Expensive month

Parksy

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Nov 12, 2009
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My old 2009 Mk1 Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi towcar normally never misses a beat, but the end of last month and the beginning of this one has been eye wateringly expensive.
The climate control / air conditioning stopped working, not good for towing to the bottom end of Cornwall in hot weather.
I had the system re-gassed, but still no air con.
The technical told me that he thought there was an electrical fault with the compressor because it wasn't operating.
Next stop, an auto electrics garage that specialises in air conditioning systems.
I paid for a diagnosis, and it turned out that the aircon compressor was kaput and in need of replacement.
I agreed to have the work done, with a new oem compressor and another re-gas because the one from a couple of weeks before had leaked out.
The old failed compressor had seized, so I collected the Kia complete with new aircon compressor yesterday.
The technician told me that the radiator fan now has to be replaced.
Kerching! more expense for another oem part, because cheaper after market fans aren't available for this model.
Apparently the fan hasn't been working which led to the aircon compressor failure, so if I don't get it sorted, no more aircon.
Meanwhile the insurance policy renewal had to be paid last week, a 2 car policy for the Kia and my 2013 Fiesta Titanium X.
The alternative to having a towing vehicle with no climate control would be to part exchange the 2009 model for a newer Sorento, but until now I've spent nothing on the car apart from normal maintenance and servicing.
The Kia is up for its MOT later this afternoon, wish me luck 🤞
 
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I am surprised that the first regass was done. Normally they test the system first so they can do a before and after comparison. You shouldn't be charged for one of the re-gasses, imo.

John
 
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Parksy

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I am surprised that the first regass was done. Normally they test the system first so they can do a before and after comparison. You shouldn't be charged for one of the re-gasses, imo.

John
The first re-gas was done at a separate establishment and we didn't know that the compressor was u/s before the re-gas.
The gas probably leaked because of the compressor.
The second establishment have re-gassed the system but we won't know if it still leaks until the system is running properly.
I was advised not to put too much strain on the new compressor until the radiator fan is replaced.
 
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Good luck with the cars, August is always an expensive month for us, Car insurance and road Tax, 6 monthly water Bill, Now the dog has to have its teeth cleaned, £300. Not much change out of £1000.
 
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If I remember correctly, when I have had mine done the examine the system for leeks, I think they use a sniffer thing. Test it to see if it's working efficiently. Drain it and weigh the extracted gas, then replace with the correct weight, then do the comparison test. I think that there is a law, or at least a code of conduct, which says they should not gas a system known to be suspect. From my experience I think the first outfit did not give good service.

John
 
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If I remember correctly, when I have had mine done the examine the system for leeks, I think they use a sniffer thing. Test it to see if it's working efficiently. Drain it and weigh the extracted gas, then replace with the correct weight, then do the comparison test. I think that there is a law, or at least a code of conduct, which says they should not gas a system known to be suspect. From my experience I think the first outfit did not give good service.

John
When I had our Rio done recently the ATS machine extracted 450gm of refrigerant and after integrity testing the system was filled with 4.5 kg of refrigerant. It’s all done automatically on a dedicated rig, and the customer can ask for the data print out. Works so much better now.
 
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Parksy

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The auto electrics people who fitted the new compressor only do the work that I ask them to.
The first establishment ought to have tested for leaks, and when I took the Kia to the second establishment the gas had leaked in the space of 5 weeks.
The compressor fitters tell me ( because I phoned them after reading the replies) that they've tested the system, it's not leaking but until the aircon is running regularly at full chat after the new fan is fitted they can't be absolutely certain.
If they detect a refrigerant leak they'll deal with it when the aircon is fully operational.
The Kia passed the MOT this afternoon anyway, so no expense in that respect.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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The auto electrics people who fitted the new compressor only do the work that I ask them to.
The first establishment ought to have tested for leaks, and when I took the Kia to the second establishment the gas had leaked in the space of 5 weeks.
The compressor fitters tell me ( because I phoned them after reading the replies) that they've tested the system, it's not leaking but until the aircon is running regularly at full chat after the new fan is fitted they can't be absolutely certain.
If they detect a refrigerant leak they'll deal with it when the aircon is fully operational.
The Kia passed the MOT this afternoon anyway, so no expense in that respect.
That’s good news but I wouldn’t expect anything less from “ Gods gift to caravanners”👍
 
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Jul 18, 2017
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My old 2009 Mk1 Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi towcar normally never misses a beat, but the end of last month and the beginning of this one has been eye wateringly expensive.
Meanwhile the insurance policy renewal had to be paid last week, a 2 car policy for the Kia and my 2013 Fiesta Titanium X.
The alternative to having a towing vehicle with no climate control would be to part exchange the 2009 model for a newer Sorento, but until now I've spent nothing on the car apart from normal maintenance and servicing.
The Kia is up for its MOT later this afternoon, wish me luck 🤞

I am definitely in the same eye watering club with car expenses!
 
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Jun 20, 2005
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Two Sorentos ago the air con rad failed. Not cheap. My local guy uses a spray that shows bright green if there is a leak. Thereafter both a Sories went over 100 k on the original oem bar the rad bit. They are pretty robust and well worth fixing. To this day it is very apparent the Sorentos are still the tuggers favourite. Son has one and swears by it, and he tows👍
 
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Two Sorentos ago the air con rad failed. Not cheap. My local guy uses a spray that shows bright green if there is a leak. Thereafter both a Sories went over 100 k on the original oem bar the rad bit. They are pretty robust and well worth fixing. To this day it is very apparent the Sorentos are still the tuggers favourite. Son has one and swears by it, and he tows👍
Yes, I do wonder if I should have bought the Sorento rather than the Santa Fe. With Parksy and Mehmsab in the Sorie it must be like a Tardis. 8 weeks until the Snaigton Fest.
 
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The auto electrics people who fitted the new compressor only do the work that I ask them to.
The first establishment ought to have tested for leaks, and when I took the Kia to the second establishment the gas had leaked in the space of 5 weeks.
The compressor fitters tell me ( because I phoned them after reading the replies) that they've tested the system, it's not leaking but until the aircon is running regularly at full chat after the new fan is fitted they can't be absolutely certain.
If they detect a refrigerant leak they'll deal with it when the aircon is fully operational.
The Kia passed the MOT this afternoon anyway, so no expense in that respect.
Glad the outcome was so positive and you can enjoy a further year of motoring in the car you like. Enjoy
 
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Yes, I do wonder if I should have bought the Sorento rather than the Santa Fe. With Parksy and Mehmsab in the Sorie it must be like a Tardis. 8 weeks until the Snaigton Fest.
Disagree. They are the same vehicle under the skin. The Kia gets an extra two year warranty. Remember the old BMC Badge engineering 😜
Either would do for me👍👍
 
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Disagree. They are the same vehicle under the skin. The Kia gets an extra two year warranty. Remember the old BMC Badge engineering 😜
Either would do for me👍👍

Whilst there were significant similarities the generation 1 Kia had a better off road capability than the Santa Fe.
 
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My old 2009 Mk1 Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi towcar normally never misses a beat, but the end of last month and the beginning of this one has been eye wateringly expensive.
The climate control / air conditioning stopped working, not good for towing to the bottom end of Cornwall in hot weather.
I had the system re-gassed, but still no air con.
The technical told me that he thought there was an electrical fault with the compressor because it wasn't operating.
Next stop, an auto electrics garage that specialises in air conditioning systems.
I paid for a diagnosis, and it turned out that the aircon compressor was kaput and in need of replacement.
I agreed to have the work done, with a new oem compressor and another re-gas because the one from a couple of weeks before had leaked out.
The old failed compressor had seized, so I collected the Kia complete with new aircon compressor yesterday.
The technician told me that the radiator fan now has to be replaced.
Kerching! more expense for another oem part, because cheaper after market fans aren't available for this model.
Apparently the fan hasn't been working which led to the aircon compressor failure, so if I don't get it sorted, no more aircon.
Meanwhile the insurance policy renewal had to be paid last week, a 2 car policy for the Kia and my 2013 Fiesta Titanium X.
The alternative to having a towing vehicle with no climate control would be to part exchange the 2009 model for a newer Sorento, but until now I've spent nothing on the car apart from normal maintenance and servicing.
The Kia is up for its MOT later this afternoon, wish me luck 🤞
Oooh, I feel for you!

My month is proving similarly expensive (no MOT due thank goodness!)

We arrived home on Wednesday 6th July from a tour of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge with the car on the back of a Recovery Vehicle and the caravan being towed behind (Courtesy of Green Flag Mayday). We, and the caravan, were dropped off at home, and the car was taken to our local Volvo Main Dealership (which has serviced the car since I acquired it).

And, as of today, that’s where the car still is. Just before we were due to return, the car developed an intermittent fault where the engine would suddenly lose power. On the positive side, the garage can see what exactly the problem is, it's happening when their tecnicians drive the car. However, on the negative side, they don’t seem to be able to fathom out why it's doing it.

They have replaced the fuel filter, but that didn’t sort it. They have replaced the fuel pump, that hasn’t solved it. They have changed the distribution pipe, still no joy.

So far, I’m out nearly £2,000 and I still don’t know when I’m going to get my car back.
 
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Oooh, I feel for you!

So far, I’m out nearly £2,000 and I still don’t know when I’m going to get my car back.
Yep that is the way they work. We will try something and if that does not work we will try something else and if that does not work we will try something else. However the consumer still has to pay for the labour and parts that did not rectify the fault! We have that badge big time!
 
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yep that is the wauy they work. We will try something and if that does not work we will try something else and if that does not work we will try something else. However the consumer still has to pay for the labour and parts that did not rectify the fault! We have that badge big time!
Yes, they do have us over a barrel. The car isn't safe to drive with this fault, so there doesn't seem to a lot we can do about it. We're having to console ourselves with the thought that if anyone should be able to sort out a difficult problem with a Volvo, it should be a Volvo Main Dealership.
 
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Yes, they do have us over a barrel. The car isn't safe to drive with this fault, so there doesn't seem to a lot we can do about it. We're having to console ourselves with the thought that if anyone should be able to sort out a difficult problem with a Volvo, it should be a Volvo Main Dealership.
Our 2004 S80 which was brand new had to go to the dealership several times and they could not resolve the issue with the transmission. Even had it uplifted on one occasion. Luckily it was all under warranty. Took a big hit and traded it in for a 1996 Toyota Hilux Surf that we kept for several years no issues.
 
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Whilst there were significant similarities the generation 1 Kia had a better off road capability than the Santa Fe.
Cross purposes here. The Mk 3 Sorie and Santa Fe are the same the Mk 1 and 2 Sories different.Hutch has a very modern SF which is a doppelgänger of the newer Sorie
 
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Whilst there were significant similarities the generation 1 Kia had a better off road capability than the Santa Fe.
The 1st generation Kia Sorento was unrelated to Hyundai Santa Fe or later Sorento's, developed before Kia's bankrupcy forced their alliance with Hyundai.
 
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Cross purposes here. The Mk 3 Sorie and Santa Fe are the same the Mk 1 and 2 Sories different.Hutch has a very modern SF which is a doppelgänger of the newer Sorie
It's the Sorento that's the doppelganger - Kia only exists because it was absorbed into Hyundai following it's bankrupcy.
 
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It's the Sorento that's the doppelganger - Kia only exists because it was absorbed into Hyundai following it's bankrupcy.
In 1997 Hyundai took 51% of Kia but it then led to a reduced share holding as both parties entered into an exchange ownership arrangement. Hyundais first Santa Fe was a unibody based on the Sonata salon, whereas the Sorento was a ladder chassis with more capable off road features. The two models tended to morph together as the Santa was developed and the generation 2 Sorento went soft roader and dropped the ladder chassis for unibody.
 

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