NHTSA Complaint #10122270 — 2002 KIA SEDONA

CHARGING SYSTEM UNDER ENGINEERED. BATTERY FAILS TO CHARGE IN HOT WEATHER, SAY 90 F OR ABOVE. AMPERAGE TOO LOW FOR USE IN HOT WEATHER WITH AC AT FULL POWER, ESPECIALY WHEN IDLING. I HAVE TRIED A LAGER BATTERY 1,000 CCA, BUT ITS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. AS THE HOT DAYS GO BY THE BATTERY STARTS TO LOSE ITS POWER AND THEN I NEED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED AND I MEAN 3HR OR MORE OF A DRIVE! I HAVE HAD TO JUMP START 2002 KIA SEDONA 6 TIMES IN HOT WEATHER. TALKED TO DEALER ABOUT IT. THEY SAID IT WAS A VERY COMMON COMPLAIT WITH THE KIA SEDONA IN HOT WEATER CITIES AND THAT KIA IS NOT GOINT TO CHANGE THE WIMPY ALTERMATOR WITH A MORE BEEFY ONE. AS A FORMER TECHNICIAN I KNOW THAT THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD, RADIOS AND OTHER ELECTRONICS WILL SHORT OUT IF NOT REMEDIED. CORTRARY TO MAIN BELIEF THAT ONLY HIGH VOLTAGE CAN CAUSE A SHORT I HAVE FOUND THAT LOW VALTAGE CAN CAUSE A SHORT THEN WHEN YOU INCREASE YOUR VOLTAGE BY JUMP STARTING YOU CAN CAUSE A FIRE. SO HEADS UP (TICK, TOCK,TICK ,TOCK)