KIA Carens - Electrical fault still under warranty. Want a replacement car!

paddyrush83

Grumpy_chap said:

Is it possible that it is just the battery is knackered and you need a new one?

Nope all been considered and changed but issue being they can’t find the drain and this is now on the 3rd battery.

Grumpy_chap

noitsnotme said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Is it possible that it is just the battery is knackered and you need a new one?

Opening post says battery has been replaced twice!

OOPS!
I missed that.

photome

could it be  a bad earth, friend had a Kia with electrical problems, took them a while before they replaced the earth strap, No further problems

AdrianC

paddyrush83 said:

So I have a 65 plate Kia Carens, I have had it for over 4yrs and bought from a Kia dealer.
...
My question is... have you or do you know of anyone returning a car under warranty

You don't return cars for a refund "under warranty".
You return them under consumer rights legislation.

Once six months from the date of purchase has expired, the onus is on the consumer to prove that the fault was there at the time of purchase. You admit that you didn't start to experience this issue until two years post-purchase.

It also has to be a fault that is not reasonable to expect for goods of that age - so, in this case, that it's not reasonable for a 5yo car to experience intermittent electrical issues that cause a battery drain.

It is also reasonable for the refund to be reduced to allow for the use that's been had from the goods - and the easiest way to do that is to look at the PX value if the car wasn't experiencing the fault.

Your issue here is not the existence of the fault, it's the inability of the dealer to diagnose and fix it. Have you tried a different Kia dealer? Have they escalated it to Kia UK? I'd also be documenting the conditions in which it does fail, to see what common factors there are. It's likely to be something straightforward. Stupid question - have you tried removing the bulbs from the glovebox and boot lights, the ones you can't see when it's locked...? Have you tried leaving it locked using the key, without the remote locking and alarm set? Are there any aftermarket electrics installed - a dashcam or similar? Are you leaving phone chargers plugged in?

macman

The OP is entitled to a repair under the Kia 7 year warranty. Nothing in that warranty offers a refund or replacement.

paddyrush83

Thanks Macman, I suppose it is just so unusual but I am looking at it from the angle of what happens if it can’t be repaired!? 

AdrianC

paddyrush83 said:

Thanks Macman, I suppose it is just so unusual but I am looking at it from the angle of what happens if it can’t be repaired!? 

It can...

The question is whether this particular dealership has the technical ability to do so - with or without Kia UK's help. 

ossie

Bad diodes (from Alternator) will drain your car battery when you do not drive the car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aOlCj7EokA

paddyrush83

Thanks ossie, all those tests have been done and the car gets good long drives. It is an intermittent fault so there is effectively a drain somewhere else that cannot be tracked

sweetsand

Dear OP
A suggestion if not already considered. Google the faults and is there a Kia forum? Normally a car forum is very good and you get world views, problems and problems fixed. Even really good technicians may not be aware of how to easily resolve a fault like your cars.  EG, in approx 2004 we bought our first brand new mercedes S class. We felt like a million dollars. Then a few days down the road we felt the car was judgering under accelartion - went to MB several times over 9/12 months, problem still there. My OH read a forum re tyres - tyres needed changing a few months down the road the rear ones are they were bigger woder and i think the car was rear wheel drive. Guess what a tyre change did the trick. As it was our first brand new, realtively expensive car, we kept her for 10 years and gave it to one of my OH's cousins and they still have the car a LW verson with recling seats it was the real deal those days. So, look up the net/speicalist car/kia forum and you may get the answer and then tell the technicians.