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To be fair...and to my surprise...the dealer representative (the Kia guy who deals with dealers) did call me back. He was going to visit the dealer and try to help resolve the issue. I am encouraged by the conversation I had with him. We shall see if it leads to resolution of the problem.
I finally have a resolution to the A/C noise. Recall the A/C compressor was recently replaced under warranty, the mooing noise persisted. I returned the van for service at the dealer with the explicit directions to replace the rear A/C expansion valve under warranty.
The dealer stated the nothing was broken and the noise was a "common concern for this vehicle." That did not sit well with me and after getting no where with the dealer I called customer service. One important detail is the dealer did hear and diagnose the sound as being the rear A/C expansion valve.
I talked to a customer service case manager on Kia's 1800 number and he discussed the situation with the dealer. I faxed the posted .pdf file describing the issue and how to fix the noise to the customer service case manager. I guess that did it because I got a call saying the van was ready...new valve and all.
The customer service case manager even called to follow up.
Be persistent, I think the Kia warranties work on a reject everyone first, only fix it if the customer pushes back, basis.
Well....I tried to be fair.....the dealer rep stated he was visiting the dealer who sold me the van....and that they or he would call me back......no call from the dealer....no call from the representative. Apparently, buying Korean is a bad idea. What good is a warranty that is not honored? A Honda, though more expensive, would have been the way to go.
I had the same experiance with my old car, a Rover620, it was due to the A/C cooling control valve, at some "settings" it was stuck/erratic.
I replaced it and all okay.
After a few more calls to Kia and the dealer rep....I finally had authoization to replace the rear expansion valve. The local dealership denied that the rep had authorized the fix....I called him back and let him know about the issue....called the dealer back and they agreed to replace the valve under warranty. I cannot report a complete fix....I'll have to wait until summer to run the a/c consistently.
Be persistent, I think the Kia warranties work on a reject everyone first, only fix it if the customer pushes back, basis.
Good to hear that your issue was resolved. But I have to agree totally with your comment. This is the way KIA deals with its customers. Pretty poor if you ask me, but to be fair the product itself (especially the earlier models) have some reliability issues.
For DW and me it was a complete engine blown twice by the time 75,000kms came and 6 years.
Needless to say we sold the car (for a huge loss) and got something with a bullet proof engine in it.
Ive been starting to hear this mooing / vroom sound when i have the AC on, but only when i break.
i was wondering on any updates from those who did change the valve,
I want to be sure thats the problem before i go to the dealer again.
the first time i went, they said it could be the brakes. I would have to pay to change them, then see if that was the problem ,what B/S. (31000 miles on the van).
Ive been starting to hear this mooing / vroom sound when i have the AC on, but only when i break.
i was wondering on any updates from those who did change the valve,
I want to be sure thats the problem before i go to the dealer again.
the first time i went, they said it could be the brakes. I would have to pay to change them, then see if that was the problem ,what B/S. (31000 miles on the van).
I'm on my second Sedona...an '04 this time. I'm still close to the '03 with the original vroooom sound and have not heard any negative reports on the A/C...the vans in Florida now, so the A/C's getting used everyday.
I had the same experiance with my old car, a Rover620, it was due to the A/C cooling control valve, at some "settings" it was stuck/erratic.
KIA fixed the problem
Linear Mode
