I got a demo and it has problems, I need help

[LilShark]

Hi everyone. I’m young and I don’t have anyone in my life that knows much about cars. I bought a customized demo stinger GT2 AWD a couple months ago. I’ve noticed some issues.. I need some help. I have an appointment at the dealership I got it from next week.

First of all, the demo had 5600 miles on it when I got it. The owner of a massive dealership was driving it before I got it so I assumed that all of the maintenance would have been kept up with... wrong. Long story short, they didn’t change the oil at 5000 miles. I know I’m stupid for not checking... I’ve bought several cars from this dealership and they know me well. I expected everything to be in proper working order.

It’s at 8200 miles and it’s never had an oil change. Which makes me REALLY upset. Do you guys think I can trust them to tell me the truth if the oil comes out with metal shavings in it? Is there any way for me to check this out myself? I honestly don’t know if they are visible and obvious or if you need to inspect it with a magnifying glass, microscope?. LOL sorry if I’m an idiot.

The most upsetting issue is the wobble. I have it and it’s bad. When I brake I get major wobbling. I get the wobble feedback through the steering wheel too and it’s very significant. I wobble at high speeds, which is concerning to me. It’s not ONLY when I brake. I’m not sure what this could mean. There is also a high pitched brake squeak sometimes which makes me cringe every time I hear it. I’ve also noticed what I believe to be some rust on my rotors. I’m not educated enough about cars to be certain.

Additionally, I have what I believe to be some sort of belt squeaking when I turn off the car, it gives a little EEK right after the engine shut down. Also, I get a squeak sometimes when there’s a change in direction of force, it seems. Like going around corners and curves, sometimes I hear a little EEK when I accelerate. Ugh. Again, I’m so sorry if I sound stupid.

Based on what I’ve read online, I want Kia to replace all of my rotors and all of my rotors. If there’s anything else that could be causing this wobble, or if I’m wrong please educate me and feel free talk to me like I know nothing about cars.

As for the squeak with the engine, I have not the slightest clue what could be causing that. If anybody knows what that could be I would appreciate input.

If anyone has any advice on how to communicate to the service department that I know what I’m talking about. I need them to thoroughly inspect everything and replace things if necessary. I’m a young female, and in the past I’ve been blatantly blown off regarding something small and obvious, it was super insulting and now I don’t trust the service department to listen to my concerns and take them seriously.

That being said, is there any chance I could finesse my way into the service garage? I know a few of the people at this dealership pretty well. I’m also in school for mechanical engineering so I thought maybe I could use that as an excuse for wanting to be... involved LOL.

Sorry for this very long post, I really need help. I love this car but the issues are ruining my new car experience and I’m very afraid I’m going to get to this service appointment and they’re going to change the oil and try to just send me home.

 

[turboAWD]

As long as they don't flag you for not changing the oil in time, I wouldn't worry too much about it - I believe factory oil is Total Quartz, which is supposed to be quite good. If it's not low, you should be fine. It may be the difference between 240K miles and 250K miles on the life of the motor or something like that, but I wouldn't expect it to cause any problems in the short term (less than 100K miles). Unless it's really, REALLY bad and you hit the rev limiter all the time.

The brake wobble, many people have had. Kia should fix it once, at least, under warranty - turn the rotors at least. Long term, you probably need to pay for a different set of brake pads so it doesn't keep coming back. Pads are pretty easy to change on this car - like a 1-2/10 difficulty, if you know how to change a flat. You can find a video online easily - just look for how to change pads on a Brembo caliper.

Rust on rotors is normal - happens to every one after having the car sit for a few days, or if it rains. And the parts that don't get used often rust anyway. All normal.

The high speed wobble sounds like the wheels could use a re-balancing. Are there lots of pot-holes around? btw, where are you located? That could help find someone locally who knows a thing or two.

The squeak as you shut off the car has been mentioned a few times - I think it has to do with the throttle body or something similar, but I can't remember for sure. Search for it.

All in all, none of these sound like your car is going to die anytime soon. DO get the oil changed. With quality oil. Get them to at least turn the rotors and look into a new set of pads ($50-100) and re-balance the wheels. That will probably solve most of your problems. The squeak at shutdown may take a little more work / persistence. But it may be just that - an annoying squeak that isn't a sign of anything wrong, just a squeak.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Hello again. I concur with the wobble at high speed being a wheel/balance issue and nothing to do with brakes.

Shuddering in the steering wheel while braking means the front brakes have pad deposits on the rotors. Your rear brakes are probably fine; or else you'd feel the shudder in your seat. Turning your rotors is what Kia will do first. You're within the 12K mile pads and rotors warranty. They'll replace the pads too. See what happens after that. Then go to the threads here on the subject and do your best to pick an aftermarket solution if the shuddering returns. Good fortune and heavy braking! (JK try and be judicious with the brakes; coast a lot to an almost stop and apply brakes at the end; don't do like my 23 year-old daughter, tailgating and riding the brakes and hitting them at the end of a run up to a stop light. "Some people's kids!" Oh, crap, I just dissed myself.)

If the engine runs smoothly, quietly and powerfully, then, imho, don't angst over a shutdown "eek". Keep listening for any changes in the sound, because it could mean a developing turbo problem (throttle body?). But by itself it doesn't signify anything other than a complex machine that has its own quirky noises. No two cars are exactly alike.

Oil. I concur also that getting to 8K miles before changing oil isn't a problem as long as the oil level is up and the viscosity is still healthy, i.e. it isn't turning to "sludge" or gone black. Probably your oil is fine. Don't worry about anything if it comes out looking dark, because our engines turn oil dark quickly; GDI engines are like that. "Black" will also be "sludgy". Dark will still feel like oil. Just do regular "by the book" oil and filter changes from now on.

You could print up this thread and hand it to the service supervisor. I did that when I had my Eibach rear sway bar put in by Kia: I printed up how a member went about installation, including time taken and cost; so the tech super would know that I know what to expect out of him/them.

And enjoy your Stinger!

 

[washguy]

Lilshark go here and get a lil bit of your oil tested Blackstone Laboratories | Oil Analysis - Learn What's Going On In Your Engine
Wash

 

[itguy61]

If the OP is getting vibration when they touch the brakes they probably have the same issue many of us have had here with deposits on the brake pads. Wheel balance is noticeable without having to touch the brakes.

 

[MerlintheMad]

If the OP is getting vibration when they touch the brakes they probably have the same issue many of us have had here with deposits on the brake pads. Wheel balance is noticeable without having to touch the brakes.

You mean pad deposits on the rotors. Don't confuse the little shark!

 

[robz32]

Welcome aboard! Where are you located?

You are well within the 12k mile warranty period for pads and rotors. I would take the car to your nearest Kia dealer and have them resurface the rotors, the will not change the pads, right after, I will call the Kia VIP line and make them aware of the situation and the multiple reports form different owners with the same issue, you can also reference the multiple threads on this forum as support and ask to have the brakes completely replaced, pads an rotors. Some dealers are aware of this issue and will jump right on to replacing the brakes rather than go through resurfacing them and then replacing. Resurfacing the rotors is just a band aid fix as the issue will return for sure.

More importantly you need to change the oil ASAP, GDi engines don't like to run with old burned oil as the intake valves are susceptible to carbon build up, make your oil change intervals closer to 4k or 5k miles.

When you go in to the service department ask to have the technician come along with you (technician as a passenger) so you can replicate the noises you would like them to take a look at.

Hope this helps.

 

[ZyroXZ2]

As a man with a mother and two sisters who know jack squat about cars, I think you're already smarter than most by taking the time to ask the questions and do your homework. Kudos to you right there!

Definitely get the oil changed. Unless you're a spirited driver, just making sure you match the factory specs of oil requirements (in the manual), pretty much any brand will do. Even if there were small amounts of oil shavings, it's too late: any light surface marring internally has already happened; but since the car isn't showing symptoms of internal damage, I doubt they'll swap a whole new block out. You just have to take extra care with your oil change intervals from now on.

The brake wobble is alarmingly common. Find a nice, quiet road with long enough spans, and do a brake bed procedure (or at least get up to about 60-70MPH, then brake HARD down to 5MPH, then drive it for about 10-15 seconds [low speeds are fine if you don't have the space] to let the brakes cool before coming to a stop). If you do that a few times, it should reduce the wobble/vibration (as you'll have cleaned off the brake rotors and the pads will have a fresh surface), but if it does not eliminate it entirely, you could have some rotor warp.

The squeak is normal, though. Some claim it's the throttle body, others the turbo wastegates. Mine's in the turbo wastegates because after the dealership replaced both my turbos, the squeak was gone for about a month and started again. Though the turbos gave way soon after, I replaced the turbos again myself. The squeak was gone once again for about a month after replacing both turbos, but eventually comes back. Point though is that it's normal and nothing to be concerned with.

As for walking into the service garage? That's generally frowned upon by dealerships, but sometimes you have to be assertive. Men in the automotive industry generally don't seem to understand women (lol), but they have enough gumption to "allow" a woman to be around if she's assertive about things because for some odd reason, these "strong" men are weak to being bossed around or being put in their place by females... *shrug*

Long story short, if you know what you're talking about and you've done your part to analyze/prove it, you can put your foot down. And put your foot down you should.