Hey Arith hope your well mate,

Im not on the FB forum because I dont have any social media - do you know if anyone has found suitable spoilers for the hatch?

 

Go back to page 9!

Lightly Modded 2019 Kia Cerato (Forte) GT from Australia | Page 9 | Kia Forte Forum (forteforums.com)

 

Got some quarter panel window covers from AliExpress for relatively cheap. I knew these would be incompatible with the weather shield but would give it a go. They turned out ok. There's a slight wind noise at freeway speeds but turning up the music takes care of it.

These have been available for a while but they were only available in carbon fiber, which goes against my exterior theme. I finally found some in gloss black.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004634931157.html

 

If you already have the info on the thread, I'm sorry, but I can't seem to find it. What did you do to get your C-pillars glossy like that? Did you use a spray vinyl or are they stick on aftermarket parts? I recently gave a go with "Super Wrap, Gloss Black" and was pleased with the results but I did not apply it thick enough so bugs have started to chip away at the grille and water got underneath making bubbles. I wouldn't mind peeling it off and trying again thicker and doing C-pillars too but almost think it'd be better getting a painted chrome delete instead.

 

Naw man, I bought a glossy vinyl overlay that fits on top. I think it compliments the glossy black trim nicely.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003204209957.html

 

All, my transmission had issues again, however Kia decided to void my warrant and blamed my mods rejecting the claim. They've turned me from a big fan into a nemesis full of hatred for Kia.

If you're interested, let me regale you with a long winded story of my journey of hatred of all things Kia.

Background

Approximately 2 years ago I had transmission issues where the car would stall for a few seconds when I accelerated from stop. This posed quite the danger to myself and my kids whom I would Uber around. I took the car to Parramatta Kia and luckily the problem was able to be duplicated. They replaced the transmission under warranty and determined the problem was due to the gear selector had worn out due to the cheap material used by Kia for the gearbox. After the first service after the repair, the dealer mentioned the transmission appeared to be leaking oil. But my assumption was as long as I service the car with Kia, they would look after me. How wrong I was…..


Present Day

Fast forward x2 years and I brought my car in for it’s 70k service to Peter Warren Kia in Warwick Farm (the bad guys of this story). I never had any issues with my mods there before, but I think they had a change in management because the service advisor couldn’t stop mentioning that the car was modified (in a negative way). It might have been coincidence, but a lot of things went awry after this service, but I suppose it’s just natural wear and tear.

About 2 months ago, I was driving home from picking up my son when I heard a horrible crunching noise from the front end, which got worse as I drove. I put it down to perhaps driving over debris and it got caught in the wheel wells. Luckily I made it home and looked for any obstructions, but was unable to find any. I thought maybe it had fallen out on the drive home.

The next morning I started the car and when I put it in reverse to exit the garage, it didn't move. It just sat there idle, and then the R started to flash. Uh-oh. The only thing I could think of is the transmission had run out of oil/ATF and it killed the gears. I was going to try to fill it up but was told by a mechanic just have it towed to the dealership. So on Monday I had it towed to Peter Warren Kia in Warwick Farm (evil incarnate). Despite the car being inoperable, it sat there for x4 business days before it was even put on a hoist and looked it. Every time I called for a status, they kept mentioning how the car was modified.

So when they finally put it on the hoist, they told me I would need to pay $1,600 AUD just for a mechanical inspection, which I agreed, as if it was repaired under warranty the cost would be void. However to my surprised, it was my warranty was voided. They kept saying how it was modified and that put undue stress on the transmission. You can’t believe how smug they sounded that my warranty was voided due to modifications. So if you modify your car in any way, or even if you don’t want to be scammed and cheated, do not take it to Peter Warren.

With spies in this group, they traced my mods through this group from my past posts. They blamed the intake, the coils, the spark plugs, the JB4 piggy back, the exhaust, and the lowering springs. I asked them how those even relate to the transmission, they just stated that it pushed the car beyond it’s intended specs.

Ok, why did I have to pay $1,600 AUD if they were going to void my warranty anyway? Not only were their findings inclusive, but when I brought up the leaking oil, they said that couldn’t be possible.

So I asked them for a quote for repairing the transmission. Could you even guess what number they arrived at?

They wanted $26,000 AUD to repair the transmission. I don’t even think the car is even worth that much. You could tell they just wanted to punish me for modifying the car (despite Kia having x2 show cars).

I called around and found a place called Gearbox Solutions in Moorebank. They said it shouldn’t cost more than $6,000. I had the car towed there immediately and Gearbox Solutions sourced the part and worked on replacing the transmission.

Conclusion

After x4 days I paid just $5,000 AUD all up for the repair (includes service and a used transmission). I picked Darkness up today and am pleased with the results.

Do you know what Gearbox Solutions told me? The reason the gearbox died was due to lack of oil (due to the oil leak). Not only that, but they highly believe there was no inspection done because it didn’t seem like the gearbox was opened. Looks like I got scammed by Peter Warren Kia. I plan to complain to Kia Australia.

I've already quit my Facebook group, and am bowing out of this forum as well. I thank everyone who followed my journey, but no more Kia's for me.

 

All, my transmission had issues again, however Kia decided to void my warrant and blamed my mods rejecting the claim. They've turned me from a big fan into a nemesis full of hatred for Kia.

Do you know what Gearbox Solutions told me? The reason the gearbox died was due to lack of oil (due to the oil leak). Not only that, but they highly believe there was no inspection done because it didn’t seem like the gearbox was opened. Looks like I got scammed by Peter Warren Kia. I plan to complain to Kia Australia.

I've already quit my Facebook group, and am bowing out of this forum as well. I thank everyone who followed my journey, but no more Kia's for me.

Sorry you had this happen to you!

Thanks for being on forteforums - and for all the posts and helpful information!

Best of luck!

BTW - that's why I service my own car, I don't trust anyone to make sure fluid levels are correct. Mechanics always seem too busy, or doing too many jobs at once, to do the job right. Couple that with the STUPID closed transmission (no dipstick) so that the owner can insure the fluid is good...and you have a recipe for disaster.

 

That sucks - sorry to hear it. I’d be very upset too if I was in your shoes.

Agreed with above about servicing my own car. I won’t let anyone touch my stuff for any reason

 

What was leaking on the transmission and for how long?

 

Probably won’t get an answer since this forum is so old but can’t find it anywhere else. Did you bake the headlight in order to remove the amber reflector? I want to do it to my 2020 forte lxs but im mostly worried about making a mess with the melted glue.

 

dude had suspension issues where they removed his warranty, he got mad and sold his forte. My last read I believe he is long gone.

 

Yes, baked or heated headlights (SOME brake lights) will allow one to the insides.

https://www.forteforums.com/posts/1068905/

 

dude had suspension issues where they removed his warranty, he got mad and sold his forte. My last read I believe he is long gone.

dude had suspension issues where they removed his warranty, he got mad and sold his forte. My last read I believe he is long gone.

dang, had a really nice build too.

 

Wow! That's the nicest one I've seen.