Kia Corporate Technical Contact Needed

[DeltaV]

Does anyone out there have contact information for someone within Kia who understands the engineering of the Stinger?

I’m having an issue with my 2022 that is beyond the understanding of my dealership and the corporate contacts they access. I would like to work with someone directly who can provide advice or direction on how to better diagnose and fix the problem. Apparently it’s too esoteric for dealership standards.

If there’s someone in the aftermarket that would be better to talk to that understands handling, suspension configuration, stability control, AWD, torque vectoring, lane follow assist, etc., I’m happy to get their contact info, too.

Thanks!

 

[byebyeSTI]

i can answer some questions ,

 

[DeltaV]

@byebyeSTI, Thank you!

Rather than repeat, please see post #5 and forward in this thread 'Caster/camber plates':
Caster/camber plates

I’d love your thoughts.

 

[byebyeSTI]

well i understand what the car is doing .. the answer is sway bars and a proper alignment set up .

 

[DeltaV]

With no front camber adjustability, I’d agree that the alignment can never be ideal. I have compensated for this as much as possible by balancing the rear camber to what’s available up front.

Since this is not an issue of mechanical understeer, but some electronic system either steering the front wheels independent from my input or putting power (or brakes?) down unusually, I’m looking for someone who understands the Stinger’s stability control, AWD, torque vectoring, lane follow assist, etc.

I’m looking there because on well-known long, constant-radius sweepers, with rock solid steering angle and throttle, at speeds my Sedona minivan can hold with decent no-season radials, the front end swings in a regular, pendular cadence between holding the proper line to slightly opening the driving line, back and forth, regular as clockwork. I’m running Michelin 245/255 PS4S with good pressures. The car does this with all nannies on, all nannies off, AWD defeated or not, Mando off or on, and confirmed by the dealership’s service manager.

I realize this isn’t a sports car, but actual understeer (meaning front axle slide, rather than steering) shouldn’t happen at minivan speeds or 25 mph slower than a Mazda RX-8 with mild suspension upgrades.

It’s unnerving because it feels like the beginning sensation of terminal understeer, but rectifies itself with no intervention…once I learned I didn’t need to correct, that it would do so on its own.

I have dozens of HPDE and open track day experience in an FD RX-7, wherein decently-driven Viper GTS, C5 GS and ZR1, 911TT, and race-prepped E36 Lightweights were no problem at tracks like Sebring full course (original hairpin), Road Atlanta (dip and 10A/B), Homestead roval, and Summit Point. I know understeer, oversteer, friction circle, and how to manage vehicle dynamics sort of well, and this doesn’t feel or behave like traditional understeer. Granted, it’s a new-ish car to me (2022 - had since August).

Any ideas?

Thanks!!!

 

[byebyeSTI]

i think you need the neg camber available on the rear to hold the line you are starting at the apex ,, my set up is neg-1.5 in the rear and neg 1 up front with no issues as you stated ,, have you tried to pull the awd fuse and see if the electronics are actually to blame ? see if it holds the line you are looking for that way ?

 

[DeltaV]

I’ve tried with all nannies on, all nannies off, AWD fuse pulled and not pulled, Mando on and off (it happened prior to the Mando install). Same result.

Even did a re-learn on the electronic steering.

I can’t get more than -0.6° camber front, thus my request on the Caster/Camber Plates thread. I’m also about -1.5 in the rear. Front caster is even. Toe is zero all around.

 

[byebyeSTI]

huh ok .. im running .20 toe in rear and .12 toe in front seems to be a happy place for my driving style ,

 

[DeltaV]

Hmmm. Something to think about.

Still looking for a Kia electronic subsystem specialist to discuss the steering intrusion, though.