Very bad luck on such a new car, OP. However, I'm afraid that, if this is, indeed, what's happened then there's no way it will be covered by the car's warranty.

In theory you could probably claim on your car insurance, but, in practice, I very much doubt this would be worth doing.

Just have to pay up, I'm sorry to say.

Statistics - if you take the whole life of a car and divide it into 87 mile sectors, say 1,000 of them, the chances of getting a radiator punctured by a stone is just the same in the first 87 miles, or any other 87 mile sector you choose.

So the fact that it's occurred so early in the car's life cannot be regarded as any more unlikely than later in it's life.

Grills may not stop high speed debris completely but will often slow it down enough so as not to do any significant damage.

Same concept as body armour !

The air con in our Ceed SW stopped working in April this year. Booked car into Kia dealer and after inspecting and testing the system they dicovered that the condenser was leaking. Considering that the condenser sits in front of the radiator and is very vulnerable I expected a stone to be blamed and get a big bill. But I was wrong, they replaced it totally free of charge and never mentioned stone damage.

But a visual check should confirm if the damage has been caused by a stone rather than being just a simple leak.

Trouble is not all dealers are equal.

Edited by skidpan on 10/10/2013 at 12:59

My aircon condensor on my Vectra was pierced by a stone, but as it was mounted in front of the radiator (and also intercooler on mine as it was the turbo version) it seemed to be quite exposed.

I thought that most cars had their radiators in that order i.e from front to back aircon/intercooler/radiator so if does sound like you have just been unlucky.

A bit like getting a puncture one day after picking up your new car and having to buy a new tyre as the nail went into the sidewall - yes, that what happened to me.

I've just had the same problem - at least that's what the garage tells me (I was sceptical till I read this).

The heater went off, but the temperature did not rise, then suddenly the warning alarm - and the engine was plainly hot. There was still coolant in the system, but the rad is - they tell me - pierced and the head gasket had blown.

I'm not yet sure if they can fix it - but it will be a write off if it's warped.

Madame Swiss says we should not even ask the insurance company for advice, as she's convinced that just making an enquiry will cause them to refuse a claim, but still put up the premium. However, I think this is a bona fide accident, and as we're looking a new car it's well worth the claim.

Any thoughts anyone, please?

Thanks

T

Thanks for the friendly reply skidpan. I hope you have a pleasant day too.

All the very best to your and yours

Tony Swiss

I'm not going to check with my insurers because I am taking your expert advice.

I do not doubt the veracity of this advice, and I thank you kindly for it. I can certainly bear to be told the honest truth, in fact that was exactly why I came to this website.

But I don't know why you think it is acceptable to be rude and patronising to someone who is merely asking a simple question. It gives web forums a bad name and stops people using them.

So perhaps I can add

PLAY NICE

It costs nothing and makes you feel better too.

You have a lovely day, now, 'skidpan.'

TS

Given that Skidpan's replies were a> accurate and b>polite and the questionners obviously could not be bothered to read the terms of their insurance policies, I see no need at all for any apologies from Skidpan.

And if they think he is rude, they really are appearing to be precious.