2.0T Knocking in front end

[Marni]

Hi fellow stinger owners!
I’ve had my stinger into the shop 7x now for the same knocking noise in the front end. They cannot seem to figure it out, extremely frustrating. It’s a loud knocking noise in the front end when I turn left. Anyone else experience this?

 

[NS_Stinger]

Do you have an aftermarket front sway bar?

 

[MerlintheMad]

Howdy and welcome. Wish your intro were under positive circumstances. Seriously, seven times? What do the service "techs" keep trying. Are they insane (trying the same thing and expecting different results)? Or have they really tried seven different remedies? Are you getting charge for work each time? My initial question is: AWD? If so, my first suspicion is that you have a flopping driveshaft coupler (not sure of the actual name of the part): something with some play/slop that only manifests in that left-turning position. I welcome other hypotheses.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I'm thinking it could easily be a sway bar endlink especially if an aftermarket sway bar has been installed at some point.

 

[Marni]

Howdy and welcome. Wish your intro were under positive circumstances. Seriously, seven times? What do the service "techs" keep trying. Are they insane (trying the same thing and expecting different results)? Or have they really tried seven different remedies? Are you getting charge for work each time? My initial question is: AWD? If so, my first suspicion is that you have a flopping driveshaft coupler (not sure of the actual name of the part): something with some play/slop that only manifests in that left-turning position. I welcome other hypotheses.

Yes they replaced the coupler and have also replaced the left drive shaft. Thought it was fixed, but today the sound has returned. Yes it’s AWD. I haven’t paid anything as I purchased the extended warranty. They put the Cam Ears on it last time it was in and decided it was the left drive shaft, but clearly it wasn’t. I was told today by the service manager Kia may deem it a “normal noise”. That doesn’t fly with me! I’m so incredibly frustrated. I’m also a woman so they are treated me like I know nothing, actually asked me maybe something was rattling around in my glove box.

 

[Marni]

I'm thinking it could easily be a sway bar endlink especially if an aftermarket sway bar has been installed at some point.

They replaced those already, that was the second repair they did.

 

[StingertimeNC]

In to hear what the solution finally is. Maybe the spring is moving around in the perch? I'm assuming they would have checked every single suspension component and nut and bolt, etc.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yes they replaced the coupler and have also replaced the left drive shaft. Thought it was fixed, but today the sound has returned. Yes it’s AWD. I haven’t paid anything as I purchased the extended warranty. They put the Cam Ears on it last time it was in and decided it was the left drive shaft, but clearly it wasn’t. I was told today by the service manager Kia may deem it a “normal noise”. That doesn’t fly with me! I’m so incredibly frustrated. I’m also a woman so they are treated me like I know nothing, actually asked me maybe something was rattling around in my glove box.

It's hard to know what this noise is like from your description. When you're turning left, is the noise repetitive or intermittent? How loud is it and can you feel anything to go along with the "knocking" sound?

I've had a "knock" sound come from my RF as I back out of my driveway and over the gutter as I turn the wheel: my wife asked, "What was that?" It was quite loud, and you could feel it as if the suspension bound and then released: it doesn't happen every time and seems specific to a particular set of positional conditions. I consider it "normal", as in, every car is going to have quirks that make different noises. Those that we can live with are not repetitive and annoying: and certainly do not manifest any performance or safety detriments.

When you toss in the different levels of noise sensitivity, some people are hypersensitive to any noise or vibration: even if what bugs them is an artifact of "normal operation".

If you've been in seven times, and the service manager said that Kia may judge it "normal", I guess I'm trying to help prepare you for that (that, "it could be in the glovebox", is beyond the pale condescending behavior, though). But if you really are certain that the level of "knocking", and the frequency of it, is completely not normal, it doesn't matter what anybody else's opinion is, since it is your ride and you have to accept how it is. There are forum members who have complained here and to Kia about similar issues resulting in them ditching the Stinger in the end. Hopefully that isn't you!

 

[GT Elite]

Can you tell from where in the front end the knocking is coming from? Is it from the left side, right side, center, etc.

I would note that when turning left, it is the right side suspension that is loaded with turning forces, so it maybe something on that side of the car that is the problem. It could be a constant velocity u-joint (coupler) in the right driveshaft.

I would also be looking at the sway bar mounts to the frame. Another thing to look at is the attachment points for the electric steering or the electric steering unit itself (I.e: a loose permanent magnet inside the electric steering).

So many things it could be!

 

[Marni]

It's hard to know what this noise is like from your description. When you're turning left, is the noise repetitive or intermittent? How loud is it and can you feel anything to go along with the "knocking" sound?

I've had a "knock" sound come from my RF as I back out of my driveway and over the gutter as I turn the wheel: my wife asked, "What was that?" It was quite loud, and you could feel it as if the suspension bound and then released: it doesn't happen every time and seems specific to a particular set of positional conditions. I consider it "normal", as in, every car is going to have quirks that make different noises. Those that we can live with are not repetitive and annoying: and certainly do not manifest any performance or safety detriments.

When you toss in the different levels of noise sensitivity, some people are hypersensitive to any noise or vibration: even if what bugs them is an artifact of "normal operation".

If you've been in seven times, and the service manager said that Kia may judge it "normal", I guess I'm trying to help prepare you for that (that, "it could be in the glovebox", is beyond the pale condescending behavior, though). But if you really are certain that the level of "knocking", and the frequency of it, is completely not normal, it doesn't matter what anybody else's opinion is, since it is your ride and you have to accept how it is. There are forum members who have complained here and to Kia about similar issues resulting in them ditching the Stinger in the end. Hopefully that isn't you!

The noise just started in august of last yr. My son who is a truck mechanic thinks it’s a differential or trani issue as he’s heard it in the big rigs before but they refuse to look past the suspension etc components. He can’t look at it as he’s not licensed on cars so it would void my warranty. It’s a noise that gets worse over time, starts when I turn left periodically and then it’s when I turn right, and then it’s at every turn. It’s always 4-5 knocks. I would never get rid of stinger! Love it!!

 

[GT Elite]

It could very well be a differential issue.

Maybe your son could go with you the next time you take the car to the dealer. Then, he could have a mechanic to mechanic discussion about what they should be looking at. It also makes it much harder for them to “bs” you as he can call them out on the stupid stuff.

 

[Marni]

It could very well be a differential issue.

Maybe your son could go with you the next time you take the car to the dealer. Then, he could have a mechanic to mechanic discussion about what they should be looking at. It also makes it much harder for them to “bs” you as he can call them out on the stupid stuff.

That’s a great idea, one I’ve suggested as well. I will bring him again though. He thinks it’s quite possibly the transfer case as well. The problem lies with Kia, they say their hands are tied as it’s under warranty which will not let them pull it apart to investigate. This makes zero sense to me. I would like to take it to another mechanic but I’m not willing to pay out of pocket for a warranty issue, especially since I’ve paid so much for the extended warranty to avoid out of pocket repairs. I’ll see what they have to say tomorrow when I send them the recorded noise, which they have asked for.

 

[eljay]

Marni, I have no clue about your noise, but have you told them you want the district service rep to get involved? I had an admittedly smaller issue early on, and having her get involved (after a call to Kia corporate customer service), she got things taken care of. But maybe it helped that the rep was a woman, who wouldn't assume I was ignorant-by-gender.

 

[BabyJesus]

Hi fellow stinger owners!
I’ve had my stinger into the shop 7x now for the same knocking noise in the front end. They cannot seem to figure it out, extremely frustrating. It’s a loud knocking noise in the front end when I turn left. Anyone else experience this?

I'm having the same exact problem on my 2.0, although it's RWD. It does it when I turn either direction. I've taken it to a shop 3 times and I can't get it to keep alignment to save my life. I got an alignment 2 weeks ago and the car is already pulling hard to the right. The shop said they can't figure out what it is and everything seems to be fine, but I didn't pay this much money to have a car that makes the same noises as an 06 accord with 167,000 miles.