I just took my 2002 Sportage in for an inspection. I knew that I would need new tires so I asked what their cost would be. The Kia dealer gave me a price on a set of tires of $340. I thought that was reasonable. I left the car at the dealer and around noon I got a phone call telling me the total for the inspection and the tires would be $780! Needless to say a was a bit shocked.

I asked for a breakdown of the costs. I was told that "My front differential was dirty" and needed to be cleaned ... to the tune of $200! I asked if they had already did that and they told me thay had not done that maintenance yet .... I told them NOT to do that. Then they told me that the "Front wheel bearings needed to be adjusted" .... that was $70. They told me that all Sportages have problems with the wheel bearings and if not adjusted the front differental would be damaged.

I let them perform this maintenance but I am skeptical ... I have never heard of "adjusting wheel bearings". Does anyone here know if this is a bonafide repair action?

The Kia dealer I use seems to deem most repair actions as an "adjustment" ... which is not covered under the warranty. About a year ago, one of the rear door lock posts fell inside the door ... I pushed it down to lock the door and it just fell off. I took the car in to the dealer and they told me it was an "adjustment" and would cost $80 to "adjust". I raised some hell with this one and they fixed it under warranty.

I don't want to raise too much hell ... nor do I want to ask for something for nothing ... but one of the reasons I took a chance on buying this car was because of the warranty .... I hope that it is worth the paper it's written on!

I have just taken my Kia Sportage GLX (1996) for an MOT. It failed on 'excessive play' in both front wheel bearings. Examiner said they need adjusting but they could not do it. Trying to find out if I can do the job myself.

Yes the wheel bearings need to be adjusted. I paid 40.00 at a KIA dealer in Ohio.

THis is done by proper torquing of the spindle nut, which requires removing the hub. Use this document
www.geocities.com/lmp4203/kiasport/hubinstall.pdf
and look under fig. 9/10 and it says it must be torqued at 7 in-lb.
However, poor adjustment will damage the BEARING itself only; the idea that it will damage the differential is a joke....