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My Kia Seltos HTK+ Diesel MT: 6th service update at 34,000 km

8th December 2021, 07:09 by Rahul Nagaraj

To replace the diesel particulate filter, one has to remove the air filter housing, battery and the ECU as the filter lies beneath it.

BHPian ashis89 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

6th Service

I already had my list of issues/complaints to be addressed and also felt the car felt a little sluggish/coarse during the last 1000 km. And the service reminder was up too. I didn't delay it any further and booked an appointment at Central Kia and went for the service yesterday.

Apart from the usual 40k service, I had the following complaints to report:

Issues:
Wiper squeaking throughout the trip was the most irritating part. So much so that I used to use the wiper manually only when the visibility fell below my comfort levels.
Somewhere around 1,400 - 1,500 rpm, I found a dead spot. Keep the car steady at that rpm for some time and when the time came to accelerate gently, there was some lag or a missed beat before it accelerated smoothly. Would happen often.
I could hear some mild scrapping kind of metallic sound from the underbody when the car was idling and I was standing beside it. It was very faint and I couldn't hear it when inside the car.
That leaking front tire.

I went for a longish TD with one of their senior-most SA. A very genuine guy (Mr Naresh) with a keen eye for details. He checked the usual stuff and mentioned everything was good.

#1 was not reproducible at low speeds but I had a video recording with me of the racket that the wipers created. As such, I asked them to install a fresh pair of wiper blades even though the current ones are just 4 months old.

#2 was attributed to the old diesel filter which was due for replacement. That and the old air filter.

#3 was not reproducible during the TD as it was heard rarely.

Work started at 11 AM and was completed by 1 PM. I was allowed to stand next to the car all through the service. I did click only a few pictures as I was talking to the technician most of the time. Again, he was a very good chap and did the jobs with a lot of interest.

The technician found the cause of #4, a small pinhole. Tires were rotated and are good for another 10k km. The rear brakes are in good shape while the front ones might need replacement at the next service.

When the car was raised, I saw some heat shield insulation around the exhaust pipe, covering a small portion of it. The sheet was coming off at a few spots and was scraping against the exhaust giving #3. The cause was found and the sheet was torn off wherever it had come off.

Got new wiper blades installed as well, manufactured in Oct-21.

To replace the diesel filter, one has to remove the air filter housing, battery and the ECU as the filter lies beneath it. All these were duly removed, filter replaced and then reinstalled. The only mistake was to attempt to start the car, after this replacement.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

After a new diesel filter is installed, the fuel pump should be primed a few times at least before starting the car. The technician, being hurried by the Workshop manager to clear the bay for other cars, accidentally tried starting the car and that too, with a slightly longer shelf. Then he realized his mistake and primed the pump a few times before the next attempt. This time the car started with a little hesitancy but settled to an idle.

I was requested to go on another trial run with their SA before they wash the car. That was a good move. When we were driving out, I could hear some prominent knocking sounds at lower revs. It would go away post 1500 rpm. I shared my observation and the SA agreed. Next, their engine expert was called and they sat down to "reset the system" with their diagnostic tool. A friend was waiting outside, I left for lunch by then. When I returned, I was told it took them 15 mins to reset the system but the issue is resolved. The SA and the technician individually came to me to inform this.

The car got an average wash and some trim polish. I let it be as it was 4:30 PM already and I was tired. I can wash it myself as we have a hose here in our apartment parking.

I received a bill of Rs.8535 which I cleared and left. The cost has been lesser than the previous service even though it was a major one. I was mindful to strike off the 3M AC cleaning and of course, the PMS labour cost in Bhubaneswar is less than that of Bangalore.

On the 15 km drive back home, I couldn't hear any more knocking and the car was smooth as earlier. I tried replicating #2 but couldn't, the engine response felt crisp again. I should be able to confirm #1 and #2 after driving for a few more days.

#3 seems to be gone. For #4, now that I know there was a pinhole leak, I still need to get it fixed.

Now for some random pics that I managed to click:

The electronics which are forced down upon us in each car, however fancy they may be, but they don't come cheap at all!