NHTSA Complaint #710628 — 1998 KIA SEPHIA

DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS WHEN USING THE AIR CONDITION, WHEN GET TO MY DESTINATION AND THEN I WANT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT COULD BE O MINUTES TO ALMOST TWENTY MINUTES, THE CAR WON'T START AND IF YOU CONTINOUSLY FORCE THE CAR IN THE START MODE IT BLOWS THE 15 AMP STARTER FUSE. ALSO BECAUSE OF THIS THE WATER IN THE BATTERY WAS DEPLETED TO THE POINT WHERE EACH CELL TOOK ABOUT 4 OUNCE OF WATER. THE DEALER SAID THE BATTERY PERFORMED WELL ON A LOAD TEST, YET WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS ARE ON ALONG WITH ALL THE ACCESSORIES THE LIGHTS STAY DIM AND IT SHIFTS SLUGGISHLY. THE VOLTAGE WAS MEASURED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE ALTERNATOR PUTS OUT ONLY ABOUT 13 VOLTS, YET THE DEALER SAID IT PUT OUT 14.25 VOLTS, I ASKED FOR THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY BE REPLACED BUT THEY REFUSED, ALTHOUGH THEY DID MODIFY THE STARTER CIRCUIT AND NOW IT STARTS OK, BUT THE LIGHT STILL DIM.