2004 Kia Optima

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by DodgeDriver, Jun 21, 2007.

  1. DodgeDriver

    DodgeDriver Guest

    I am posting to these newsgroups because of the vast expertise available.
    Thank you for indulging me.

    On April 30, 2007, I purchased a 2004 KIA Optima that had been used by the
    dealer as a loaner. The car had about 19,000 miles on it when purchased by
    me. The car had been placed in Service by the dealer on June 30, 2005.
    When purchased by me, there was a little over 3 years and 40, 000 miles left
    on the warranty. I have noticed on several occassions the car appeared to
    be leaning to the left (when viewed from the rear) while parked in my
    driveway. Yesterday, I took a few measurements in the driveway and the car
    leans about 1/2" to the left. Measurements were taken at a point near the
    left front, left rear, right front and right rear. I moved the car into my
    garage, on a level floor, re-measured, and confirmed my original
    measurements. I will be taking this up with the dealer but would like any
    ideas as to what may have caused this problem and how to resolve it.

    Thanks for any information.
     
    DodgeDriver, Jun 21, 2007
    #1
  2. DodgeDriver

    Jeff DeWitt Guest

    Your not going to like this but the most obvious answer is it was
    wrecked, the suspension damaged or unit body structure bent or both, and
    then not properly repaired.

    I'd take it to a good alignment shop and have them give it a through
    going over. Or you might take it to a shop that does a lot of crash
    repairs and get them to check it out for any damage or signs of repairs.

    I actually had a vehicle (a Jeep Comanche) that had a definite tilt to
    it for a while, it happened when I hit a piece of broken curb at about
    45 mph and bent the front axle.

    Good luck!

    Jeff DeWitt
     
    Jeff DeWitt, Jun 21, 2007
    #2
  3. DodgeDriver

    who Guest

    I've seen this on much older vehicles, caused by the sagging springs of
    a vehicle driven mostly by the lone driver.
    If the KIA springs sagged that soon they must be of quite poor quality.
     
    who, Jun 21, 2007
    #3
  4. Don't know if it applies to Kia, as I've heard of it mostly in conjunction
    with Ford, but it's possible a left side spring has broken near the bottom.
    Corrosion from road chemical build-up in the spring seat is the culprit
    AFAIK.

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Jun 21, 2007
    #4
  5. DodgeDriver

    Gyzmologist Guest

    When the car was assembled it is possible the left and right springs
    came from different lots and have slightly different spring rates. On an
    assembly line anything can happen, regardless of the make. If it is
    still under warranty, take it back to the dealer. Don't be nasty about
    it, just tell them it appears to be leaning to the left and you would
    like for them to check it. If they don't want to help you, take it to
    another dealership. If neither of them want to help you, then you
    probably will not be buying another Kia.

    --
    Gyz

    07 Saturn Sky
    98 Dodge Status ES
    94 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST
     
    Gyzmologist, Jun 21, 2007
    #5
  6. DodgeDriver

    Newby Guest

    Thanks, I'll have a look.
     
    Newby, Jun 21, 2007
    #6
  7. DodgeDriver

    DodgeDriver Guest

    [snipped]

    It is still under warranty. I'll post back to these groups after I have
    crawled under it myself and after the dealer has a look at it.
     
    DodgeDriver, Jun 21, 2007
    #7
  8. DodgeDriver

    Jamco Guest

    Biggest problem is that it is a Kia.
    The car is already 3 years old, its probably pretty close to the end of its
    life!
     
    Jamco, Jun 22, 2007
    #8
  9. DodgeDriver

    PhilO Guest

    Driving a 5 year old that I do service calls out of , basically beating the
    crap out of it to put if bluntly, hauling around tools and parts , don't
    think it's "pretty close to the end of it's life " or are you a previous
    owner of one?
     
    PhilO, Jun 22, 2007
    #9
  10. DodgeDriver

    mookie Guest

    FWIW, wife drives a 2002 Optima. The car has just shy of 100,000 miles on
    it and is still fantastic. Only consistent issue we had was window
    regulators which now are sorted. Very happy we bought the car.
     
    mookie, Jun 22, 2007
    #10
  11. My daughter-in-law is on her second Sephia. Her experience is that it isn't
    a rugged car, but as long as she treats it gently it is reliable enough.
    It's those 3K mile oil change requirements to maintain the warranty that bug
    her. She has to have 33 done by the time the warranty expires.

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Jun 22, 2007
    #11
  12. DodgeDriver

    Some O Guest

    That's one way to make a profit on the vehicle. >:)
     
    Some O, Jun 23, 2007
    #12
  13. Cheap insurance, on any car.
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Jun 23, 2007
    #13
  14. I think 3K is awfully short. I do 5K on my cars and that's a short interval.
    10K is stretching it just a little bit IMO. The manual on my Toyota calls
    for 7500 mile changes (5K severe duty) but the European manual calls for 10K
    mile or 15 K km changes. My daughter's '93 Honda calls for 7500 mile changes
    in either regular or severe duty and it's still going strong at 235K miles.

    The price difference between 5K and 3K changes (if not DIY) can be
    substantial. Even at $20 the additional 13 changes is $260, and a $20 oil
    change has to be one with oil and filter I would never put in a car I wanted
    to keep. Again, my opinion. I realize this is one of those "religious"
    topics, so everybody is welcome to follow their own star.

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Jun 23, 2007
    #14
  15. DodgeDriver

    Jeff DeWitt Guest

    Costs me about $12 and takes maybe 10 min.

    I do it myself, about every 3000-3500 miles, oil is a LOT cheaper than
    an engine.

    Jeff DeWitt
     
    Jeff DeWitt, Jun 23, 2007
    #15
  16. I think 3K is awfully short.[/QUOTE]

    Doesn't change the fact that it's cheap insurance on any car.
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Jun 23, 2007
    #16
  17. Cheap insurance against what, exactly? This thread is heavily cross-posted,
    so it offers us the voice of a lot of experience. Everybody, everywhere,
    when was the last time you saw an engine that actually suffered from 5K mile
    oil changes? Even 10K mile? (Note the specific exception below.) And how
    many have you seen fail because of timing belt neglect or head gasket
    failure?

    Have you ever heard (in recent times) of an oil analysis at 5K miles saying
    the oil was no longer usable? Or even at 10K miles? Have you heard of any
    engine (again, in the last 30 years or so) that suffered damage or sludge
    from 5K change intervals? My view is well summarized in
    www.nordicgroup.us/oil.htm#Oil%20Change%20Intervals - 3K oil changes are
    from days long gone except as recommended by those entities that wish the
    instructions could say "drain, fill, repeat." The previously mentioned site
    noted that engines with hydraulic timing chain snubbers are an exception,
    and I agree with that. I would also expand it to any engine with internal
    hydraulics, like variable valve timing engines. However, I think higher
    detergency oils are a more important factor in those engines than
    excessively frequent oil changes.

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Jun 23, 2007
    #17
  18. DodgeDriver

    mack Guest

    Okay, Jeff, but if your oil change takes only ten minutes, you must have
    either a hydraulic hoist or a lubrication pit built into your garage. I
    (and most people) couldn't get the front wheels onto jacks in ten minutes.
     
    mack, Jun 23, 2007
    #18
  19. DodgeDriver

    Ken Weitzel Guest

    Yikes, take me ten minutes to get the durned jack out of the trunk and
    remember how the new fangled things work :)

    Course I'm old and long retired anyways, so who cares?

    Reminds me - how many old retired guys does it take to change a light
    bulb?

    Just one. But it takes him all day.

    Take care.

    Ken
     
    Ken Weitzel, Jun 23, 2007
    #19
  20. DodgeDriver

    mookie Guest

    In the case of this retired guy, it takes me three days - one to decide if
    the bulb is, in fact, burned out. One to actually decide to change it, and
    one to actually get it done.

    As for the ten minutes, I make the oil change a complete check over. The
    Optima is the car wife drives, so I want no surprises for her. I check the
    tires, lube the door hinges, check the bulbs, etc., etc., etc. Whole
    process, including getting the ramps out/put away takes ½ hour. I know
    3,000 may be a little soon in today's oil world, but it forces me under the
    car to check it out.

    Rich
     
    mookie, Jun 23, 2007
    #20
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