Transmission drain plug, correct?

[Bob1975]

I can't seem to find a good picture of the transaxle drain plug for my 05' Sportage EX. I had a picture from under my Sportage but I couldn't get it to to attached to this thread. The plug is on the left (drivers side) just over a cross member, which has a cut out for the plug. I don't want to open the can of worms about what type of fluid to use (car is past warranty) all I want to do is a drain & fill. If this is the drain plug, does it come out all the way so I don't make a mess?
Thanks in advance.

[Dr Bob]

You have to upload your pictures to a service like PhotoBucket and then reference them in your post with a URL. Took me a while to catch onto that one.

[Bob1975]

Thanks Dr Bob, good advise. So here's the picture, I think the trans axle drain plug is the rust coloured nut just above the cross member running back to the rear of the KIA. Will it come completely out so that I can drain the tranny or will there be spillage? Thanks again, Bob.

[1fastkia]

Are you only draining. There are mixed reviews about just draining. Some say it does really nothing just a drain as it leaves at least 25% of the old fluid in there.

Then there are a few that say flushing is bad....

If your still under warranty I would check with your dealer before proceeding. If they want a drain and flush and you do not, they are liable to void your trans warranty if it should start to slip or go out on you.

[Bob1975]

1fastkia, what I was going to do is drain / refill and then 2 or 3 weeks later do it again. I know I'll only get some out the first time, but after the second drain I'll probably have about 90% new fluid in the tranny. Doing it twice myself is still less expensive than having the dealer do it, besides my warranty was up two years ago, so it's my nickle.


But the question still is.......is that the drain plug for the tranny? I think it is, but if someone who knows would confirm it is, that would be much appreciated.

[1fastkia]

Would you take 5 gallons of bad gas, add it to 10 gallons good? Or with your motor oil. Would you change the oil using 1quart old oil, 3 new? In reality thats what will be done, doing it that way. Your not going to get good new fluid changing it twice. That amount of bad left, will contaminate the new. How many miles on the currect fluid? Is it toasted? Brown, smell burnt?
New/rebuilt trans will cost 1K or more.

I guess it really depends on how much is really left from doing a drain/refill/ Maybe a tech could chime in and give thoughts on how much is left without a flush. I assume a good amount, I def. think more than a quart.

Just food for thought.

You can get a trans flush at most repair shops for around 70-100 bucks. For peace of mind for another 60K miles.

To the original question, that looks like the drain plug.

[Bob1975]

Just an update - drained the fluid yesterday 4.5L's came out, manual said 7.8L was tranny capacity. The drained fluid only had 50,000 km's on it (30,000 miles) and it definitely had a burnt smell to it. The magnet on the drain plug did have particles on it, so a quick cleaning was in order.

The car is 7 years old and I'll probably only keep it for another 2-3 years. After adding Mobil Super Multi ATF synthetic is shifts really smooth, way better than before. Maybe in a couple of weeks I'll do it again, that should do me for the next couple of years. Funny the Haynes manual I have suggests to drain for a second time also.

Anything happens, I'll update post.

[1fastkia]

Its just a recommendation. Any dealer with a transmission service would, drain, flush, refill.

Its your car, just wanted to mention that its a good idea to change out all fluid in the trans. Its a costly part if it goes and makes headaches when your car is down for a week or more getting a new one installed.

Barely took half the fluid out.

Its shifting better now? Its was that bad before? If it wasn't shifting good before, and you only "half" changed the fluid, I would watch closely for the half new fluid to smell burnt and turning brown.

I bet mixing 4 quarts of burnt oil to the new, instantly made the new stuff smell burnt and turn it slightly brown. Think of it this way, you add a little brown coloring to red, what happens?

8 quarts of that mobile syth. stuff costs what? 40-50 bucks?

79.99 for a full trans drain flush and fill...

[Bob1975]

Maybe in Vermont it's $80 for a drain & flush, but north of the border it's a little different. I checked my records and when I had the fluid changed at the KIA Dealership, they charged me $125 to change the ATF. It shows only a quantity of 5L used, at a cost of $9.40 /L of SP3 = $47 (and they also didn't even swap out all the fluid!), the rest was labour.
So what do you think these banditos would charge for a complete flush & fill?

And you wonder why people are pissed off when they go to a dealership.

Sportage is a great little SUV, I'm sure it'll survive a few more years on this new fluid.

[1fastkia]

WOW, 125 and not a flush. I would not use that dealer. Go to an independant shop for a trans flush. It wont cost anymore than 100 bill.

Here a flush and refill goes under a set rate. Not hourly. Usually is between $79-150 depending on shop or coupons/deals you get in the mail or locally.

I would still keep on eye on the trans, usually when it starts shifting hard, slips, or just seems wearing is happening, a simple drain and helps very little and does not last long before its doing it again.
I dont wonder why ppl get pissed at dealers, I rarely use them myself also, I used them just 2 times, since 2008, one for ball joint replacement under warranty and 1 time for timing belt change.

Best of luck to you. The sporty is a great little suv I must say too.