, I looked under the passenger side and found a mini fountain of coolant dripping in the same vacinity of the coolant reservoir...I opened the hood and looked behind/below the reservoir and saw a running flow of coolant.

Tommorrow a.m. I'm draggin it into the dealer for repair...should be under warranty since it only has 30,600 and is at the 4 year mark as far as years in service.

Wish me well!

[SpectraMan]

Originally Posted by Alfer

Arrrgh!! You all jinxed me!!

This morning my parents called me to tell me that the area on their driveway that I parked had a big trail of some kind of fluid...dad said it didn't really smell, but it had a slight oily feel.

Well today in my garage I notice a thin dried trail of something under the Sorento (2003 EX 4 x 4 with 30,600 miles).

Sure enough I notice some coolant residue (green) clinging to the underside by the passanger side of the vehicle.

Well, thanks to the Internet you had some forewarning about this, and knew immediately what was "goin' down".

At least you haven't toasted your motor over it. This is the type of thing that I think ALL 2003 owners should replace prophylatically (aka: before it's needed) to eliminate the worry and possible damage. In other words, picture this puppy going bad just as you pack up to head out on a 2 week trip out west, so something like that!

It's almost like a timing belt. Change it if you know what's good for you, or live with the consequences if you have this knowledge and DON'T.

-SM

[Alfer]

Any idea why when the leak first started draining out badly, the liquid had almost no smell and it was almost an oily water consistancy??

What's this I hear online about condensation appearing in the coolant??

[Alfie168]

I recall watching helplessly from a distance as a young lady carefully poured a quart of best 16w/40 multigrade....into the radiator header tank of her car.

She had the right idea though. Fluid check once a week..oil, coolant, brake fluid, washer bottle. Stitch in time etc. You have to have some sympathy for those with damaged engines, but we are talking about a highly sophisticated mechanical/electrical piece of machinery weighing 2 tonnes in which you daily risk your life and the lives of others. A five minute check is not too much to ask. The fact that so many omit these checks is a testament to the overall reliability of the modern vehicle, but I do feel some distaste for those who try to blame someone else when they overlook these checks and suffer the consequences as a result.

Alfie 168

[cmhj2000]

Originally Posted by Alfie168

The fact that so many omit these checks is a testament to the overall reliability of the modern vehicle, but I do feel some distaste for those who try to blame someone else when they overlook these checks and suffer the consequences as a result.

Alfie 168

10-4. The bottom line is something as simple as an overflow bottle should part of everyones, weekly/monthly maintenance program.