Check electronic suspension warning, sport mode not properly engaging.

[gamelovers11223]

My first real problem with the stinger. About 600 miles ago when it was really cold outside the warning triangle with message: check electronic suspension started to pop up, then disappearing by itself. Restarting the car made the warning go away but return after driving, the again dissapearing and reappearing.
When weather got warmer the light did not show up for day, then started showing up every time I started the car, after about 10-15 seconds. Two days ago I went to a dealership to diagnose the issue. I also told them about small stuff like mirrors not coming back up after backing up and front parking sensors going off when there's no obstacle.
The service advisor was very excited to have my car in, he said this is only the third stinger ever to come in and second with a v6. He did not hear or ever see a problem like mine.
They hooked up the scanner/computer to the car and got only one code: low voltage, like someone forgot to turn off the lights. No more codes.
They completed the tsb for the harness, which turned out that mine was very far from the hole, still they put a soft rubber gasket in.
The warning popped right up when the car was restarted. Service advisor did not see the warning and told me the issue is resolved. I pointed out that the issue is still there showes him the warning diagram. He made another appointment this Thursday 2/28. He said he needs to call Kia and find out what to do next.
Yesterday as I was driving, I noticed Sport mode did nothing for performance, only visual effects were present. Steering was light same as in comfort mode, rpm did not raise as before and suspension stayed soft like in comfort mode.
Tried custom mode with all tabs switched to sport mode - that worked, I got a responsive car again.
I do NOT want to leave the car with the dealer. They don't know anything about this car, if I wasn't watching what mechanics were doing they'd break the rear trunk door. After they disconnected the battery in the trunk to work on the harness tsb, connected everything back - the trunk did not close with the button, it just beeped. After 15 minutes of trying they finally got it working. I was watching the whole time.
I feel they absolutely don't give a crap. Mechanics had to take out whatever I had in the trunk to disconnect the battery. There were two plastic bags and an umbrella in the car along with a trunk liner. He dropped half the things that was inside one bag and ripped the handle on the second one. When he saw that I was looking he started picking up things he dropped.
Threw all the things on the floor and looked if I would say something. Is this how service is supposed to be performed?
Anyway. I read online that Car and Driver magazine had the same issue but did not address it yet. They have the same color combination as mine. They also have the same issue I have with warped front rotors.

 

[SKStinger]

A low voltage code typically means that there is a bad connection somewhere. Did they check each of the 4 wiring connections on the shocks? That’s where I would start.

Also, you don’t have “warped rotors”. You have brake pad deposits on your rotors caused by the crappy OE pads. There is a long thread that discusses the issue.

 

[MerlintheMad]

@gamelovers11223 that is quite a list after saying, "My first real problem with the stinger." Any other Kia dealerships within a reasonable range? I'd be looking to change my bad luck after experiencing what you described.

Lol, the service guy wants to poke around a Stinger, and this is his "third" chance since the car came out. That in itself is a good thing: I love being backed up in my claim that very few Stingers have issues. Of course, maybe that dealership only sold a few Stingers to begin with. Your misfortune is his good fortune. I don't like that attitude; then followed up by incompetence. Find another place to get your car serviced!

The service advisor was very excited to have my car in, he said this is only the third stinger ever to come in and second with a v6. He did not hear or ever see a problem like mine.

 

[Callum]

I feel your pain. I hate taking my car to the dealer.

 

[Jharmes]

I just got this issue today as well (2,800 miles on the odometer). I'm hoping when I start my car tomorrow that it doesn't come up again. Otherwise, I guess I'm calling my local dealer to figure this out as well.

 

[gamelovers11223]

Update!

After spending two days at the dealer, with me present and watching everything, the tech has found a problem. The electronic suspension control module has failed. It's located in the trunk, left/drivers side.
Dealer is ordering the part.

 

[Yan]

Update!

After spending two days at the dealer, with me present and watching everything, the tech has found a problem. The electronic suspension control module has failed. It's located in the trunk, left/drivers side.
Dealer is ordering the part.

Same thing just happened to me. No sport mode either. Have you had replaced the module? Does this solve the problem?

 

[gamelovers11223]

Same thing just happened to me. No sport mode either. Have you had replaced the module? Does this solve the problem?

In short no, it did not solve the problem.
The long story:
Right after they changed the module the warning light came back right away.
I suggested they check the sensors themselves and the wiring. Stinger has 2 front suspension sensors and one rear sensor. Two fronts were fine but the rear sensor did not have power coming to it. Mechanic started to check the wiring coming to the rear sensor. Mind you this took four and a half hours. I had to go to work so I left with the car. I am NOT leaving the car at the dealer under any circumstances!
The dealer haven't called back since, they said they are going to call when the new radio unit arrives so they can do everything at once.
But I had a few instances when the warning light did not come back. As it becomes warmer, the warning light appears rarer and for three days now it hasn't come back and sport mode is engaging properly. This means IMHO that sport mode is directly related to the error and that it's a wiring problem where when it's cold, the wiring shrinks and contact is lost and when it gets warmer it expands, connection engages and everything works fine.

 

[Yan]

In short no, it did not solve the problem.
The long story:
Right after they changed the module the warning light came back right away.
I suggested they check the sensors themselves and the wiring. Stinger has 2 front suspension sensors and one rear sensor. Two fronts were fine but the rear sensor did not have power coming to it. Mechanic started to check the wiring coming to the rear sensor. Mind you this took four and a half hours. I had to go to work so I left with the car. I am NOT leaving the car at the dealer under any circumstances!
The dealer haven't called back since, they said they are going to call when the new radio unit arrives so they can do everything at once.
But I had a few instances when the warning light did not come back. As it becomes warmer, the warning light appears rarer and for three days now it hasn't come back and sport mode is engaging properly. This means IMHO that sport mode is directly related to the error and that it's a wiring problem where when it's cold, the wiring shrinks and contact is lost and when it gets warmer it expands, connection engages and everything works fine.

Thanks for your answer. If I begin with the end, concerning the temperatures I don' think it's an issue. I'm in Canada you know All the winter I had no problems. Maybe it's linked to the rising temperatures now in the springtime. Condensation somewhere and with a bad wiring or contact it can trigger the situation?
However all you wrote is intriguing and worrying as it seems they do not know really what's happening. They apply blindly a troubleshooting procedure without any experience. Maybe this is the price KIA make us pay with the Stinger for stepping outside as a mainstream manufacturer...I'll go monday to the dealer and keep you posted with the their findings.

 

[Yan]

News, news! The dealer found that the issue would be the G(gravity)-sensor. The control module cannot have the right information from the G-sensor and that's the reason why it cannot adjust the shocks for the sport mode. The G-sensor ( a kind of accelerometer) senses the movements produced by the pavement on the car case and send it to the control unit to adjust the shocks rebound, etc. It's a bit weird to me as IMHO everything is different on the 4 corners. So should we have 4 G-sensors? The part was ordered. We'll see.

 

[Eric Lundberg]

Just thought I'd chime in. Same light on my Stinger. 12500 miles. Thankfully, due to this thread I told the dealership that the culprit may be the g force sensor. They found a bad (ABS-Acceleration/Deceleration Sensor:Rear RH acceleration suspension sensor) they ordered it and should be in in a few days. Just wanted to say thanks and hello. Loving the stinger but may go for the S5 when the lease is up.

 

[Yan]

Just thought I'd chime in. Same light on my Stinger. 12500 miles. Thankfully, due to this thread I told the dealership that the culprit may be the g force sensor. They found a bad (ABS-Acceleration/Deceleration Sensor:Rear RH acceleration suspension sensor) they ordered it and should be in in a few days. Just wanted to say thanks and hello. Loving the stinger but may go for the S5 when the lease is up.

After 20 days, I still wait for my ordered G-sensor... Meanwhile, with the temperatures rising (coincidence?) the message disappeared and now I can use the sport mode.

 

[Eric Lundberg]

I set everything the way I like it in the custom setting. The only thing that is not sport is the steering and suspension. This still gives me the throttle mapping and the fun..
I was told 2-3 days for the part. I hope this is the case..
Good luck

 

[MerlintheMad]

Just wanted to say thanks and hello.

Howdy. May your experience with the Stinger be a satisfying one.

 

[JasonC3962]

My car exhibited this error two times last winter on two of the coldest, wettest day(s) here in the DC area. I have not seen the warning light sense then.

 

[Schumi Jr]

News, news! The dealer found that the issue would be the G(gravity)-sensor. The control module cannot have the right information from the G-sensor and that's the reason why it cannot adjust the shocks for the sport mode. The G-sensor ( a kind of accelerometer) senses the movements produced by the pavement on the car case and send it to the control unit to adjust the shocks rebound, etc. It's a bit weird to me as IMHO everything is different on the 4 corners. So should we have 4 G-sensors? The part was ordered. We'll see.

I had this issue about 6 weeks ago. Warmer weather helped. Warning would come and go. Replaced the sensor and everything is fine.

 

[midlife crazy]

I had the same error yesterday. Just under 12k miles. So far, I have had a series of issues; Torn leather seat, transmission replace, Stereo head unit replaced, Two new rims to replace dented ones from pothole, covered by the tire and wheel warranty of $500. They scratched both new rims mounting the tires. Everything has been taken care of, but only after contacting the Stinger Support line; 855-454-2847. Dealer has no loaners, so now am on hold while they arrange to pay for a rental for me, hopefully.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I had the same error yesterday. Just under 12k miles. So far, I have had a series of issues; Torn leather seat, transmission replace, Stereo head unit replaced, Two new rims to replace dented ones from pothole, covered by the tire and wheel warranty of $500. They scratched both new rims mounting the tires. Everything has been taken care of, but only after contacting the Stinger Support line; 855-454-2847. Dealer has no loaners, so now am on hold while they arrange to pay for a rental for me, hopefully.

But no extraneous noises and no paint issues? You're good!

 

[midlife crazy]

I had the same error yesterday. Just under 12k miles. So far, I have had a series of issues; Torn leather seat, transmission replace, Stereo head unit replaced, Two new rims to replace dented ones from pothole, covered by the tire and wheel warranty of $500. They scratched both new rims mounting the tires. Everything has been taken care of, but only after contacting the Stinger Support line; 855-454-2847. Dealer has no loaners, so now am on hold while they arrange to pay for a rental for me, hopefully.

Dealer told me the issue was caused by the suspension control switching to Korean, for no apparent reason. They report that resetting it fixed it. I have not picked the car up yet, but will post more after I do.

 

[midlife crazy]

Dealer told me the issue was caused by the suspension control switching to Korean, for no apparent reason. They report that resetting it fixed it. I have not picked the car up yet, but will post more after I do.

I have the car and all seems well, for now...