Poll to determine incidence of respraying the battery box

[MerlintheMad]

Brand new GT2 with pristine battery box. (note: the "plug thingie" - inserted in the smaller hole - and the grommet)
Mine, damaged twice, sprayed in between. ("plug thingie" is gone; grommet is dislodged by the impact)

Hello, All: I would like to get some indication of how common it is to respray the bottom of the battery box on the Stinger.

This came to my attention this week, when I discovered a piece of dangling foam (an anti corrosion coating, I presume) and got under my car and saw black spray paint with fresh scrapes in it. This indicates a prior "incident" backing over something that scraped the underside of the battery box.

I am theorizing that this occurred prior to delivery, and when Kia inspects prior to delivery, and finds a case of scraping, they spray the scrapes with black paint; I suspect this because I've already learned, this morning, of a second case, but from Australia on a MY19.

(Or, alternatively, in the service shop, some "tech" backed my car over a piece of equipment and scraped the battery box; then sprayed black "Rustoleum" to cover the scrapes. This would mean black paint also used in Aus. The third option in the poll is to determine if other colors of "Rustoleum" might be used, and therefore a shop related "incident", not a production/shipping/prior to delivery "incident. If the latter has also occurred to my car, it means I am unlucky, for starters: and it also means that some damned "tech" damaged my car, did not tell anyone, and also ignored the broken "plug thingie" and dislodged grommet. Damn. Anyway, a poll will help me/us determine if delivery or shop "incidents" are occurring as people are backing up our cars.)

In my case, this happened a second time, obviously, or there would not be shiny, fresh scrapes in the black paint, would there? This second time is probably when the extended "plug thingie" disappeared; because the black spray paint did not cover the area occupied by the "plug thingie", and now it's gone and the original buff paint line is clearly visible where the "plug thingie" is supposed to be.

So, if you would be so kind, please look under there and see what your battery box looks like and indicate the results in the attached poll. Thanks much!

 

[Tobstertx3]

Here’s a photo of mine @MerlintheMad. June 2018 model.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Photo of mine:

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Interesting, just checked mine & the plug is missing

 

[AV8R]

Interesting, just checked mine & the plug is missing
View attachment 24704

Looks like you need a new one!

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Looks like you need a new one!

Certainly will, look at the scratch @ six o’clock, this has been removed by a sharp object or screwdriver.

 

[AV8R]

Certainly will, look at the scratch @ six o’clock, this has been removed by a sharp object or screwdriver.

The guy who stole it must have been short. Lol

 

[eflyguy]

 

[TwiceStung]

So wtf is going on with all these various and different looking plug thingies......some sprayed, some not, some missing, some not? What are these for?

 

[Stinger GT SS]

So wtf is going on with all these various and different looking plug thingies......some sprayed, some not, some missing, some not? What are these for?

I think drainage from possible water ingress of if battery fails & drops it’s guts.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I think drainage from possible water ingress of if battery fails & drops it’s guts.

That would be the grommet's purpose, would it not? Bigger hole to drain through. I don't think the little protruding "plug thingie" is removeable. And it remains to be seen if it emits any fluids in the bottom of the battery box.

Hey, you responders, please vote in the poll so that we can easily see a ratio of incidence of sprayed vs non sprayed battery box bottoms. As it stands, only those who have sprayed boxes have responded. But we have way more clicks on this poll/thread than posts (typical, I know).

As of now, I have no clue what the "plug thingie" is for. And none of us are any closer to solving that question it seems.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

As of now, I have no clue what the "plug thingie" is for. And none of us are any closer to solving that question it seems.

I solved it!

 

[MerlintheMad]

Interesting, just checked mine & the plug is missing
View attachment 24704

Yours was "removed" (lost, taken off, fell off?) after the black spray paint too. And very light scratches (not scrapes) hardly look like enough to cause the plug thingie to either be removed or fall out. And furthermore, they are on the wrong end for any impact while backing up.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I solved it!

No you didn't. You have offered the same good guess as the service supervisor, who said he thought it might be for drainage. Perhaps it is. And it lets out small amounts of fluid accumulation; while the grommet is for servicing if, say, the battery box is filled with fluid by any means; be it a damaged battery leaking, and/or the cleaning solution applied to clean up the mess. The grommet is then removed and the battery box is emptied, then the grommet is put back in.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

No you didn't. You have offered the same good guess as the service supervisor, who said he thought it might be for drainage. Perhaps it is. And it lets out small amounts of fluid accumulation; while the grommet is for servicing if, say, the battery box is filled with fluid by any means; be it a damaged battery leaking, and/or the cleaning solution applied to clean up the mess. The grommet is then removed and the battery box is emptied, then the grommet is put back in.

That’s what I said, they are for drainage....solved.

 

[Tobstertx3]

I think drainage

 

[MerlintheMad]

That’s what I said, they are for drainage....solved.

So, if the drain isn't replaced is that going to cause some sort of issue? If a silicon glue plug was squeezed in there to seal it off from weather getting into it, will that cause an issue?

I'm thinking that leaving it open is the lesser of two evils. Finding the part looks like it is going to be difficult. But maybe the best approach is to point to it at the service center and have them ID it so we can order a new one. Your drain hole is undamaged so no problem putting a replacement drain plug in. Mine is deformed from whatever grabbed the drain plug and tore it out.

In either case, the battery will have to be removed to replace the drain plug (and in my case, straighten the hole). That means disconnecting the battery from the rest of the car, which means messing with settings and who knows what else: all so that a stupid drain plug can be put back in.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

So, if the drain isn't replaced is that going to cause some sort of issue? If a silicon glue plug was squeezed in there to seal it off from weather getting into it, will that cause an issue?

I'm thinking that leaving it open is the lesser of two evils. Finding the part looks like it is going to be difficult. But maybe the best approach is to point to it at the service center and have them ID it so we can order a new one. Your drain hole is undamaged so no problem putting a replacement drain plug in. Mine is deformed from whatever grabbed the drain plug and tore it out.

In either case, the battery will have to be removed to replace the drain plug (and in my case, straighten the hole). That means disconnecting the battery from the rest of the car, which means messing with settings and who knows what else: all so that a stupid drain plug can be put back in.

Well without over complicating this issue, I have a missing plug & will ask my dealer to refit I new one the way the manufacture intended it to be there, sorry there is nothing more or less that I can add.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Well without over complicating this issue, I have a missing plug & will ask my dealer to refit I new one the way the manufacture intended it to be there, sorry there is nothing more or less that I can add.

Well, you can update us on how that goes, the price of the part and install, etc. Please. Thankyou.

 

[Estong]

Here is mine.... thank God it is intact. Whatever the hell they are.