[video] Saying good-bye to Mach N Cheese

[ARK]

I have no idea about the AC, but all fixed now.

The ICCU is a different part in the eGMP cars which has some similarities to the HVBJB, but differences in terms of the failure that occurred.

The ICCU governs charging, V2L, and 12V maintenance. It has logic circuitry, some kind of contactors, and active cooling of the module (imagine that!). What happened with these failures is that some software error caused an over-voltage in the ICCU which damaged some of the logic board circuitry. When this condition occurs, a unique DTC is stored by the car silently. Sometimes the over-voltage causes an ICCU failure right away along with the main HV fuse. Other times, apparently, the ICCU can be damaged by the over-voltage, but will not fail until later on. The damage is to the logic electronics, not to physical contactors, but the effect is similar when it fails -- you are limited to 15mph or your car just stops. There can be other warnings and strange things that happen before it completely fails, as some of the electronics go flaky before failing completely.

The service campaign KIA started yesterday (and Hyundai and Genesis to follow any minute now) checks to see whether the car ever experienced this over-voltage condition in its DTC history. If the DTC ever happened, KIA replaces the ICCU proactively with a new one without requiring it to fail. And it also updates a module that caused the over-voltage condition to prevent any future damage.

All of this being said, I wish I could just use my FDRS setup to flash this myself with some donuts....

Would a fair summary be that Kia created an ICCU that is not beefy enough, they identified the issue, but rather than proactively replace everyone’s ICCU, they pushed a software fix that should (1) stop it from becoming an issue, and (2) if it has become an issue, throw up a code and prevent catastrophic failure until that part can be replaced by Kia?

I will miss your posts, but that parallel is a little too uncanny! Hope you never experience it though.

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[scoopman]

Would a fair summary be that Kia created an ICCU that is not beefy enough, they identified the issue, but rather than proactively replace everyone’s ICCU, they pushed a software fix that should (1) stop it from becoming an issue, and (2) if it has become an issue, throw up a code and prevent catastrophic failure until that part can be replaced by Kia?

I will miss your posts, but that parallel is a little too uncanny! Hope you never experience it though.

Oh I agree there are interesting parallels here, but it is a little different:

1. The unknown condition that was causing some of these ICCUs to fry themselves trhough some kind of "over-voltage" flowing into the system, already stored a DTC (but showed nothing to the driver)
2. The ICCU itself was apparently engineered properly, but something about this over-voltage situation was not thought about enough, and the protections they engineered for the ICCU (eg, a big honkin fuse) failed to protect the module.
3. The software update prevents the over-voltage bug from occurring in the first place, and from the ICCU electronics from getting damaged.

I think where things are also different is that KIA (and Hyundai / Genesis too) are not requiring actual proof the ICCU is damaged before replacing it. If the over-voltage ever happened (known because of the DTC thrown), they replace right away the ICCU and fuse if needed.

While it's always a pain in the ass to be without your car, this approach lets customers plan for taking their car in, instead of the car going into an unexpected Service Vehicle Soon or complete bricking.

Anyhow, this is why I didn't want a first year car again! Hopefully they have conclusively fixed this problem, as they are proactively rolling out this software fix and inspection to every eGMP vehicle sold....

 

[MellowJohnny]

Too bad your name is not Adam - new channel could be called "Adam & EV6"...

 

[Mach-Lee]

I think where things are also different is that KIA (and Hyundai / Genesis too) are not requiring actual proof the ICCU is damaged before replacing it. If the over-voltage ever happened (known because of the DTC thrown), they replace right away the ICCU and fuse if needed.

While it's always a pain in the ass to be without your car, this approach lets customers plan for taking their car in, instead of the car going into an unexpected Service Vehicle Soon or complete bricking.

How does the customer know this DTC is set? Is KIA notifying affected customers or does it require a dealer trip to read codes? Can you just call the dealer and have them check remotely like Ford can, or do they have to physically hook up? Will the software update to prevent the issue be an OTA or dealer trip?

And I'll counter that our post-recall HVBJB software allows us to plan when we can take the vehicle in for HVBJB replacement after getting a Service Vehicle Soon message. Our contactor performance code is like the ICCU over voltage code, it's an early warning of possible failure. But we get notified about it instead of it being a silent code. It's also similar in that you need the code in memory in order to get the part replaced.

 

[voxel]

Having followed the Ioniq 5 and EV6 forums and FB groups... I'd say the ICCU problem is more prevalent than the HVBJB one but it seems quicker to replace and less "serious"

The major issue of the EV6 in the first year was all the Meridan amps blowing - due to a bad batch or something. Kia has replaced them for free.

 

[voxel]

You must not have the wind noise problem or you would have said something. I hate the wind noise. My Mach-e is louder then my fusion because of the wind noise. I shouldn't have to add weather strip myself. Ford need to fix the problem. Also you should have mentioned the $800 for BC is another reason to trade the car.

Here's the thing. It non-existent on the GT PE (which I owned for 3 months in the summer of 2022). There's no wind noise.

There IS wind noise on the 22 Premium AWD ER (I've owned two - an orange one and the my current blue one) and my first 21 Premium RWD SR way back in the fall of 2021. It's right above the driver side mirror area. I don't understand but the GT PE has some different seals or double-paned glass. The wind noise difference is very noticeable between the trims.

 

[Blue highway]

Here's the thing. It non-existent on the GT PE (which I owned for 3 months in the summer of 2022). There's no wind noise.

There IS wind noise on the 22 Premium AWD ER (I've owned two - an orange one and the my current blue one) and my first 21 Premium RWD SR way back in the fall of 2021. It's right above the driver side mirror area. I don't understand but the GT PE has some different seals or double-paned glass. The wind noise difference is very noticeable between the trims.

or your cars have the same defect... my 21 premium has no wind noise... that would drive me crazy.

 

[voxel]

or your cars have the same defect... my 21 premium has no wind noise... that would drive me crazy.

It could be that Ford removed the acoustic laminated glass in my 22s and there was an issue in my 21.

It happens right around 60mph over the driver side mirror. It's very apparent. The EV6 and Ioniq 5 are quiet by comparison.

 

[ericNdfw]

That said, the end of the video was my facepalm moment…I wish him luck with his Kia because he’s going to need it.

Are you commenting the the EV6 specifically or Kia in general?

 

[stealthytolkien]

Are you commenting the the EV6 specifically or Kia in general?

To be honest, I was being a bit sarcastic. I did test drive the KIA EV6 GT and it was just as refined than the Ford from tech standpoint if not a tad bit more. It was quickdrove really really well. I’m 6’4” so it was too short for me height wise but for anyone 6 feet and below, it’s not an issue.

However, I was commenting on the brand more than the model. I don’t know how well Kia service centers are equipped with EV technicians but given the poorly staffed Ford EV service centers, my guess is that it’s not any better.

Also, the EV6 has just entered the market didn’t it? I don’t think the car was around in 2020-2021 like the Mach E. And the video maker says that he wanted to buy an EV that’s been around for a few years. And then goes and buys a Kia EV6 so not sure what to say there. Is EV6 Kia’s first?

Also, imagine Ford MME resale value (if anyone even wants it), selling that Kia may not be any more pleasant.

 

[Neil4Real]

Here's the thing. It non-existent on the GT PE (which I owned for 3 months in the summer of 2022). There's no wind noise.

There IS wind noise on the 22 Premium AWD ER (I've owned two - an orange one and the my current blue one) and my first 21 Premium RWD SR way back in the fall of 2021. It's right above the driver side mirror area. I don't understand but the GT PE has some different seals or double-paned glass. The wind noise difference is very noticeable between the trims.

My 2021 Job 1 Premium was near silent, even before the windshield/roof recall. My 2021 Job 2 GTPE Is so loud it drives me nuts. I got the dealer to agree to re-seal the windshield and also apply a silicone to the side mirrors in hopes it takes care of it. I get the same wind noise, right above the driver window, so I'm hoping this addresses it, although I'm worried it is the pano weather stripping itself that needs some love. I've asked them to add exterior weather strips to the pano roof, but doubt they'll go that far for me, they're already doing a lot!

 

[Blue highway]

My 2021 Job 1 Premium was near silent, even before the windshield/roof recall. My 2021 Job 2 GTPE Is so loud it drives me nuts. I got the dealer to agree to re-seal the windshield and also apply a silicone to the side mirrors in hopes it takes care of it. I get the same wind noise, right above the driver window, so I'm hoping this addresses it, although I'm worried it is the pano weather stripping itself that needs some love. I've asked them to add exterior weather strips to the pano roof, but doubt they'll go that far for me, they're already doing a lot!

stick to your guns... my car has no wind noise as described... something is wrong.

 

[Neil4Real]

stick to your guns... my car has no wind noise as described... something is wrong.

Wind noise is always a tough thing to get a dealer to actually solve. Thankfully someone on here had an awesome dealer that found out the side view mirrors give wind noise and I have a great relationship with my service director and he agreed to do the windshield as a favor, even covering the cost if it breaks in the process.

He said it is one of the top complaints people bring the car in for but they can't do much about it. He talked to a field engineer before I brought my car in if he had any tips on where it might be coming from and what they can do and, in a not too nice way, said it's a characteristic of the car and they're not doing anything more than the TSB for the weather strip between the windshield and pano roof.

 

[Blue highway]

To be honest, I was being a bit sarcastic. I did test drive the KIA EV6 GT and it was just as refined than the Ford from tech standpoint if not a tad bit more. It was quickdrove really really well. I’m 6’4” so it was too short for me height wise but for anyone 6 feet and below, it’s not an issue.

However, I was commenting on the brand more than the model. I don’t know how well Kia service centers are equipped with EV technicians but given the poorly staffed Ford EV service centers, my guess is that it’s not any better.

Also, the EV6 has just entered the market didn’t it? I don’t think the car was around in 2020-2021 like the Mach E. And the video maker says that he wanted to buy an EV that’s been around for a few years. And then goes and buys a Kia EV6 so not sure what to say there. Is EV6 Kia’s first?

Also, imagine Ford MME resale value (if anyone even wants it), selling that Kia may not be any more pleasant.

Andy was a real asset to this forum... but his arguments for the Kia were a little thin.

Reliability
- Ford hood and trunk, HVBJB
- Kia AC, and HVBJB (they have a different acronym) recall.

Dealers
- Ford slow to fix hood, slow to fix other stuff
- Kia 9 days to fix AC, joy ride ~2x speed limit

Performance
- The KIA GT is much faster, but range is ~200 miles.

Not another Gen 1 car...
- Ford gen 1
- Kia gen 1

so I can see the performance argument, but otherwise... more similar than different.

 

[ElectrikPony]

All in all I think the mach-e is a beautiful car, and good performance for an EV. The ride quality is total crap stock. The stereo is on the level of a Kia forte base model. These are things that are fixed with aftermarket parts.

I’ve yet to see anything in this price range that has the astetics of the Mach-e. Even more expensive EVs like rivian for instance has uneven body panel gap. I couldn’t live with that for a 80k vehicle.

Just counting the days until Lexus comes
Out with a BEV that has 300 mile range and AWD.

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