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Kia Spectra/Spectra5 Transmission Questions

47 messages,  Last post on Jan 08, 2013 at 8:17 PM

You are in the Kia Spectra/Spectra5 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Kia Spectra, Transmission, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 3 of 6

#15 of 47 Automatic Transmission by jmnapp

Apr 26, 2006 (9:29 am)

I had a 2006 Kia Spectra with an automatic transmission. Anytime the temperature was below freezing, the transmission would race for several seconds when changing between 2nd and 3rd gears. AT 1,400 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED! I was extremely disappointed as I had not even made the first payment on the car! Both Kia and the dealer would not replace the vehicle (my thought was that if the transmission was already having to be replaced on a brand new car, then what the heck else is going to go wrong?!!). The dealer and Kia were absolutely useless.
 
The steering was also making a loud clunking noise when turning the steering wheel. They replaced some part for this. When the dealer called and told me the transmisson had been replaced but the steering was still making the clunking noise and what did I want him to do I TOLD HIM TO PUT THE CAR BACK TOGETHER SO I COULD TAKE AND TRADE IT IN! Upon getting my Kia back, I drove immediately to the Mazda dealer and traded the Kia in for a Mazda3. NO MORE KIA's FOR ME.

#16 of 47 Kia Transmisssion by darcijj

May 21, 2006 (6:34 pm)

A couple weeks back my check engine light came on and I took it to my mechanic right away.. he said it was just a vapor sensor... but they noticed my transmission was slipping when they put it in reverse... it was almost out of transmission fluid.. (I had a full service oil change the week before, so I guess they never checked the transmission fluid). No warning lights on the kia for transmission?
 
The mechanic could not find a leak.. and said to keep watch on it.. well I looked at the engine did not see the ATF dipstick.. where is it located on the Kia sedan? I have a 2002.. It seems to still be hesitating when I put it in reverse.. its only been 2 weeks since they filled it and with no leak how can it be low again.. should I be worried?

#17 of 47 Re: Kia Transmisssion by kwinn

May 31, 2006 (4:52 pm)

Replying to: darcijj (May 21, 2006 6:34 pm)
My 05 Kia spectra has the notorious hunting for gear problem. According to Atlantic Kia of Long Island, NY. They know of no one else with such problem. Of course Atlantic kia told me to buy their 225 dollar maintanence for my 18k spectra as it includes a tune up and fuel and air filter replacement and it is needed. When i told them owners manual says no tune up needed for 60k they said thats not true you should get tune ups every 15k. What a bunch of liers. Anyways mileage on my spectra is 28 on the highway and 24 city driving. Which really sucks. I guess hyundai is not bothered with such problems for their kia brands as they are moving up mainstream.

#18 of 47 Re: Kia Transmisssion [kwinn] by festerwi

Jul 31, 2006 (11:43 am)

Replying to: kwinn (May 31, 2006 4:52 pm)
I have a fix for most 2003+ spectra transmission problems. Gear hunting and having your transmission seem to stick in gear until you stop or shift to park and then back to drive. You will need a late model TCM (transmission control module) they updated the firm ware in mid 2003 and early 2004 to one that is broken. If your dealer orders a replacement one they will have to return it and get one for the early 2003 spectra's. They may have this fixed buy now but my dealer had to do this. Order a TCM for an early 2003 spectra. This is why a whole new transmission fixes the problem since they come with a new TCM. Hope this helps someone.

#19 of 47 Re: Kia Transmisssion [festerwi] by crazycyndi

Aug 04, 2006 (11:18 am)

Replying to: festerwi (Jul 31, 2006 11:43 am)
I wrote awhile back about all the problems I have had with my 2004 spectra transmission and that the dealer could not duplicate the problem. Had the problem since day one. I finally had to get the corporate division involed. now they suddenly find that the TCM is bad. They kept the car a week and when I got it back it runs even worse than before. Does anyone know if you replace this and not the transmission after 60,000 miles ( yeah it took them this long to find the problem) if it would have damaged the transmission. Please let me know what you think.
Also just for information sake...always get a service order on your car even if the tech. just drives it or fixes the problem without making you wait. Mine did not have any record of my being in the shop until 35k miles eventhough it had been there and I had them drive it dozens of times in the first 6 months of ownership and I bought it new. Was told each time that this was just the way a Kia drives and changes out. So Beware. This was a crown kia in anniston alabama.

#20 of 47 04 spectra transmission problems by crazycyndi

Jun 29, 2006 (3:37 pm)

Hi, I am new to this board but was hoping someone may be able to help. I bought my spectra new and have had taken it back to the dealership since week one...feels like the transmission is slipping..sometimes doesnt even want to go into the next gear....always told that it was my imagination that kia's are suppose to do that. Check engine light has been reset by tech. numerous times but he says it is never about the trans. ...they had to work on the air this week and now when I pull out it sometimes has no power at all unless I drop it manually down to a lower gear....ever since purchasing it will sometimes sound like the car is not in gear..the rpm will race but the car won't go....happened on the interstate ..had to pull of the road turn off the engine and restart. Dealership in Anniston Alabama swears that not one other customer in history has ever had these problems! Please help if you or anyone you know has....and the remedy. ...thanks Cyndi

#21 of 47 Re: 04 spectra transmission problems [crazycyndi] by jmnapp

Jun 30, 2006 (5:43 am)

Replying to: crazycyndi (Jun 29, 2006 3:37 pm)
Kia dealers are a bunch of liars. I had this same problem with my transmission in my 2006 Kia Spectra. After numerous trips to the dealer, and working with Kia Corporate, they finally replaced the transmission. I turned around and traded it in the same day I picked it up from having the transmission replaced. I will never own another Kia/Hyundai product.

#22 of 47 transmition question by bsr1pres

Sep 17, 2007 (6:37 pm)

can i swap out out a AT to a MT and how much would i cost??

#23 of 47 Check Engine light is on after Transmision Fluid change by mykiaspectra

Sep 29, 2007 (11:08 am)

Hey --
  I have a 2002 Kia Spectra , automatic trans. I had it in for service (77K miles) and had them change the transmission fluid. Now the check engine light is coming on ? They reset it but it has come on again. I dont know how much experience they have had with Kia's ? Is there anything in particular that could have triggered this ?

#24 of 47 Re: 04 spectra transmission problems [crazycyndi] by faoemail

Feb 22, 2008 (1:14 pm)

Replying to: crazycyndi (Jun 29, 2006 3:37 pm)
I have a Kia Spectra--My engine light comes on all the time and then comes off---the suto zone machine stated that it was my coolant. My car would shack at 15 miles per hour then at 20 or 30 it would pull. It just started this past week. I had then gave it a oil change. There was transmisison fluid. The car stopped that same day. It turns on... but goes no where when I push the pedal. I am a second owner. I did not find this blog till today. If I had known I wouldnt went with another option.

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