NHTSA Complaint #10991190 — 2004 KIA SEDONA EX

AFTER HAVING A VARIETY OF MECHANICS DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM OF MY VEHICLE NOT STARTING FOR 20 MINS TO 1 HOUR AFTER THE ENGINE IS WARM & AFTER THE VEHICLE DOES START; IT HAS A VERY STRONG GASOLINE &/OR ADDITIVE SMELL. I WENT TO A KIA DEALER TO HAVE THEIR OPINION: THE KIA MECHANIC STATED: TO START A $200.00 TEST WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED TO ENSURE THAT IT'S THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR; A $159.00 PART; THAT IS COMMON FOR KIA'S TO GO BAD, BECAUSE IT COULD BE FUEL RELATED; ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM THEY HAVE. TO REPLACE THE SENSOR WILL COST $1,400.00 BECAUSE OF WHERE IT IS; MAKING A TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT NECESSARY. (THIS IS AFTER GETTING SPARK PLUGS DONE & NUMEROUS OTHER REPAIRS THAT INVOLVED REPEATED FIXES INVOLVING THE VEHICLES WATER SYSTEM); ONE MECHANIC SAYS THERE MAY BE ANOTHER PROBLEM & UNRELATED TO THE SENSOR; AND THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ONGOING WITH NO MECHANIC ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEMS SINCE THE VEHICLE'S PURCHASE IN 2012; EVEN THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED & THE VEHICLE STILL CAN QUICKLY OVERHEAT; ESPECIALLY AFTER DRIVING THROUGH THREE TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR IN TRAFFIC. I AM MORE THAN UNCOMFORTABLE WITH CERTIFIED MECHANICS SAYING WHEN I DO HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE SENSOR REPAIR, THEY'LL REPLACE THE WATER PUMP AS WELL; EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO VISIBLE SIGN OF LEAKAGE...THE VEHICLE TAKES ABOUT 1 1/2 LITERS OF WATER A DAY DIRECTLY INTO THE RADIATOR & ONLY PERIODICALLY SUCKS IT FROM THE RESEVOIR...THIS ADDED REPAIR IS NOT INCLUDED FOR FREE... AND IF THAT DOESN'T FIX IT, WE WILL DO THE FAN ETC...THE A/C IS NOT CONNECTED; SO DRIVING WITH THE HEAT ON IN FL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM OVERHEATING IS NOT MAKING IT EASY TO RESOLVE THIS/THESE ONGOING PROBLEMS THAT IS STATED TO BE 'COMMON'.