Hi GB

Still kicking :) Hope you are well.

Realistically brake fluid can be left for longer but if its on the service sheet and itemised on my invoice then I want it doing particlarly if i've paid extra and specifically requested it.

They reckon 4 years is about right. BMW motorcycles do a fluid change after a year from new for some reason. Some ABS pumps are a bit fickle about the quality of fluid.

Those pictures were taken in the dusk with flash so it may have highlighted the white bits. All the other components are good so I don't think its been swimming. :)

As for the oil. I've removed the sump tray. The sump plug hasn't been touched so I'm surmising the old oil has been sucked out by machine. having said that they've itemised a sump plug washer. This still leaves residual oil which will contaminate the fresh oil quicker. You are right diesel oil blackens very very quickly.

What really annoys me is that despite clear images they tell me that the work has been completed.

I really doubt Kia mothership is really bothered until such time as it impacts their reputation.

Edited by Fullchat on 24/07/2020 at 21:28

I do know Kia Customer Services visit the Kia websites as occasionally they respond so I'm surmising they will be aware of my issues.

But I'm not expecting an apologetic representative to be knocking on my door offering to make amends anytime soon.

It seems that there is nothing new in the world regarding dealers lack of servicing correctly/not at all or invoicing for parts not used on customers vehicles but for mechanics own cars.

At one dealership many years ago, we had a specific oil change bay and one day wandering through I spotted about a dozen or so brand new oil filters that had not been changed.

Mechanics doing their own oil changes using cutomers oil, a customer being billed for a new cylinder head so that the mechanic could have the old one for his car,

I was threatened a few time for telling senior management, and even went directly to the dealer principals office once.

I am quite sure that not much has changed.

Lets not blame the mechanics entirely, management play a part sometimes.

A Renault dealer local to us lost his franchise when it was discovered they were replacing parts on brand new cars with used ones then selling the new parts on.

Then they got a Datsun franchise and the owner of the garage was prosecuted for assaulting an off duty cop who was looking at one of the cars shortly after the garage had closed for the day, the owners defence was he thought the chap was trying to steal it. Believe it or not shortly after they went bankrupt because local people simply did not trust them. The liquidators had an on-site auction of stock and mate of mine got a brand new Violet (shows how long ago it was) for about 50% of list price, he was delighted as were many other locals that drove away in bargains.

Sadly my experience of main dealers across the following brands Volvo,Audi,Seat and Vauxhall is largely bad. The last main dealer I had nothing but praise for was a Citroen one and they were basically forced out of business as they wouldn’t invest huge sums of money in a glass palace, apparently the same premises that had served customers well for many years were no longer acceptable.

in no particular order

Audi. Despite producing copious amounts of paperwork including many ticked checklists it became clear that maintenance was a tick box exercise. Tread depths listed that bared no relation to the tyres on the car. Disappointing as the same dealer had only fitted new tyres the previous week but apparently they were down to 4mm already.

At Audi main dealer rates I expect a professional job, sadly it wasn’t forthcoming.

Seat - they insisted I needed brake fluid every two years. When I asked that they checked moisture content and changed if required it was clear they just never bothered.

This was after they registered the car in the wrong name when I bought it and tried to cover it up with a load of tipped on the v5.

Vauxhall - they seem a fan of giving you red advisory’s for things that may need doing. My front pads were worn to 7mm and were subject to a red warning whilst the car was being serviced. Apparently this was neccesary as they didn’t know how many miles I’d be doing between services.

Volvo - whilst in for a service it was identified that the car had a damaged radiator and condenser which required replacement. When it was pointed out that I’d only had the car and short time and it was purchased from them under their selekt used car scheme it was hurriedly decided that as the car was functioning ok no replacement was neccesary. After some discussion they agreed to replace the parts.

the best garage I use is an independent one near us. You get an honest answer, quality service and sensible prices. I’m yet to be offered a cup of coffee or find a flash leather armchair but they do seem to know what they are taking about so I’ll turn a blind eye!

I work as a workshop controller at a Kia dealership..... the brake fluid is scheduled to be changed every two years... not just because its hygroscopic , but also because it ensures that the bleed screws are regularly loosened to make future maintenance possible , and because it prevents a build up of microscopic seal particles that can erode brake seals if left unattended to (applies to ALL brands). All technicians are given a service sheet to work to , and if any are found to have "missed/forgotten/avoided" anything , a warning is automatically applied!!..

The industry is rethinking that advice - as EVs are being given 4 year brake fluid change recommendations to avoid it being the major maintenance requirement.

Thats good to hear Targen. I need a workshop that actually does what I pay for.

And yes a fluid change does allow the bleed screws to be cracked open to stop them rusting in place. All basic maintenance stuff really.

Actually that brings me to another issue alongside the Sportage at its '2 year no brake fluid change service'. At the same time I had a 63 plate Picanto in for some other work but let them conduct the MOT and service. It failed on rear brake to caliper brake pipes 'excess corrosion'

A family member had been bitten by this once before and charged over £400 to have the pipes replaced. So this time I declined the offer to allow me the opportunity to inspect. Once home a quick clean off of the road dirt and peeling manufacturers coating and all was good with an MOT pass at a local garage.

My point being apart from another con job was the service documentation. The MOT had been conducted before the service. Where you would have thought a technician would have examined an cleaned the pipes in preparation for the MOT.

The accompanying service also stated 'brake fluid change not completed bleed nipple replacement required' Doesnt make it clear how many bleed nipples.. Were they assuming that I'd fall for the brake pipe scam in which case the fluid would be changed. Or , as they had been the sole servicers from new, were they now concerned that as they had been failing to complete fluid changes when specified that those bleed screws were liable to cause them grief??

In any event my local conducted a fluid change along with the MOT and no dramas.

Edited by Fullchat on 09/08/2020 at 23:56

Not all that uncommon to find a bad mechanic who either through laziness doesn’t do the job he’s paid to do or through dishonesty steals the parts and fluids that should’ve found their way into your car for his own or for a homer. We had some trouble with this but anyone found out not to be doing the job correctly was sacked on the spot. What irritates me more here is the attitudes of the service managers who refuse to accept the possibility that the job hasn’t been done right. I’ll give a dealer one chance to deal with a complaint then I upgrade it to the manufacturers customer services team who’ve yet to fail me on any car I’ve had the need. That said, it’s rare I’ve had a new enough car for that to be an issue but backstreet garages have plenty of dishonest staff and owners too. Not all of course, many are good but the motor trade is full of rogues and fly guys to this day.

It is down to how well they deal with issues - I trust my local independent because on the 2 occasions in 30 years when there's been an issue, they've dealt with it instantly to rectify the matter.

With my last 2 new cars I've been messed around by workshop reception staff, mainly as they refuse to accept that any customer knows anything about cars - but in both cases their service managers listened to my side of the story and then sorted it out.

No.

Marshall Kia Sc***horpe and Ringways Doncaster