Checking Used Sorrento Before Purchase

[GeorgeandAde]

Hi.Have decided to make the change to a Sorrento 2.5 XS Auto box.
Apart from the obvious things like chassis numbers,underbody damage,service history etc.. is there anything in particular I should be looking for?
Maybe things like brakes,wheel bearings,auto box,electrical items?
Any help much appreciated.
Oh....the car is at a dealers.

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Forgot to add........its a "57" reg(yep....I know....higher tax

 

[otherclive]

Nothing springs to mind as they are pretty bomb proof. Try honest johns site, or warranty direct reliability index or the UK Sorento owners forum. I still miss my 04 XS auto which had absolutely nothing go wrong in 7 years. Make sure you get a fsh and on getting it home have all fluids changed if you cannot confirm they have been done.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

we was told when you go on a test drive to go to like a supermarket car park and put it into drive on full lock left and right and drive, also into reverse full lock both left ad right and listen out for any clunking. they are pretty bomb proof though. ours just sailed through the mot and its an 04 xs.
make sure you HPI it , its worth it.

jo

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Thanks very much for the advice.
As it turns out,the car was sold before i got to see it

 

[otherclive]

G&A,

The clunking that Jo-Anne refers to is nothing to be concerened about. The Sorento has a system where it drives the rear wheels under most normal driving and even on some off road terrain too. The higher spec models (XS/XT) have what is referred to ATT or Active Torque Transfer. This uses sensors to detect the speed of the rear wheels compared to the front wheels and if the difference exceeds a preset level the transmission automatically selects four wheel drive. The drive is engaged automatically through a clutch within the transfer box. If you put the car on full lock, whether going forwards or in reverse, and don't go very slowly the ATT system senses that there is a difference in speed between the wheels (caused by the differing radius of turn between outer and inner wheels front to back, and seeks to engage the transfer box clutch. Under these conditions car speed can vary slightly as the driver manoeuvres and the TB clutch keeps flicking between off and on, hence the clunking. If you do hear clunking either move more slowly or take it off hard steering lock, or both.The Sorento requires the rear and front tyres to be of equal diameter or the front a smaller diameter or else ATT can be 'confused'. This is not a restriction as in my experience (70k+) the front tyres wear first and so you either rotate tyres or as I prefer move the rears to the front and fit new tyres to the rear.

If you look at the two links you can find more info on ATT. Early Sorentos did suffer clutch wear in the transfer box and were fixed by Kia. Some owners had the TB repaired at specialist gearbox companies and costs were from memory about £750 with an hour each way to remove and replace. Around 05 Kia introduced a new TB oil which was more akin to an automatic transmission fluid and what was previously a rare event disappeared.
The TB oil is a specific Shell oil but difficult to obtain in small quantities but Kia dealers sell it as Kia TOD Oil Part Number 04500TA389. Also the auto gearbox uses a specific oil (not Dextron or ATF) it is Apoloil Red again from Kia dealers.

Here are some links. The technical one shows how the ATT/Torque on Demand system works (page 60 onwards). The ATT system is on new Sorentos so don't be afraid of it although changed to reflect their FWD primacy.

Good Sorentos go quickly, mine was reserved before it even left to Volvo dealer where I P/E it.

http://kiasorento.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Technical
http://www.kiaownersclub.co.uk/forum/transfer-box-diff-oils_topic4474.html
http://sorento.kia-club.ru/Repair_manual/download/DOWN/BL%204WD.pdf

Good hunting.

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Many thanks for all that information otherclive.
As you say,the good ones certainly dont seem to hang around for long.
Thanks again.

 

[waffler]

A note for others who are looking at Sorentos. They have a very big service at 50k- about £600 at a dealers so make sure all fluids have been changed.

 

[Dustydog]

I've had mine from new, Seven years later at 105k she has never missed a beat.
I do all my own servicing and source the engine oil via my son's car club to save a few quid.
Try and find an xs or xt. They have a much higher spec than the xe.
Only two things have needed fixing. The exhaust gas recirculation valve and associated turbo intercooler pipes. Allegedly caused by me using supermarket fuels for my clubcard points! Now I do shell / Esso and then the supermarket.
The front discs were changed at 90k, pretty good imo.

Check the rear shockers. They are Sachs self levelling. Mine are original but I know replacements are about £600. Check for oil weeping.
Other Clive has covered most other things.
As you have discovered finding one is the real problem.