[PS54321]

Looking on line I found this recall bulletin which sounds like what they’ve told me. Is this the inverter thing you mentioned?

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10235407-0001.pdf

 

[96105]

Looking on line I found this recall bulletin which sounds like what they’ve told me. Is this the inverter thing you mentioned?

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10235407-0001.pdf

So that's the mysterious tool...
Not sure if it's the same issue regarding coolant warning messages, I have read the Hyundai cars (Ioniq 38kWh and the Kona's) have seen the low coolant level warning over the past 6 months or so. It was discovered the coolant was 'crystalizing' causing blockage in the battery cooling system (also used to cool invertor), hence the warning.
Apparently it was due to the 'incorrect' coolant being put in at factory, and the new type is labelled BSC-2.

Reading online a special tool had to be prvodided by Hyundai (probably Kia too) to flush out the air lock coolant system.

Due to this issue was was put off buying a Kona 64kWh and was looking at an eNiro.

This put me a little unease, knowing I HAD to take it (if I had bought one) to the dealership for a service. And like @prawlin not wanting to give them the keys to potentially break an otherwise perfectly fine car.

 

[PS54321]

It was discovered the coolant was 'crystalizing' causing blockage in the battery cooling system….

That sounds more likely than ‘lime scale’!

I think what I’m being sold is that they’ve flushed the old stuff out to get rid of whatever the ‘debris’ is but haven’t got it all and some is fouling up the pump so they’re going to change that.

The question remains why a pump intermittently being stopped or slowed would make the car go into limp mode for a split second.

Why, oh, why are main dealers so poor at maintaining their own products? There was another Niro having the same process done today when we took ours back.

I’m beginning to fear the worst but even if we get the car back working properly I think we’ll consider chopping it in in the next year or so.

 

[PS54321]

I see the inverter issue is one of leaking and applied to cars built between late June and early September 20. Ours was built before then so isn’t in that recall.
The one we’ve been unfortunate enough to get is the wider issue of crystallising (or whatever) fluid needed flushing and replacing.

 

[artyman]

The First Edition E-Niro's have been around for a while, I don't think we have heard of any problems with them.

 

[Snaxmuppet]

Checked my level yesterday after the garage topped it off... they have filled to about 1cm over the max line! A bit of insurance for them perhaps

It is holding though. I'll check again in a week or so.

 

[PS54321]

The First Edition E-Niro's have been around for a while, I don't think we have heard of any problems with them.

I’m not sure of the relevance of that?

 

[prawlin]

Checked my coolant this morning. The level was 1cm below minimum. Called the dealer, they said bring it in and we'll top up... which they did.

I'll check again next week.

BTW they said the fluid change time is over 8000 seconds to ensure the air is removed.

Doesn’t make me inclined to believe what they told you about 22 coolant changes done with none coming back does it? If they had given you a part used bottle, you could have topped it up yourself!

This whole blue coolant saga is a total dogs dinner. Add to that that the coolant flush service campaign and that some of us have the inverter internal leakage threat/full recall!

That PDF coolant flush work instruction is a real golden nugget find! Thanks. I read it through and see I t’s an incredibly long winded and complex process and has loads of scope for the numpties getting it wrong I reckon.

My car is working perfectly at just 9k miles. I’m completely dreading it going in in September for 3yr service with coolant change (maybe the debris flush process too? Though I’ve not been notified about that one) and presumably the inverter leakage recall which I received. I haven’t booked it in yet but probably should soon as it’s prepaid MOT is due then also.

Has anyone managed to find the KIA PDF work instruction for the inverter leakage recall? I would love to read that one and see just what they intend to do with my car. Peter

 

[KDon]

Had my coolant replaced on June 28th on our Kia Soul EV and we’ve done almost 800 miles since then and no coolant level drop since it was replaced.
The Kia Dealer that did the replacement did say that to ensure that they get rid of any air bubbles was to run the pump on their replacement kit for 30 minutes, after they’d put new liquid in, not the few minutes they were told in the Kia literature that they were given originally.
The work took just under 3 hours to do.
The service manager told me that using that system, they have never had a car come back for coolant to be topped up, but gave me a 3Ltr bottle of it just in case

 

[Snaxmuppet]

Had my coolant replaced on June 28th on our Kia Soul EV and we’ve done almost 800 miles since then and no coolant level drop since it was replaced.
The Kia Dealer that did the replacement did say that to ensure that they get rid of any air bubbles was to run the pump on their replacement kit for 30 minutes, after they’d put new liquid in, not the few minutes they were told in the Kia literature that they were given originally.
The work took just under 3 hours to do.
The service manager told me that using that system, they have never had a car come back for coolant to be topped up, but gave me a 3Ltr bottle of it just in case

Re the bold... boy, you have a good dealer! I ask for some and they refused. I have had to go back once already and I wouldn't be surprised if I have to go back again... but not yet.

 

[KDon]

Re the bold... boy, you have a good dealer! I ask for some and they refused. I have had to go back once already and I wouldn't be surprised if I have to go back again... but not yet.

Yes, it’s FJ Chalke in Yeovil, although I didn’t buy the new car from them, they have done the 3 x 10K services on it and always found them extremely good.
I happened to mention the possibility of getting some top up fluid from them after reading the issue of having to top up the levels on various forums and the Service manager said no problem and came back with a new 3 ltr bottle of it, adding, “you really won’t need it, we’ve done over 20 coolant refills on Kia’s and never had one come back for a top up, but have this from us FOC”.

 

[Snaxmuppet]

Yes, it’s FJ Chalke in Yeovil, although I didn’t buy the new car from them, they have done the 3 x 10K services on it and always found them extremely good.
I happened to mention the possibility of getting some top up fluid from them after reading the issue of having to top up the levels on various forums and the Service manager said no problem and came back with a new 3 ltr bottle of it, adding, “you really won’t need it, we’ve done over 20 coolant refills on Kia’s and never had one come back for a top up, but have this from us FOC”.

I like FJ Chalke. The one in Wincanton was one of the original 26 Nissan garages to get chargers back in 2010 so I always stopped there when going to London or Southampton. They have always been friendly and helpful even when they had no obligation to be.

Cool.

 

[PS54321]

Doesn’t make me inclined to believe what they told you about 22 coolant changes done with none coming back does it? If they had given you a part used bottle, you could have topped it up yourself!

This whole blue coolant saga is a total dogs dinner. Add to that that the coolant flush service campaign and that some of us have the inverter internal leakage threat/full recall!

That PDF coolant flush work instruction is a real golden nugget find! Thanks. I read it through and see I t’s an incredibly long winded and complex process and has loads of scope for the numpties getting it wrong I reckon.

My car is working perfectly at just 9k miles. I’m completely dreading it going in in September for 3yr service with coolant change (maybe the debris flush process too? Though I’ve not been notified about that one) and presumably the inverter leakage recall which I received. I haven’t booked it in yet but probably should soon as it’s prepaid MOT is due then also.

Has anyone managed to find the KIA PDF work instruction for the inverter leakage recall? I would love to read that one and see just what they intend to do with my car. Peter

I been looking but can’t find any official documents for that.

I’m still hoping that the dealer isn’t totally bullshitting and that properly flushing and fitting a new pump will sort things. I’m not entirely confident though but if they can’t do the job they’ll be in trouble because I understand they’ve got quite a few to do.

The car has been faultless over 3 years and 19k miles. It’s so disappointing that it does that then gets FUBAR because they can’t carry out what should, at the end of the day, be pretty routine work.

 

[KDon]

Must be something about car dealerships in Yeovil.
Back in 2000, I imported a new Audi TT 225 from Belgium for my birthday treat and a few months later I was going to our place in The Lakes and had a warning light come on in the dash, so called in there on my way to the M5.
Told them it was an import, although identical to the ones the dealer had and I had a warning/fuse problem.
The sales manager had the car taken into the workshop straight away where they removed all the fuses and cleaned all the contacts and the car arrived back outside of the showroom after they cleaned it.
The service manager then handed me a pack of 2 of each fuses in the box, together with a 3Ltr bottle of OEM engine oil.
When I asked how much, he said “nothing sir, maybe the next Audi you purchase you’ll come to us for a good price”.

Now that’s service for you. 😀👍

 

[prawlin]

My word, if I was within reach of that dealership I would certainly switch my business in a heartbeat. A 3l bottle of the blue stuff is worth about £35!

My impressions of my local (West Yorkshire) dealership so far are that it is crap. You get the distinct impression when you walk in that customers are nothing but a nuisance to them. They left the brake fluid (under cap) filter off at my last service and threw it away! They vowed to get me a replacement when I complained the day after but it never happened. When asked, the mechanic apparently said he threw it away because it isn’t needed! Peter

 

[PS54321]

I won’t name my dealer but on the surface they don’t appear too bad. It’s just that in the execution you get the feeling that they don’t actually mean much of what they say. Late for pick up, rarely clean the car though they say they will, never have courtesy cars, won’t collect, feed you condescending lines to excuse mistakes etc.

Thetford is quite a run for us, though I think we’ll try Norwich next time. If we still have the car.

 

[YorkieNiro]

I marked the reservoir after the coolant replacement and it's dropped about 8 mil in the 3 days since.

More worryingly, I'm now getting the amber "Check EV System" message and warning-triangle.

A read around this seems to implicate HVAC and/or a '3-way valve'. I'm not sure whether the 3-way valve pertains to the replaced 'inverter coolant', but a career in IT tells me that problems are usually caused by change, so I'm suspecting the coolant replacement is implicated somehow.

4 weeks on and the coolant has dropped below the minimum. Galling given that I'd asked for some coolant to bring away in case this happened and it was refused because "no-one's ever reported a drop in coolant after the process" - grrr. I wonder how many have actually looked under their bonnet since having it done. Interestingly it dropping below minimum hasn't triggered a "refill inverter coolant" message! (yet).

The "Check EV System" warning has returned intermittently. This started straight after the coolant change. Further reading suggested a link to the PTC Heater coming on, but in may case it's happened without the heater coming on.

So it's another 40 mile round trip for a coolant top up and attempt to read an intermittent warning if it actually got logged - feels like a long shot.

Might be time to get a code reader and software.

 

[Jeffrey Cooper]

4 weeks on and the coolant has dropped below the minimum. Galling given that I'd asked for some coolant to bring away in case this happened and it was refused because "no-one's ever reported a drop in coolant after the process" - grrr. I wonder how many have actually looked under their bonnet since having it done. Interestingly it dropping below minimum hasn't triggered a "refill inverter coolant" message! (yet).

The "Check EV System" warning has returned intermittently. This started straight after the coolant change. Further reading suggested a link to the PTC Heater coming on, but in may case it's happened without the heater coming on.

So it's another 40 mile round trip for a coolant top up and attempt to read an intermittent warning if it actually got logged - feels like a long shot.

Might be time to get a code reader and software.

You've probably read this on other threads, but I think it was my 4th revisit for topup when I finally "demanded" some spare liquid. I am still topping up even now after 2 or 3 months I think it is (difficult to remember!) - it's worrying, and all the dealer could say was "if it keeps dropping, bring it back and we'll have a proper look". Which basically translates into we'll keep your car for a week, find nothing, and still tell you no-one else has ever had the problem. This issue is becoming a real insight into just how dishonest these main dealers can be. No better than back street cowboys. It's seriously making me want to sell up before something goes bang, but at the moment, we couldn't take the financial hit, and I'm not even sure I'd stay with an EV TBH, which is a travesty.

 

[artyman]

Mine was done six days ago, so far the level has held.

 

[PS54321]

Our car was returned just short of two weeks ago with new coolant pump fitted after flush. No warnings yet but haven’t looked at level.

I’ve just turned down the 3 year service plan and gone for the much cheaper two. It’ll be 5 then and we’ll certainly consider changing it before.

Another EV? Not sure. We like it generally but, especially without a grant, there’s no economic case for us to have it. Another Kia? Unlikely.