Check Engine Light keeps coming on after dealer fuel injection cleaning

[MichaelJR]

My Kia Stinger 2018 AWD G2 recently was brought in for an oil change to the dealer. I have about 20000 miles on it +. They said they recommended the fuel injection cleaner at this maintenance interval so I let them do it. On the way to where I was going after this cleaning and oil change (40 minutes away) the check engine light came on. I called the dealer and they mentioned after this procedure sometimes some stuff registers in the engine. They thought that if I drove the car around for a bit it should get rid of the all the particles in the engine but I may need to return to have the check engine light turned off. I drove the car a few times for a couple weeks without issues and then brought it back by on my way home from vacation. The turned the sensor light off and said the engine looked fine. 30 minutes later as I'm back home the engine light flips back on.

Anyone know why this may be happening and is this normal? The check engine light had never come on until I did this procedure. I was ok with the explanation after first cleaning but happening 2 weeks later after the sensor was cleared has me concerned. The dealership who saw it last two times and perhaps caused this is like 90 minutes away so gonna have to do something more local if I'm bringing it in to be looked at again.

Anyone with any ideas/thoughts?

 

[Luc343]

What chemicals did they use to clean the injectors?

Do a search online to see if anyone else has had problems with that cleaner and how they fixed the issue.

As you have done a service as well, it could actually be something else they did during the service.

I suspect they are just clearing the fault code via the obd2 port and giving the car back to you. Ask them how they plan to resolve the issue. Could the injectors be clogged/damaged by the chemicals.

I hope this gets resolved for you soon.

 

[MichaelJR]

Problem is the dealership I had the oil change/injector cleaning is 90 minutes away so I hope I don't have to take it back there. Plan on going to another dealership nearby and trying there but letting them know what has been done on it so far.

Seeing if anyone else had experience with this. I'll call them and ask what cleaner was being used.

 

[Buzzrush]

Sorry to hear about your problem and I wish I could point you toward a resolution. Hopefully it's an easy fix. It's really a roll of the dice bringing our cars to the dealerships for service. This was me the one and only time I brought my car to a Kia dealership for service...

 

[Spaceme17]

Problem is the dealership I had the oil change/injector cleaning is 90 minutes away so I hope I don't have to take it back there. Plan on going to another dealership nearby and trying there but letting them know what has been done on it so far.

Seeing if anyone else had experience with this. I'll call them and ask what cleaner was being used.

Fuel injector cleaning should not cause any codes to be registered. And whatever codes are registering need to be checked to diagnose exactly what the problem is.

Don't go back to that dealership. They do not know what they are doing. A fuel system cleaning should not cause a check engine light. And the solution to a check engine light is not just to clear the codes.

Also, you are not married to any particular KIA service department. Take it to the best/closest service department that actually know what they are doing.

 

[MichaelJR]

Got an appointment Thursday at one near me, its kind of tough to get in to the ones near me (Annapolis)

 

[eflyguy]

Check your owners manual. There is no recommended inspection or maintenance for fuel injectors.

You were duped.

Don't expect another dealer to address it without paying. This isn't a warranty issue.

 

[MichaelJR]

Well that sucks considering being at the dealership they straight up told me it was recommended. And now you guys are saying I can't trust that particular dealership to fix the issue because of incompetence.

I guess next time I'll make sure to be my own advocate but assumed being at the dealership they wouldn't upsell me based on a lie.

I live 90 minutes from the guys who potentially screwed me. What do you guys think I should do? Thanks for the input ahead of time.

 

[Regs120]

Recommended by a leprechaun by the sea in New Mexico. Recommended is a puff word they use to sell you just about anything. I would take it to a reputiable repair shop to diagnose the check engine light. My guess its ignition related to either a spark plug or coil pack.

 

[Spaceme17]

Well that sucks considering being at the dealership they straight up told me it was recommended. And now you guys are saying I can't trust that particular dealership to fix the issue because of incompetence.

I guess next time I'll make sure to be my own advocate but assumed being at the dealership they wouldn't upsell me based on a lie.

I live 90 minutes from the guys who potentially screwed me. What do you guys think I should do? Thanks for the input ahead of time.

I have learned that you should always go in for service at a dealership, tire place, mechanic, etc. with a distrusting mindset until they consistently prove they are trustworthy. Watch them like a hawk. Trust your judgement. Ask if you can observe your car being worked on or if you can talk to the technician working on your car.

As for your situation, I would go to the closer service department and see what they say and can do for you. If they can sort it out, then you have some solid ground to get a refund from the other service department if you want to pursue that.

You could also borrow a code reader from an Autozone or other auto parts store to see what codes you have. Post here and someone can probably figure out what’s going on.

As for fuel injection cleaning, all you need to do in the future is put a bootle in your tank every 20K miles if you like.

 

[Nasscar]

If it’s not in the maintenance schedule, don’t get it done. What they recommend is only to make them money. Advice given too late I suppose but you live and learn. How much did the ‘injector clean’ cost?

 

[CKeeler]

I have learned that you should always go in for service at a dealership, tire place, mechanic, etc. with a distrusting mindset until they consistently prove they are trustworthy. Watch them like a hawk. Trust your judgement. Ask if you can observe your car being worked on or if you can talk to the technician working on your car.

As for your situation, I would go to the closer service department and see what they say and can do for you. If they can sort it out, then you have some solid ground to get a refund from the other service department if you want to pursue that.

You could also borrow a code reader from an Autozone or other auto parts store to see what codes you have. Post here and someone can probably figure out what’s going on.

As for fuel injection cleaning, all you need to do in the future is put a bootle in your tank every 20K miles if you like.

Most fuel system cleaners recommend every 5,000 miles. I usually try to do it every oil change. A full on injector cleaning should only be done if a reputable mechanic recommends it. Even then, a good one won’t recommend after only 20k.

 

[Luc343]

I forgot to mention, what code is registering? There are cheap obd2 scanners on eBay for a few dollars that you can use to get the error codes.

I purchased one for another car so I could tell what the error was.

 

[Luc343]

I have learned that you should always go in for service at a dealership, tire place, mechanic, etc. with a distrusting mindset until they consistently prove they are trustworthy. Watch them like a hawk. Trust your judgement. Ask if you can observe your car being worked on or if you can talk to the technician working on your car.

I agree, they don't appear the be the sharpest tool in the shed...

 

[MichaelJR]

Think it was $150 or so. Thanks for input guys.

 

[eflyguy]

.. for a $8 can of "fuel injector cleaner" dumped in your fuel tank.

 

[MichaelJR]

Update. Brought car to Bob Bell Kia in Essex. They ran some tests, cleared codes, test drove it and saw that the catalytic converter appeared to be showing a potential problem that would eventually cause the check engine to come back on. They said it was OK to drive but needed to look into replacing the catalytic converter and would reach out to Kia. As i drove away 10 min away the check engine did once again come on. I was charged for none of this work. I brought the car back a few days later to have the catalytic converter replaced under warranty and got a call later in day that a bolt snapped into the Turbo during this work. The Turbo now needs to be replaced which seems like an expensive job but I assumed under warranty considering seemed like mistake on the dealers/kias end during fixing of the catalytic converter. Now I am being told that because of how expensive the turbo replacement job is that Kia still hasn't approved the job and they are investigating the history of the vehicle including my fuel injector cleaning previously.

Just a total sh*t show. I would understand that potentially the original fix could have been argued not under warranty if somehow the fuel injector cleaner was deemed the issue. But once they agreed to fix the catalytic converter and this bolt snapped a Turbo I don't understand how that could be my problem now.

I am not particularly happy right now but I guess I'll see how it is resolved.

 

[CKeeler]

That's a bummer to hear about. Maybe, see if you can contact Kia corporate and see if someone can speed up the process.

 

[Spaceme17]

Update. Brought car to Bob Bell Kia in Essex. They ran some tests, cleared codes, test drove it and saw that the catalytic converter appeared to be showing a potential problem that would eventually cause the check engine to come back on. They said it was OK to drive but needed to look into replacing the catalytic converter and would reach out to Kia. As i drove away 10 min away the check engine did once again come on. I was charged for none of this work. I brought the car back a few days later to have the catalytic converter replaced under warranty and got a call later in day that a bolt snapped into the Turbo during this work. The Turbo now needs to be replaced which seems like an expensive job but I assumed under warranty considering seemed like mistake on the dealers/kias end during fixing of the catalytic converter. Now I am being told that because of how expensive the turbo replacement job is that Kia still hasn't approved the job and they are investigating the history of the vehicle including my fuel injector cleaning previously.

Just a total sh*t show. I would understand that potentially the original fix could have been argued not under warranty if somehow the fuel injector cleaner was deemed the issue. But once they agreed to fix the catalytic converter and this bolt snapped a Turbo I don't understand how that could be my problem now.

I am not particularly happy right now but I guess I'll see how it is resolved.

That sucks.

I don't think you will have any problems. Just might take a bit.

Just make sure that you have all of the receipts and documentation of what was done at both dealerships.

And it probably is not a bad idea to contact someone higher up in KIA. As this seems to have been elevated, if you speak to someone higher up about your problem and provide all the documentation, your car will be put right.

I would just recommend that you think of this as a learning experience to not bring your car to a dealership for anything unless you absolutely have to.

 

[MichaelJR]

Do you guys typically take to local repair shops with good reputations? I figured due to it being under warranty I had to bring to Kia (not for the oil change but for repair).

Anyone have a contact "higher up" at Kia?

We are surviving fine with 1 car since we are doing so much less now than typically. Bob Bell offered a free rental/loaner but the dealership was 40 min away and didn't want to drive over an hour to get a rental I wasn't going to use.

If the car is going to be fixed eventually we'll be fine. A lot bigger problems in the world than having an operational Stinger but I do love the car! But if there is anything I could do to push things along I would certainly do it.