2020+ (classic) Ioniq: Low-conductivity coolant crystallizing + low-coolant level warning ...

What a bloody mess!

 

Totally confused. What new pump and Jello???

 

I now have an appointment at a local dealer, a month out as they can't do it any sooner. They want to
have the car for a full day. It is a recall, and fully covered on costs. The person on the phone
was pretty sure they'd already done at least one other car by now; I told her straight-up I didn't want
to be their techs' first guinea pig.

I hate having to rely on them, but this is a rather complex job with all the special tools.

_H*

 

I have scheduled a coolant change for the end of August with my dealer before I read about this recall on this site. They quoted me C$888. Then my AC (heat pump) stopped working. Took my car in, and also emailed them the recall info from this site. Two things happened,
1. I need new compressor (covered under warranty),
2. the service advisor checked my email, followed up and verified that I am eligible for a free coolant change! She asked me of want the coolant changed at the same time - today! - when they install the new compressor.

I said YES! Did not want them to change their mind! Service said they have all required stuff in house. I hope this includes the special pump.

Thank you all, this is great site, full of info.

 

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Got the car back, with new compressor for the heat ex-changer and battery coolant flush and replacement. The work took about over 4 hours total. No charge as promised.
After starting the car I got an orange 'Low inverter coolant' note on the dash. Went around pupped the front, the blue coolant was at Max level. Looking around the my service advisor was running out to tell me that is it OK. "Drive awhile and it will go away. Any case the technician left an almost full blue coolant in the passenger well in case I need to top it up." It did not go way until I stopped and restarted the car. Now the coolant is just over MIN level. Where it was when I took the car in.
Good service happy customer - Hot day need a beer ore two ...

 

Well, the 'Low inverter coolant' note' keeps coming on. I drove around 30km and refilled the coolant container from Min/Middle to Max about 5 times. The cooling system keeps drinking the coolant as a drunken sailor. Funny, if the car is on slight uphill (noise up) in front of my garage and I stop and restart the car, it is OK I get the green arrow. Once I drive it into garage (level) the warning comes on.
I almost emptied the coolant jug by now. It is full now to Max, I will see in the morning what happens.
In any case I will take the car in tomorrow a.m.

 

Sounds like even with all the special service procedures, it takes a long time and a lot of circulation
to burp the last of the air out of the system.

_H*

 

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Yes. I have a heat pump. (I think all Kona EVs sold in Canada have them.)

We drove about 30km last night. This morning the the 'Low inverter coolant' warning was on, the coolant level half way down between Min and Max. I took the car back with the almost empty jug of EV coolant. The service folks decided to re-purge the system. An hour later I got the car back. The warning light was off and an other jug of coolant was in the passenger foot well - almost full! I was told to drive the car for week, check and fill the up coolant if/when needed. If the low coolant light still comes back after a week take the car back to the dealer.

Obviously they did not purge the air out of the cooling circuit properly last night. They did not allow enough time to finish the job. Also note that cars with heat pump need more coolant. See attachment. Maybe that detail was overlooked too.

We drove about 160km today. The car seems OK now. No warning light at all. The the coolant level dropped a bit - nut much - below Max. I topped it up to Max - just in case. But I think the car will be OK now.

 

I'm a bit perplexed about this maintenance. A coolant change is called for in the service schedule so it seems like this should be a "normal" procedure for dealers. Is the "chrystals" procedure more complex than a normal one or are dealers just not very good at doing it yet?

 

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Manufactured on June 17/2020 (Picked it up on Aug 31/2020)

 

So just to clarify: This campaign is only about BLUE coolant? I have only ever had the green stuff, in my original battery (2018) and in the new battery (2022). Am I off the hook?