New Stinger Recall

[MerlintheMad]

video update on this.

some details on what they are doing during the HECU recall (the fire hazard recall). also a way to do it yourself if you so desire.

"I don't like other people touching things that I pay for."

7:54 "I'm sure it will run, but it will have really screwed up brakes, if I have to guess." How is THAT better than the fire hazard problem? If you're driving and the 25 amp fuses burn and your brakes get "really screwed up", you could be dead, along with how many other people???

 

[Fredman]

Really good video and seems like a simple “fix”.

My issue with this fix from Kia is that it’s still just a bandaid solution. Sure your car won’t start on fire from a faulty HECU but it can still fail and strand you somewhere. Seems like a cheap way out rather than addressing the root cause and replacing the HECU.

Also, couldn’t they have just replaced the strip fuse with one that has two 25 amp fuses instead of 40s? I’m sure they’re expensive but it’s a way cleaner fix than having to cut and splice wires in the fuse box.

Curious in your video why you didn’t decide to remove the 3 bolts holding in the fuse box that you spoke to at the end of the video? Wouldn’t this provide more space to maneuver?

I think if they redesigned that multi fuse strip, they are committing to the “partial” current fix. It would actually be working the wrong direction towards the proper resolution.

 

[MerlintheMad]

What I don't get, is why only a limited run of vehicles? What would Kia change in the wires and fuses from earlier models, and why? And why change back or to something else? This pairing of fuses and wire gauge seems like an original design choice, so, why alter it, and then alter it again (or back)?

 

[Stock_stinger]

Really good video and seems like a simple “fix”.

My issue with this fix from Kia is that it’s still just a bandaid solution. Sure your car won’t start on fire from a faulty HECU but it can still fail and strand you somewhere. Seems like a cheap way out rather than addressing the root cause and replacing the HECU.

Also, couldn’t they have just replaced the strip fuse with one that has two 25 amp fuses instead of 40s? I’m sure they’re expensive but it’s a way cleaner fix than having to cut and splice wires in the fuse box.

Curious in your video why you didn’t decide to remove the 3 bolts holding in the fuse box that you spoke to at the end of the video? Wouldn’t this provide more space to maneuver?

They aren't replacing all the hecu's because the incident number is so low that it's not justified. And they have no idea what units are bad so instead, just avoiding the fire issue.

I could have done the 3 bolts and flipped it up but that requires a hand fu of other trim pieces to be removed and I sometimes like a challenge. It would most definitely be easier to go that route.

Strip fuses are very expensive and custom manufactured. Given the current status of manufacturers it's probably not feasible or fast enough

 

[Fredman]

I actually really like the suggested method he used in the video to remove that section of the fuse block only. Much less invasive! If you pull the entire fuse assembly, guaranteed there is an ocean of wires underneath all neatly tucked bundled and tied tightly.
Good luck getting all of that to lay down properly while blindly pushing that fuse assembly back in place...

 

[Stock_stinger]

"I don't like other people touching things that I pay for."

7:54 "I'm sure it will run, but it will have really screwed up brakes, if I have to guess." How is THAT better than the fire hazard problem? If you're driving and the 25 amp fuses burn and your brakes get "really screwed up", you could be dead, along with how many other people???

To clarify the brakes would prob just have no stability control assistance or abs. Be shitty for someone in the snow lol

 

[Fredman]

To clarify the brakes would prob just have no stability control assistance or abs. Be shitty for someone in the snow lol

Yup. And of course you will get dash light warnings...

 

[Stock_stinger]

What I don't get, is why only a limited run of vehicles? What would Kia change in the wires and fuses from earlier models, and why? And why change back or to something else? This pairing of fuses and wire gauge seems like an original design choice, so, why alter it, and then alter it again (or back)?

I think there's alot left that they don't know. The biggest issue to them is fire. I suspect as mentioned, the unit won't be of much issue unless you cause it to be used alot such as auto hold, spirited driving or snow conditions like abs pulsing. The movement of the wires prevents someone popping the "new card with 25's" back to 40's for liability but again the hecu unit is supposedly the fuse with internal shorting leading to over current

 

[Stock_stinger]

Yup. And of course you will get dash light warnings...

It's Christmas anyways lol

 

[Stock_stinger]

I actually really like the suggested method he used in the video to remove that section of the fuse block only. Much less invasive! If you pull the entire fuse assembly, guaranteed there is an ocean of wires underneath all neatly tucked bundled and tied tightly.
Good luck getting all of that to lay down properly while blindly pushing that fuse assembly back in place...

 

[Fredman]

OMG
I take it that’s what’s underneath!!
yikes!! Lol

 

[Stock_stinger]

this is the TSB file for the recall campaign. this will help you find the right two wires (you can see them from the top on the right side easily but for clarification). this also has the "kit" # in it.

 

[Fredman]

Thanks so much again stock stinger!!!
I am personally extremely relieved
this is a walk in the park compared to what I was envisioning -

 

[Fredman]

What I don't get, is why only a limited run of vehicles? What would Kia change in the wires and fuses from earlier models, and why? And why change back or to something else? This pairing of fuses and wire gauge seems like an original design choice, so, why alter it, and then alter it again (or back)?

Maybe -

 

[SKStinger]

this is the TSB file for the recall campaign. this will help you find the right two wires (you can see them from the top on the right side easily but for clarification). this also has the "kit" # in it.

That’s gross. No way I’m letting a Kia tech do this. Your method is way less intrusive.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Maybe -

Analogous to the wiring harness recall for a limited run of MY18s: this would mean that there is a variance in what wires and fuses Kia puts into cars, based on availability; and for the MY19 fire hazard issue, those cars were using a different pairing of wire gauge and fuse capacity than vehicles manufactured before and after that period. Do I understand you?

 

[Fredman]

What I was inferring was, this electrical issue noted for 2018 may have impacted the 2019 production year.

 

[MerlintheMad]

What I was inferring was, this electrical issue noted for the 2018 year may have caused whatever changes involving the current issue.

Aha. So, you think there could be a direct cause and effect from the earlier TSB for the wiring harness. But that was only a physical flaw, nothing to do with electrical overloads burning the wires. I like my theory better: still waiting for someone who thinks that they know, to answer that question: why would a limited run of vehicles have this issue, and not before or after that limited (2019) run? What changed?

 

[SKStinger]

Aha. So, you think there could be a direct cause and effect from the earlier TSB for the wiring harness. But that was only a physical flaw, nothing to do with electrical overloads burning the wires. I like my theory better: still waiting for someone who thinks that they know, to answer that question: why would a limited run of vehicles have this issue, and not before or after that limited (2019) run? What changed?

Perhaps they updated the HECU for 2019, realized it was faulty and replaced it for the 2020s. That or a 2020 just hasn’t caught fire yet and it’s just a matter of time.

 

[Johnnys Stung]

Interesting to note is that Kia decided to reduce the fuse rating to 25A to match the wire rating, vs upgrading the wire to match the 40A fuse. This thought process suggests the HECU was designed to only pull 25A max and that their wiring fix and fuse rating reduction is still ample power for the unit (we hope... the original oversizing the fuse doesn’t give me much faith in their electrical engineering department).

Pulling more than 25A will now indicate a faulty unit. I don’t foresee popping fuses or having troubles unless your HECU fails, and if it does, this recall just potentially saved you a car fire. A device that shorts or fails can draw as many amps as it likes until a fuse pops or a wire burns up. Popping fuses still sucks and shows you still have a problem. So far, 99% of us are ok but is it a ticking time bomb?

As said in the earlier posts, its way more expensive to replace units. They’d also have to apply this wiring and fuse fix too while in there. Fix wiring, let fuses pop, replace as needed.

This tells us that 99% of us folks who are just fine and haven’t popped the 40A should be fine with the fuse kit fix. I’ll be getting this done in 2 weeks and will buy a few extra 25A fuses as spares. The moment I pop that 25A I’ll request a new HECU.