If you're the original owner these items appear to be warranty items. Is there another dealer nearby that can squeeze you in a little earlier?

 

Karen,
My two cents - If only the valve cover gasket is leaking, then just replace the gasket. If it's leaking from the oil cap, then that too. The PCV valve is your call. They say to replace it every 40k miles or so, but my Sorento has 120k miles and it works fine. And why replace the fuel regulator gasket? Is it leaking?

If you are just worried about the leak, fix the leaking valve gasket. The rest is extra stuff for the mechanic to make more money on. As for a fire hazard, I've driven many old cars that had oil leaking on the exhaust and smoking. I've never had a fire. The flash point for oil to ignite is around 300F or above. Your exhaust pipe isn't that hot.

I'm not going to be buying another Kia even though mine has been fairly good.

Oh, and no, the leak is not covered under your powertrain warranty.

 

Saying "it's not cheap" regarding the powertrain warranty tells me it's likely one you purchased and not the original owner one. Read the fine print - without any additional information I would bet money that a valve cover gasket falls under the powertrain as it's a powertrain component (engine) that is failing but again, it depends on specifics. You may or may not have to fight - it depends. If you're the original owner, that's a Kia warranty repair, no doubt.

I wouldn't want to drive too much but I got away for a bit with a slight valve cover gasket leak on an older Toyota - but the only symptom in that case was minimal - slight oil burning smell maybe a quarter of the time on acceleration.

PCV valve is probably a good thing to do if you're going to hang onto the car but I changed mine at 100k.

Do you have any issues indicating a BCM failure? If not I'd keep on trucking.

I wouldn't blame you for bailing but even if it was perfect I doubt trade-in would be very good so it may still be cheaper to hang onto it. You'll have to weigh that against potentially increases in insurance and the cost of an aftermarket security system if you want a bit better protection. (albeit, it won't stop someone from breaking in first)

 

I am the original owner. "It's not cheap" was in reference to the Mechanic's quote" (if I can't get to the Dealer until the end of May.) Which I do realize will affect the Powertrain warranty. I am disable now and need my car to go back and forth to Doctor appointments. This car is the only one I have.

 

I'm with you on not buying another Kia. I have contacted dealers and Kia corporate about the software update and get nothing back from them. Their own online tool says I should hear something in March. Well March has two days left and nothing. I suspected the software update was BS. They claim it prevents the car from starting without the key present. It's not a smart key, so that's not possible. I will install the Ghost key when it's available for the Sorento. I did contact Jordan Distributors and they are working on it, but frankly, Kia should be paying for and installing these.

https://ksupport.kiausa.com/ConsumerAffairs/SWLD

Ghost Key - Plug and Play Push to Start Conversion Kit for Hyundai and Kia

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Any possibility it's the oil pressure switch leaking. Its a common failure, the pressure sensor is tucked between the two valve covers under the intake manifold on the 3.3 engines. The leaking oil runs through the valley and ends up dripping down at the rear of the engine. Kia in the US has extended the warranty on the oil pressure switch, to 15 years or 150K miles, whichever comes first, for the 2014-2018 3.3 Sorento's. I got my letter (I'm a second owner) April, 2022 . The what to do section in the letter says " If you notice an oil leak take the vehicle to a dealer for a diagnosis.

Your BCM issue needs more info, what do they mean going bad, its a combination fuse box and mini computer that controls many functions to long to list. What's the symptoms ?

 

I'm with Bob - far more likely on that engine to be the oil pressure sending unit and as he mentioned, warranty has been extended to 15/150 - can't ask for much more than that. If it truly is the valve cover gasket, it should be covered under the remaining Kia 10/100 warranty, assuming you are the original purchaser. If you are the second owner, then you would need some kind of secondary coverage since you're well past the car being 5 years old, even though it isn't at the 60K mark yet.

 

Interesting, I never got a letter and I'm the original owner. Didn't know about it. Yes, they have my address.

 

@Karen W
Anything of the nature you describe is covered under your 10/100 warranty - assuming that you're the original owner.

The items covered by the Power Train Limited
Warranty include:
- In the Engine: Cylinder block, cylinder head and
all internal parts, timing gear, seals and gaskets,
valve cover, flywheel, oil pump, water pump and
turbo charger.

A leaky oil pressure sender is covered as well as noted above.

60 days out to an appointment? You've got Bob Bell, Nationwide and Koons in the neighborhood. Why not check with one of the other two?

Probably NOT a fire hazard. Just a few drips onto a hot engine / exhaust can raise quite a stink.

 

Great Thank You!

 

Yeah, just gotta be patient. My local dealer is always booked too. Appointments are always at least a month away! Not to mention they sometimes may not have the part in stock too! So call around your near by dealerships and chk their availability.

if it’s under warranty, no need to pay out of your own pocket. If near by dealers just can’t help you, reach out to corporate and maybe they can reimburse the repairs you are forced to make because their dealership network sucked!

good luck!

 

I'd call other dealer you can drive to. Talk to a good rep or dealers service manager. See if that one can accommodate you. I have a friend who bought a new Sante Fe under extended warranty and getting stuff done at the selling dealer was hard or long waiting. couldn't drive the vehicle with the failure. Another dealer was called some distance away and they moved her into the repair queue quick and did the big repair in a few days later. Water pump was the first thing and a big job. Other things failed and service was prompt but had to leave it never the less. There are really good dealers and other who shouldn't be in the business hurting the brand. No doubt the repair you require will require them to have it for a few days minimum. But its done in a timely fashion.

Call around and see.

 

Thank you. Will do.