Kia Warranty advice

[mikeconroy10]

The mrs has a kia still within the 7 year warranty period. Unfortunately, she has missed 1 of the required annual services on the car and so is being told the warranty will probably not cover the current repair that is needed, which is a new head gasket...

She had taken the car into the same Kia dealership a few months back as the heating matrix had gone. They repaired that under warranty with no questions asked. I'm far from a car expert, but have been told that the water loss from the heating matrix could very welll have been a cause of the head gasket subsequently going. Does she have an argument or is it just tough luck?

[ClaretAndJew]

If she has missed a service which voids the warranty you probably don't have a case, and whilst there may be causation between the first problem and the second, there's nothing to definitely guarantee that so they will probably argue that it's not their fault etc.

Maybe try and get them to compromise? Is the new set of repair going to cost a lot?

[ClaretEngineer]

Not at all “tough luck”

If you can prove that there is a leak from the system at the heater matrix then it’s down to poor workmanship.

You will need to having the cooling system pressure tested to find the exact source of the leak.

[cutsy123]

What kia has she got?

Ive been looking at leasing a sportage

[Sidney1st]

How many months back are we talking?

At time of replacing the heater matrix the technicians will refill the cooling system and ensure there are no further leaks or air pockets in the system.
If the Head gasket was faulty at the time it would've shown up via the cooling system.

You'll be lucky to link the two together after an extended period of time, because the headgasket would fail at approx the same time.

[Sidney1st]

Also, a missed service would NOT cause head gasket failure.
You need to read the small print and see what it says about engine issues.

[mikeconroy10]

I'll have to double check when exactly it was, but I'm sure it was this year that it was in there for the heating matrix replacing, so it could be 3 to 4 months ago. Also, it seems she may not have even missed the yearly service, but they haven't been done at a kia dealership and they are picking on things on them such as the mechanic not writing what grade of oil was used for the service.

[Sidney1st]

Ah ok so the oil thing they can reject it for, it's a common avoidance tactic by main dealers

Contact the garage who did the service and ask them what oil they used, they should be able to provide the information.

There are several different types now and it has to be correct, despite what some un-informed people will tell you.

Not writing it in the book may sound petty, but Kia are within their rights.
Also find out what make oil filter was used, it needs to be a proper one like Mann, Sogefi (Fram/Coopers) or Mahle for example as they're the OE manufacturers for the majority of the worlds cars.
If it's anything else that could also be used against you.

[houseboy]

Yes, the warranty is void. I lapsed on my c'eed services (£250 a shout at the time) and a year or so after the timing chain went (at 56k miles for goodness sake - I was livid). No way could I get it done under warranty even though I argued that the chain should have lasted about 30k longer than it did. Found a decent garage that put it right for less than £400 so I suppose I was up on the deal, the last one that went some years earlier cost me over £800.
For all that the Kia is a good car and I've had little problem otherwise.

[claret59]

It can sometimes work out if you contact Kia direct and explain. Most car companies are wary of bad publicity and will often come to a compromise.

[MACCA]

What kia has she got?

Ive been looking at leasing a sportage

Get a surento, well thats what I think they are called, someone has one near us, looks the muts nuts for to say it's KIA.

[yorkyclaret]

Sorento, a misspelling of Sorrento, Italy's worst tourist trap.