Kia Reviews

There could be something wrong with the vehicle that is causing engines to blow up, and simply fitting a new engine is leaving it open to the same catastrophic problem(s). A fuel supply or cooling system problem would be just a couple of possibilities and fitting a new engine to a vehicle with such a problem could easily lead to successive blow-ups.

There’s also the possibility that you’ve simply been unlucky. Was the second engine a used one from a wrecking yard or a rebuilt unit? If it was the former, you might find that it was just about ready to expire, and the fact that it was fitted to your vehicle was not a factor. This is why it’s always important to have any second-hand engine tested before it gets fitted. Good quality used engines will come with a written report to prove there’s some life left in them.

There’s also the owner’s approach to a new engine. Were you careful to check the oil and coolant of the new engine once it was fitted and running? A second-hand engine might have an oil consumption pattern you’re not familiar with, and ignoring this important check could see it run dry and expire. Not pointing fingers, but even a 'new' second-hand engine requires a close eye kept on it.

Australian Consumer Law is pretty specific when it comes to this stuff. It’s the carmaker’s responsibility to return the vehicle to a drivable, safe state (which it isn’t if the seat moves on its own) at no cost to you if the problem is a genuine warranty claim (which it sounds like it might be). But you do have the responsibility to give a reasonable time frame and opportunity for this to happen.

If the car can’t be fixed, then you may have a case against the dealer that supplied the car and possibly the manufacturer as well. Either way, if a fix can’t be found, you may be entitled to a repair, replacement or refund if the car fails to meet the terms of the ACCC’s Consumer Guarantees legislation.

Oil manufacturers recommend a 5W20 or 5W30 fully synthetic oil for this vehicle. For the record, you’ll need 4,5 litres to perform an oil change, and don’t forget to replace the oil filter at the same time. Putting clean oil through an old, dirty filter makes no sense.