Hi, I'm new here, I have a 2002 Kia Rio Base 4dr Sedan Automatic. Here's what's going on.
My radiator is equiped with transmission lines in the bottom of it, my radiator sprung a leak and I changed out the radiator, but now, my car only revs and slowly moved in D 2 and 1 gears. I was wondering, do the transmission lines in the bottom of the radiator need to be bled, as there might be a air pocket in the line from when I removed them from the old raditiator??? Any advice would be good here..... OOOH I also bought the transmission pan gasket/filter set today and plan on changing that out tomorrow.. The car has 2xx,xxx miles on it.. I've only owened it for 3 months now... HELP????!!!!::crying::::crying::
No need to bleed lines as it takes care of itself by the transmission pump. However, if you changed the radiator, you are probably now low on trans. fluid. Did you check this?
1. Start car and get to operating temp. (Do not drive car!)
2. Shift into each gear, leaving in each gear about 5 seconds.
3. Place in Park.
4. Check fluid level on Transmission dip stick.
Add fluid to "full" mark. If you are, by chance, over full, remove fluid as this is just as damaging as being under full.
I am assuming everything was installed correctly. (i.e., no plastic plugs left in the trans. line fittings) Probably not, but just a heads up.
Yes, it was low, I filled it back up to the full mark. There were no plastic lugs in the transmission lines. It's hooked up correctly. There is only 4 hoses that go to this radiator, top, bottom hoses, then the transmission hoses, which can not be switched bc one is really long (goes to the passengers side) and one short (goes to the drivers side). I just don't understand this, it shifted fine up to this point. I even asked my parts store guy about the correct transmission fluid that goes to this car, it's what's suppose to be in it. My next step is the transmission pan gasket and filter. I was told seeing it's a older car (2002) and it's high miles to reuse the fluid that is in it, but strain it really well..
I even asked my parts store guy about the correct transmission fluid that goes to this car, it's what's suppose to be in it. My next step is the transmission pan gasket and filter. I was told seeing it's a older car (2002) and it's high miles to reuse the fluid that is in it, but strain it really well..
If you're able to determine that you were getting a false FULL reading then chances are the fluid level was too low to even drive the RIO, except very slow. With 200K on the tranny and being that you possibly have already added 2 quarts of new fluid (see previous reply) it's questionable whether it's even worth removing the pan unless there are signs of leaking around the pan gasket. Being that we don't know your previous experience i'll offer the following should you decide to remove the pan to replace what you believe is a failed gasket with a new gasket and filter.
As long as you have the front on jack stands (see previous reply) go ahead and remove the rear pan bolts all the way and the rear side bolts. Remove the remaining pan bolts halfway. Pry loose the back of the pan first to drain a good portion of the fluid first before removing the remaining bolts and the pan. If the fluid is brownish red and has a burnt smell, which is very likely, dispose of it. Clean the gasket surfaces and install new filter. Be sure to completely/thoroughly remove old gasket pieces from both surfaces. A razor blade works good. When tightening each pan bolt do it evenly. Keep increasing torque a little at a time as you zig zag the tightening sequence of the bolts from front to back and side to side of the pan until all are torqued equally. Replace fluid with an equal quantity of removed fluid.
You could go through the above procedure again (previous reply) if you have any doubts and want to be sure everything is up to par before lowering the RIO to level ground.
When I installed the new radiator, there were no plugs in any of the lines/holes. There are only 5 lines (hoses) that go to this radiator. Top, bottom, small line to the filler neck (where the radiator cap goes on) and 2 transmission lines. There is no way of installing it wrong, as the hoses/lines are only so long. They are all hooked up right. I'm mind boggled to this bc it shifted fine BEFORE this happened. I did refill the fluid after I was done, it was 3/4 of a court low on fluid, it's sitting at the "full" mark now. The two metal nipples/fittings that go to the transmission off the bottom of the radiator, are adjustable, I even tightened them up (the bottom right corner, to look down on the radiator in the car, it would be the lower left side/passengers side) was loose and dripping fluid, I tightened it and rolled back to level grounnd (my driveway is a slant) started the car and let it get to temp and rechecked it, it reads "full", but yet will not lock/engage (shift into) any gear. I put it in ever gear and tried it and it just revs. I put it in park for a few seconds between gears too. . I'm disabled and this is my only means of transpertation.... Any ideas, suggestions would be great!!!
2002 Kia Rio Changed radiator and now the car won't lock into gear.. HELP!!!!
Hi.. I'm new to this, but I've posted one other time.. I really need some help here... My radiator in my 02 Kia Rio has to the bottom part that is the transmission fluid cooler, when I changed out my radiator and got the fluid to normal, and tapped off my transmission fluid, now the car goes into gear, but revs and slowly moves but won't fully go... I seriously need help here....... Is there something I've done wrong? Maybe I have to bleed (get the air out) my transmission lines that go into the bottom of the radiator? I'm disabled and this is my only means of transportation... someone PLZ help me..........
You did not mention if the radiator is/was new or used..The cooling line inside the radiator may be plugged and no or very little atf my be flowing...
It's also possible that even a new radiator may have been assemble wrong...knowing the cheap work force in many Asian countries...and may not have been even tested to see if it passed inspection....
Taking off the atf cooling lines and blowing compressed air through the cooler will give you the answer...
Dave
For the sake of "what if" let's assume the possibility that the RIO with 200K that you've only owned for 3 months was low on transmission fluid when you acquired it. Then it continued its slow leak, but not enough for any noticeable fade when shifting between 2nd to D. Or maybe you did notice an uneven transition from 2nd to D (wasn't smooth).
So there's the possibility that the transmission was closer to 1-2 quarts low when you removed the old radiator. Considering the amount of transmission fluid that the bottom of the radiator holds and any that leaked out of the cooling lines you could be 2+ quarts low. Just adding 3/4 quart as you've indicated may not be enough due to a false reading on the tranny dipstick.
We assume you know that getting an ACCURATE reading for the CORRECT level on the dip stick is only possible with the engine running (Neutral/Park) when the transmission fluid is warm/hot. This is only accomplished by driving the car for several minutes. It's very possible that you got a false (FULL) reading if you're not checking the level with the engine running with the transmission in Neutral having first driven the car a few miles to warm the transmission fluid. You're not going to get the fluid hot just shifting through 1, 2, D with the car only moving a few feet.
From your posts my guess is that the tranny is still low on fluid. You did imply that the KIA will move when in D, but very slow. Being that you are unable to drive your KIA to get the fluid warm/hot you haven't been able to get an accurate dipstick reading. Put jack stands under the front so the wheels (off the ground) will spin when shifting between gears. Then just leave it in D for several minutes with the car on jack stands (occasionally revving the engine) so the transmission fluid gets warm/hot and then take your dipstick reading with the transmission in neutral. My guess is that the fluid level now shows as below the ADD mark.
As long as you have it on jack stands with the tranny fluid warmed up and have added as necessary halfway between the ADD Mark and FULL Mark here's what i would do just to make sure the radiator cooling is functioning correctly. With the engine running and the transmission in Drive (wheels off ground) loosen both connections going into the bottom of the radiator just enough until you see some fluid drip leaking from the two loosened connections (in and out). Leaking from both connections indicates that the tranny fluid is progressing into and out making a complete round trip from tranny through the radiator and back to tranny.
Turn off engine, remove jack stands, start engine, put in Neutral, check fluid level while still warm/hot with engine running. Now with front of KIA lowered and on level ground add fluid to Full Mark on dipstick . Hopefully, you can now drive to McDs for coffee and 2 apple pies.
Hi, Nana3. I have a 2002 kia rio automatic as well. One time after I first bought it the car would not drive in any gear, and a local mechanic found that there is some type of clip, never saw it, on the front wheel drive line that causes the car to drive. The clip came off on mine and the mechanic put it back on, then I took off driving again and it popped off again about a mile from my house. Took a taxi back and the mechanic went to the car and replaced the clip with a new one he had. It has worked for almost a year. I think, however, you said your car is moving. Right?
Sure hope someone helps you. Good luck. panmike
912brian24 I'm NOT a "him" I'm a HER, "nana" is another word for GRANDMA.... Anywho....
Kia04,
What you mentioned is exactly what I'm going to do today... Tomorrow will be 2 MONTHS since I've gotten to drive my car.. Now that you mention it, when I did buy it, the guy said his wire had rearended someone and HE put all the new parts on it, radiator, cooliing fans, etc... When I test drove it, I did notice you had to shift into 2 then back to D to even engage the gear. I'm not good with foreign vehicles, I've always been a Dodge girl honestly.... My husband has talked to several guys he works with and all of them said the samething as you stated in your reply about the two hoses that go from the tranny to the bottom of the radiator.. I will definently post after I do this to let you know if this has fixed the problem or not...
Kia04,
I did the tranny lines that go in and out of the bottom of my radiator and it's circulating properly. I did as you suggested and I have all gears BUT Drive UGH...... I'm seriously about to torch this car.........
Hmmmmmm panmike, is this clip something I can do myself, or does a mechanic have to do it? Also, where about is the front wheel drive line where the clip has to go? I just wish that I could seriously find out what is wrong or how to fix it, I want my car back
Nana make sure the shift cable is adjusted properly. On top of the tranny there is a switch assembly attached to the shift cable. There are marks on it PRND12 make sure they line up
Hi, Nana3. Would not be the clip since you said it moves in all gears but drive. The clip is on the front wheel drive axle which moves the car, so it is something else. Check Ronjohn's suggestion. panmike Good luck
Panmike- Thank You for your input on this.
Ronjohn- If I can get out there today (we got snow dumped on us), I'll check this and when I find anything out, I'll come back and post..
Panmike- I went out today to check out what you're talking about, and either I'm a tard, I'm blind or an idiot, but I can not find where it says "PRND21" any where by the shifter cable.
My son came over and looked it and was under the hood with me, he was in the car shifting and I was watching the mechinsium move as he shifted and it was super loose, like I could move it back and forth with my fingers. When it's in Drive, you have to reve it up and sometimes, it will catch and slowly take off. I noticed it does that in D-2-1. Do you think it's the bands in the transmission or maybe a transmission shift solenoid, or even the crank shaft sensor?
Hi, Nana3. Pardon me, but it was Ronjohn, not me, who mentioned to check the alignment of the automatic shifter for the correct location on park, reverse, neutral, drive and drive 1 and 2. He means inside the car where you shift the transmission from park to reverse or drive. Are those locations in alignment? Maybe send a private e-mail PM to Ronjohn. How long since you changed tranny oil and filter, and did you change it with Valvoline Maxlife? panmike
panmike, i'm so sorry about that... No, it doesn't, since I've had the car, you have to put it in the gear below, for instance, Drive, you have to put it in 2nd then back up in Drive before it would engage into drive. I've had the car since the end of Oct., it sat til Dec. before I ever legalized it, then I drove it for a few weeks in Dec. and Jan. and Feb. is when the radiator sprung a leak and I changed it out and well.... WAH LAH here we are.. I haven't even put 200 miles on the car yet... So, no I've not changed the transmission fluid or filter (I have it, but haven't changed it yet).. and No, I was told to strain it really really well and put it back in the car bc it's a high milage vehicle...
So what does this mean if it's not aligned right? tranny is bad? the bands?
Hi, Nana3. Best ask Ronjohn, but the way I understand it is that if the gear selector P, D,R,N, 1, 2 are not aligned then you probably are not selecting the correct gear to move forward or reverse. I have never had that problem with any of my cars, but Ronjohn has some experience with that. Write a PM, private message, to Ronjohn and ask him, or post here your request how to adjust or search previous posts on adjustment of the auto transmission gear selector. It doesn't sound too difficult on posts I have seen. I just did a search of forum and couldn't find any but I have read them. Good luck, grandmother. panmike
HOLY COW panmike, I seriously feel sorry for that 70 yr old grandma.. YIKES!!! I have the tranny filter and pan gasket, I'm going to do it before I start slapping parts on the car... I just don't understand HOW changing the radiator out has caused this problem??? It's very frustrating....
I bet that the Radiator change had nothing to do with the Automatic Transmission's Fail; unless you moved / unplugged accidentally, something related to the Transmission, in the Process.
Hello, Nana3, just wrote rohnjohn a private e-mail asking him to stop by forum and help you. Hope he can, us grandparents have to stick together. panmike
awww TY panmike!!! I also private messaged him and honestly, I have NO idea how to check to see if he responded or not lol I think I'm loosing my mind lol and I'm not even old yet....... lol
Hello, Nana3. You will receive a notice from the forum, a pop up, that you have a private mail, just click on it and it should go to your forum pm mail box. I received a personal e-mail from ronjohn and he apologized for not going to forum very much because he has been super busy digging cars, his son and him, out of the snow. If I find out anything, I will let you know. panmike
Nana here we go i am posting some pics on the tranny schematics couldn't do it on a pm on my old computer so here they are. also any codes on the ECM or TCM stored let us know IE Check engine light on. i got over my data allotment will send you another when the data runs down grandma. LOL!!! Reguard's Ronjohn
Get them codes posted on the site to help everyone help you better nana you never know someone had the same issue to help. Regards Ronjohn i will help where i can.
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