Poll: Who is having issues with Spark Plugs?

[Kamauxx]

I’ve also just started having problems with mine at 3.5k miles. It feels like an obvious intermittent misfire under mid throttle. Maybe we should abandon the lap3 product?

I was happy with the chip. But when I ordered it the website said nothing about upgraded plugs. And now I’ve got to take it in to be repaired.

Maybe I’ll just toss it in the can. Don’t want this to keep happening. From what other people are saying, there are safer options out there now.

It sucks that you're dealing with that.

There does appear to be better options available (Race Chip) or soon to be available (JB4, Bytetronik). Those options haven't really been vetted yet though so it's probably best to hold off on those as well.

Keep us posted on your car's issues.

 

[Daniel @ K8 Stinger Store]

Is this problem being caused by just one chip manufacture or several ?

I think Lap3 is the only option on the market as far as chips go (could be wrong) as other companies are still in development.

 

[Daniel @ K8 Stinger Store]

So if you buy the LAP3 chip, you need upgraded spark plugs. Is that all?

Upgraded plugs are required for both 2.0t and 3.3t. We also highly recommend the application if one if not two oil catch catches as well.

 

[Kamauxx]

Since some people are saying this is a known Stinger issue that Kia is tracking I decided to do a little research of my own.

I wanted to cover multiple regions so I called 2 dealers in the Mid-Atlantic area, 1 in the Northeast, 1 in the Southeast, 1 in the South, and 1 in the Midwest. I started this at around 9:15 so it was too early to call anyone further west. My results are below.

Fred Anderson Kia Raleigh (North Carolina)
919-785-4500
Ben: Personally hasn’t heard anything but I should call Consumer Affairs to be certain.
Chris Leith Kia (North Carolina)
888-482-6559
Dina: That’s probably just internet rumors because we haven’t heard of any issues with that.
Central Kia Norwood (Massachusetts)
781-762-8100
Brian: We haven’t had or heard of any issues at all with the Stingers.
Hollywood Kia (Florida)
954-967-5665
Vera: I haven’t seen any cases of that. Let me double check…(on hold for a couple of minutes)…no one has heard anything about that but you’re more than welcome to bring your car by and we can check it out for you.
Premier Kia of Kenner (Louisiana)
504-273-6659
Didn’t catch his name: We haven’t got any service bulletins on them and haven’t seen any issues yet.
Kia of Des Moines (Iowa)
515-270-0706
Rhonda: We haven’t seen any issues related to the Stinger but if something does happen Kia usually sends out letters to the owners to let them know of issues.

***I’ve provided names and numbers for the dealerships and service advisors so that anyone can verify the information I’ve compiled here. Also, for the most part what you see written beside their names are direct quotes. ***


I then called Kia Corporate to see if they had heard anything about the issue.

Originally I spoke to a lady named Ericka. She logged my inquiry and assigned me a case number (12662741). She told me the Stingers are handled by their "premium team" and then transferred me to Amber.

I explained to Amber that there had been some talk online of Kia tracking spark plug/coil pack issues with Stingers. Amber told me she hasn't heard anything about spark/coil issues. She checked in their system and said there are no notifications of any issues with the car's plugs/coil packs. She said there are no current recalls and none in the pipeline. She then checked my VIN to see if there are any issues related specifically to my car that need to be addressed, and said there are none.

There's my research. Accept it or not. I'm not pretending it was a scientific study conducted by Harvard University and funded by Elon Musk. It's just plain ole information (that I've given you names, locations, phone numbers, and case numbers to verify) from their mouth to your ears.

 

[Rufus]

I wish @Bryan2.0 and @Marty17 would chime in, as they are the 2.0 members I'm aware of who installed the chip, and both initially said it was great. I've mentioned them in this thread before, and even PM'd @Marty17 but they have chosen not to reply...?

 

[Kazz]

Yes, Tink Tink. That's why I said "what I think".

I think an unnamed vendor is trying to push a narrative that 3.3t Stingers have faulty plugs/coils because an unnamed vendor doesn't want to own the fact that said unnamed vendor told customers not to upgrade their plugs and when said customers (50% of them based on the poll from the other site) ended up with broken cars that unnamed vendor changed his (or her) tune (no pun intended) and decided "oh wait, actually LAP3 just informed me that the plugs DO in fact need to be changed."

That vendor thinks we're all idiots who will just believe anything she (or he) says. GTFOH unnamed vendor.

Edit: Ya know what? Since that unmamed vendor (oh hell, let's just call him "Liar @ L7 Kia Shop" for shits and giggles) swears this is a known issue with Kias across the country I'm going to call a bunch of service departments along the east coast tomorrow and see if any have reported the issue. I'm even going to call the dealers local to Liar @ L7 Kia Shop. Let's see, that'll be Hendrick Kia of Cary, Fred Andersen Kia, Deacon Jones Kia, Chris Leith Kia, University Kia, and a few others.

I'm sure since Liar @ L7 Kia Shop says he's been in contact with dealerships around the country who are reporting plug/coil issues ONE of those would have heard of it.

I'll report back my findings and maybe Sal can put them in the original post to go along with what we already see in the poll.

Good night unnamed vendor, whoever you are.

I get that you're upset. But you're getting out of line here.

 

[Brian Keenan]

I get that you're upset. But you're getting out of line here.

The neverending harping on this is getting alittle aggravating. I think most of us understand that there's an issue. Anyone who does alittle reading knows to get the upgraded sparkplugs. Can we just let the pieces fall where they may now?

 

[soulevo8]

I agree. The points have been made. We understand early adopters have a higher risk of running into issues. Adjustments were made and no more reported issues **knock on wood**

 

[Kamauxx]

I get that you're upset. But you're getting out of line here.

I'm not upset at all. And I actually took special care not to mention any vendors by name, just so I wouldn't be accused of "getting out of line" with anyone.

 

[Kamauxx]

I agree. The points have been made. We understand early adopters have a higher risk of running into issues. Adjustments were made and no more reported issues **knock on wood**

For clarification's sake: some people have said their car's issue is caused by the chip. Some people have said non-chipped cars are also having the issue. This poll was conducted to see who/how many of us have had issues and if we have had issues if stock cars are having problems as well as tuned cars. That's why I made all of those phone calls this morning--to try to verify the claims that this is an issue with tuned AND stock cars.

 

[soulevo8]

I completely understand the issue, I've read every word of these threads. It's your very thinly veiled attempt to bash a vendor that's getting old, especially when it doesn't seem to have impacted you or your car personally.

 

[Kazz]

You've made an assertion and attempted to get proof of that assertion. I get it. We all get it. But the fact that you've not found a case of a spark plug problem without a chip installed (or people are unwilling to tell you about it) proves nothing. It's like accusing someone of stealing and asking them to prove their innocence. You can't prove a negative.

You have your opinion and you've made it heard. I promise everyone understands. Ranting at a vendor and telling them to GTFO or whatever is uncalled for, IMHO.

 

[Kamauxx]

But the fact that you've not found a case of a spark plug problem without a chip installed (or people are unwilling to tell you about it) proves nothing.

I specifically said my post isn't proof of anything.

There's my research. Accept it or not. I'm not pretending it was a scientific study conducted by Harvard University and funded by Elon Musk. It's just plain ole information.

You two have actually come into a thread about a specific topic and asked posters to stop talking about the very topic that the thread was started to discuss. That makes no sense.

Some of us are concerned about our cars potentially failing. Who are you to say we shouldn't speak about it? And if it's really bothering you to see us talk about spark plugs why do you keep clicking on the thread and reading the posts? This is optional! Don't like it? Don't read it! No one is making you participate in this discussion.

 

[Kazz]

No, you've chosen to use this thread to bash a vendor. That's out of line.

 

[Kamauxx]

No, you've chosen to use this thread to bash a vendor. That's out of line.

Okay, you're absolutely right. *shrugs*

And moving on, back to the topic of the thread.

Since some people are saying this is a known Stinger issue that Kia is tracking I decided to do a little research of my own.

I wanted to cover multiple regions so I called 2 dealers in the Mid-Atlantic area, 1 in the Northeast, 1 in the Southeast, 1 in the South, and 1 in the Midwest. I started this at around 9:15 so it was too early to call anyone further west. My results are below.

Fred Anderson Kia Raleigh (North Carolina)
919-785-4500
Ben: Personally hasn’t heard anything but I should call Consumer Affairs to be certain.
Chris Leith Kia (North Carolina)
888-482-6559
Dina: That’s probably just internet rumors because we haven’t heard of any issues with that.
Central Kia Norwood (Massachusetts)
781-762-8100
Brian: We haven’t had or heard of any issues at all with the Stingers.
Hollywood Kia (Florida)
954-967-5665
Vera: I haven’t seen any cases of that. Let me double check…(on hold for a couple of minutes)…no one has heard anything about that but you’re more than welcome to bring your car by and we can check it out for you.
Premier Kia of Kenner (Louisiana)
504-273-6659
Didn’t catch his name: We haven’t got any service bulletins on them and haven’t seen any issues yet.
Kia of Des Moines (Iowa)
515-270-0706
Rhonda: We haven’t seen any issues related to the Stinger but if something does happen Kia usually sends out letters to the owners to let them know of issues.

***I’ve provided names and numbers for the dealerships and service advisors so that anyone can verify the information I’ve compiled here. Also, for the most part what you see written beside their names are direct quotes. ***


I then called Kia Corporate to see if they had heard anything about the issue.

Originally I spoke to a lady named Ericka. She logged my inquiry and assigned me a case number (12662741). She told me the Stingers are handled by their "premium team" and then transferred me to Amber.

I explained to Amber that there had been some talk online of Kia tracking spark plug/coil pack issues with Stingers. Amber told me she hasn't heard anything about spark/coil issues. She checked in their system and said there are no notifications of any issues with the car's plugs/coil packs. She said there are no current recalls and none in the pipeline. She then checked my VIN to see if there are any issues related specifically to my car that need to be addressed, and said there are none.

There's my research. Accept it or not. I'm not pretending it was a scientific study conducted by Harvard University and funded by Elon Musk. It's just plain ole information (that I've given you names, locations, phone numbers, and case numbers to verify) from their mouth to your ears.

 

[BlueByYouGT]

does anyone know if the other tunes require new spark plugs or just lap3?

 

[Rufus]

does anyone know if the other tunes require new spark plugs or just lap3?

I believe Race Chip says they aren't needed for their application, but Bytetronik does. Not sure what else is out so far...

 

[Kamauxx]

does anyone know if the other tunes require new spark plugs or just lap3?

In the below thread someone said the Race Chip should work on a completely stock car.

RaceChip unleashes true potential of the Kia Stinger GT (and future GTR)

 

[BlueByYouGT]

I believe Race Chip says they aren't needed for their application, but Bytetronik does. Not sure what else is out so far...

thank you sir. I will check Race Chip out!

 

[Kamauxx]

thank you sir. I will check Race Chip out!

If you decide to buy and develop any issues let us know.