It’s not a legal problem. It's purely an insurance problem. The speed limit in most states is 110kph as a maximum. Always check with your insurance company and get their response in writing if you are going to change to a lower speed rating tyre than what was fitted as original equipment.

Good Luck, Mark.

Thanks for replying to my posting. Engine noise coming from rear of motor around the drivers side transmission location again. Only seems to be a problem when on steep hill or I have to use hard acceleration.

Cheers David.

Have you noticed if this occurs with the Air Conditioning turned on? If so, I might be able to explain:

The air con compressor draws power from the engine. As the compressor cuts in to cool the air, it draws a few kilowatts out of the engine. The engine's computer senses this due to the added load & the drop in revs. It then tries to compensate & bring the revs back up. This can cause a surge feeling in the car. The air con compressor cycles in/out frequently during use depending on temp outside & requirements on the system.

I have experienced a car jerking forward from this with only the handbrake applied, but it shouldn’t really move if the brakes are applied properly.

I hope this helps a little.
Regards, Jay.

My first Honda Accord Euro (purchased Jan 04) was a good experience with only one exception - an inaccurate speedometer reading. Tested by RAA it was 6% out. Put up with the problem for 4 1/2 years then uptraded to a brand new 2008 Euro. Again had the instrumentation tested and the new car is Worse! What are Honda thinking? They refuse to help or do anything, hiding behind the ADRs which allow a 10% plus 4 kmph overstatement. While this ensures that no speeding fines should result, there is a decided danger of a car hitting you from behind because you are travelling at a so slower speed than what is shown on the speedometer. It is really frustrating, annoying, and dangerous.

Has anyone else had the same problem?

I have a Holden Barina SRi 2004 and have taken it to a Holden dealer who cannot find a fault with car. The problems are:

1) Current electrical problem? 'check engine' and 'traction control' light staying on
2) Does not start sometimes, also speedo not working, temperature gauge, and rev counter
3) Battery light staying on

Bought the 2002 Carnival new, had it serviced all the time. As it was a brand new car treated it with kid gloves. Developed an oil leak at aprox 30,000kms and was told we need a new motor. Kia replaced it with a short motor (took 3 months) and all was good.

Car has been great no problems until 112,000kms, driving in the city oil sprayed all over the engine, **** near caught fire, oil dipstick had popped out. Degreased motor, could not find cause, motor still running sweet but a little low on power. Dipstick stayed put but motor breathing heavy, advised by mechanic to do compression test, No 1, 2 and 3 90psi. No 4, 5 and 6 170psi. I was told most likely a piston or ring problem, I was stunned as the car and motor are like brand new, well supposed to be.

Pulled motor apart, pistons 1, 2 & 3 the ring lands had collapsed, no wonder she was breathing hard! Tried to get a short motor from Kia $2500.00, not available in Australia, on back order in Korea. Asked when will be available told not sure could be 3 months or more. Tried to get pistons and rings, pistons are no longer available, **** Great! Have now been told I can send said motor away for a rebuild, cost about $8,000.00 but car would only be worth about $5,000.00 as a trade in. What do I do? Repair the car and hope it will last and hang onto it as I am still paying it off, or just scrap it and cut my losses.

Now I find a few of these forums and find that every man and his dog has the same type of troubles. Has anyone actually had a good result from Kia? I am told time and again that this is a design fault with these motors so why haven't they been recalled etc. What I find amusing is that Kia don't have about 30 or so spare long motors on hand and just change them out when they go bang, instead they don't seem to even have a single short motor on hand in Australia! I feel we have all been taken for a ride, there is obviously a problem that Kia have not addressed even though they know about it. It is a shame because apart from the engine trouble and one sliding door latch (not covered by warranty) we have had a great run out of the Carnival. I would like to hear your response to my story.

Great News Dale, sound like you have got some action from Kia at last! We bought our 2002 Carnival new and have had it serviced all the time. We noticed an oil leak at about 30,000kms, thought they would have to tighten a bolt or something. Instead they pulled the engine out and 3 months later put a reconditioned short engine in the car and gave it back at no cost to us apart from no car for 3 months.

We have had no trouble since until 112,000kms, about a month ago, we were driving along and oil sprayed all over the engine. The dipstick had popped out, so we degreased the motor and could not find the cause; the car still ran sweet but was down on power and breathing heavy. Have done a compression test, 3 pistons at 90psi and 3 at 170psi. Have since stripped the motor and found the ring lands have collapsed on 3 pistons. We were going to rebuild the engine but were told by Kia that the pistons are no longer available. A new short motor was available ex Korea but they could not tell us when we would get it.

I was searching the web trying to get info or ideas of what to do when I found this forum. I was stunned to find so many people that have had similar problems, as some have said before, we tend to think ours is the only car with a problem. We did not think we would get any warranty as the car is now 6 years old. I have never heard of good will warranty, and had I known of all these other problems I would have expected Kia to fix it as it is obvious that there is a design problem. I am amazed that there has not been a recall or something. I will try and ring Kia tomorrow and see how I get on, then when I get their response I suppose I will have to go down the trail you went.

We had planned on keeping this car for about 15 years but now are reconsidering our plans. I thought along the lines of just patching it up and selling it but then some other person would end up with the problems and I could not do that to someone else. The other option was to sell the remains of the car if possible to the wreckers and start again even though we are still paying it off. Anyway maybe we can get this sorted out, have you heard of many problems with the pistons. I have only come across 2 different cases for piston problems on the net.

Thanks for all you have done, you have evidently given a lot of people hope. I will let you know how I get on.

Regards, Greg.

In the problem with the GTI and the broken rocker-arm. The dealership myself and Volkswagon all ended up splitting 1/3 of the total cost. They said they wouldnt cover it if it ever happened again, but it was suspicious that they covered it this time(mostly at least). Maybe it was because i wouldnt give up on the matter and continued to harrass them. Either way, cars running good as new and it ended up costing me a little over a grand. Thanks

This is the second Falcon BA I have had this problem with. When ever I go over a small bump (not a speed hump) in the road I get a loud crack/slap noise from the rear end. I had this problem with my first Falcon and was fixed by Jax but eventually came back. Where is the problem coming from and how can "I" fix it?

Have had the same problem with the bonnet catch, in my case it snapped off the fuse box...

Hi. Try taking your phone to a Nokia shop, or jumping online to have the software upgraded. The Nokia's are the only phone's having compatibility issues with the Bluetooth kit & it is a Nokia software issue that they have now rectified. Mazda have a bulletin out on it & will need to reboot your Bluetooth kit once the phone software is upgraded. Hope this is of assistance.

Regards, Jay.

Do not buy an Astra convertible as we are still waiting for our $50000 car to be returned to us after five weeks. Fuel pick up problem, waiting on parts. Have just been told it could be another few weeks. They have given a hire car, but when asked can we have a convertible from Avis the same as what we bought, the answer was No.

Wayne

Was the car serviced by GnB Auto group in Darwin as my 2004 model was purchased and serviced at GnB before we moved south.

Cheers Peter

I ordered the top of the line SP23 with the Bose stereo and decided to get the Mazda Bluetooth ($600) fitted as well so that it cuts the radio out when you answer and the sound comes through the speakers.

First of all we were no told that because we have the Bose stereo that it was not compatible with the speakers of the Bose system and an external speaker has to be mounted (concealed neat package).

The second thing is that if you have the most common phone on the market (Nokia) then if it loses signal, signal changes towers or touch a button etc on the phone then it cuts the radio/cd/mp3 player off(no sound). Most third party Bluetooths allow you to play with the phone and it doesn't cut the radio out until you send or receive.

Third if you are travelling at highway speed and the phone rings you have to pull over to hear what people were saying because the road noise was elevated.

I have asked Mazda to take it out and I will put in a third party unit that would be compatible with my stereo, but no satisfaction yet / plus the missus likes it even with these annoying faults.

Funny thing is they say it works perfectly in the cheaper stereos they have in lesser models.

This is a good car, top of the line and we can’t get, what is considered in today's society as necessary standard equipment working correctly.

2004 Astra @ 50,000km faulty coil pack and ECU. $2000 repair bill. I don't get it.

Regina

Pam

I suspect your failure is a result of a classic fault with all KIA engines where the cylinder liners slip/move allowing the ingress of oil to mix with the engine coolant forming a messy sludge in the coolant system that can cause overheating in some cases although the majority of vehicle / engine failures show no signs of overheating prior to failure.

Reply back to me & I will forward some info that may assist. You need to do the following.

Go into much more detail on your story you can't put down too much, detail everything & then re post these revised details on this website, doing this keeps everyone more informed (KM's when bought, who from, has KIA knocked you back etc, Oil in Coolant? water in oil, etc etc.).

Have you taken it to a KIA dealer? Did a KIA dealer do the 100K service?
Have you fixed the engine?

1) Lodge a formal request via your local KIA dealer for KIA to repair the vehicle at their cost. (Insist they lodge a request with KIA to repair the vehicle at KIA's Cost. they will try & fob you off that you are wasting your time etc). It may be too late if you have already fixed the engine in which case you would have to request reimbursement of your costs from KIA.
2) Lodge a formal complaint with NSW fair trading.
3) Never believe anything KIA will tell you (They will misrepresent the truth).
4) Do everything in writing & politely request everyone confirm their answers / replies to you in writing.
5) Rest assured you are not on your own there are thousands before you that have been through this & unfortunately there will be many more.
6) Don’t phone the KIA customer service line. This is manned by a company called Monodial whose job is to get rid of you so don't bother speaking to them.

Dale

Does anyone have problems with their Kia Rio 2007 model pulling to the left?

Hi Geoff

I have just bought a used 2007 3L TD Prado (1 week ago) and have experienced the same problem. I bought it privately and never drove it cold before I bought it. I was shocked by the noise the first time I heard it (outside temp was 8C) but it disappeared after a kilometer or so.

It seems the higher the ambient temperature the less noticeable the noise is as it hasn't been as bad since. I think it is common as I have read other threads on this issue although nothing to conclusively say it's normal. If you have any new info on this problem I would be grateful for your response.

Regards, Eddie Seychell

Well this lemon has had a transmission replacement, a head replaced, and the front passenger door trim, glove box door, and rear door trim replaced. Every time the dealer rep says he has not heard of this problem before, muhahaaa. I have two friends with the same models and similar issues. I want to know what happens when the warranty runs out. Please report similar issues and moderators please publish so readers see the truth.

I went to my local western Sydney Ford dealership 2 weeks ago as they advertised in the local paper that they would be open from 8am till 8pm and had huge savings on. I left my home at 7.35am after a healthy breakfast of just right and orange juice and my usual 5km run around Panthers Leagues Club and made my way there. Let me tell I was little peeved after waiting 30 minutes and spare parts was not open.

Eventually a beaten up old Hilux that looked like it was from Raiders of the Lost Ark turned up at 9.15am, an hour and 15mins after opening time at 8am. There were 2 human beings in the Hilux one a older looking gentlemen who was carrying 3 empty bottles of tooheys new long necks and a race program from Harold park trots and the other a young chap and I have doubts about what he was doing there.

I eventually got my weathershield, it was cheap about $65.00 cash, the printer was down and I could not get an invoice. But it was great service as he got someone to fit it for free for me as he was so late in getting to work. But if they advertise opening 8am they should be open.

Who should I be suing? We paid $34,000 for a people mover which had a good review from people who had one. We did the right thing & had regular services by the book. @ 110,000km it died & since we have found out is absolutely worthless. Can anyone tell me if there is someone I can sue...?

Hi,

Can anyone out there give me an answer for this problem? Toyota cannot. Have automatic 2004 Corolla. Problem happens only occasionally and randomly. So cannot make it happen for mechanic to see. When I brake and stop at a round about or give way sign and have my foot on the brake holding the car stationary. A surge of power/thrust appears out of nowhere and jerks the car forward and I have to jam my foot flat to the floor to stop hitting car in front of me. It is like someone pulls the choke on... but I have an auto choke. You can hear the almost like acceleration sound of the engine.

Any advice appreciated. Has done this randomly since new and am worried to drive in the city with it.

Cheers, Nat

This might help, Holden have found the temperature sensor gauge was broken therefore stuck on 90 degrees. It was making the engine run too hot / too cool therefore also flooding fuel tank (bad fuel smell was coming from exhaust) causing it to stall. After replacing the sensor $230 it has been running ok (well for now) and not stalling, so perhaps this is something to check if your Barina is still stalling. Watch the temperature needle drop when turning off engine, if it doesn't move or something might be worth checking out? Fuel economy has also benefited!

Mate you have a piece of **** ute.

Mine did the same thing. No one could tell me anything. It turned out to be the boost control solenoid.

I hope this helps.

Wrong gear box oil? What a joke, what sort of service techs are charging us top dollar for things like that. Evan if it was fixed under warranty you would have to be concerned about some long term damage to the gearbox.