transmission fluid change

[kostis4x4]

Just qurious Beyond_help does the '03 model (3.5 4sp AT) has the same rear diff with the '05?...does it need to have the rear hoisted 8'' more than the front for changing the lubricant?
I'm asking cause i've never seen any '03's hoisted that way in any Kia dealer i've been here.
P.S. Muchas gracias for the pics man.....i owe you one.

[nstoolman1]

I'm not sure if it has the same rear differential phisically as the 05 but you do need to raise it 8 ". The amount you need to put in is 54 oz.

[oldjeep]

If you just drained through the plug, you missed about 1/2 the fluid. To properly change the fluid in any automatic transmission you have to hook it up to a fluid replacement machine. According to the Factory service manual, that transmission holds 10.5 quarts of ATF

[SoCalSorento]

Originally Posted by oldjeep

If you just drained through the plug, you missed about 1/2 the fluid. To properly change the fluid in any automatic transmission you have to hook it up to a fluid replacement machine. According to the Factory service manual, that transmission holds 10.5 quarts of ATF

I agree.
You shouldn't just "drain" the fluid, you should "flush" the whole tranny including the Torque Converter, if you just drain and refill you don't get all the possible contaminants out. Sort of like taking a shower and putting on dirty underwear!
If you plan on keeping your Sorento for many years "flush" the tranny system every 25-30,000 miles.
Friend of mine owns a tranny shop and that's what he does to all his personal automatics.

[nstoolman1]

Gentlemen, not all of us have the pleasure of knowing someone with a machine to flush out a A/T or having the money to replace 12 qts of fkuid @7.00 a qt every 20-30 thousand mile. I agree it would be nice to do it, and mechanicly proper but remember the book says drain not replace to meet the warranty. If you have the resources to do it go for it.

[oldjeep]

If you can't afford to maintain a car you can't afford to drive it.

I would check with your Kia dealer on your assertion that the warranty requires only draining the fluid, and not a normal automatic transmission service. Replacing less than half the fluid is marginally better than just leaving all the old stuff in there.

[nstoolman1]

I have checked with the dealer. They said follow your owners manual and you will not void the warranty. My owners manual states on page 7-35: Remove the drain plug. After oil is drained,install new washer on the plug and install. Lower vehichle. Remove dipstick add approximately 2 US qts. Check fluid and add as necessary. It does not contain the word flush or service anywhere in the procedure. Mind you this is for "severe" service. Under "normal" you only inspect and add as necessary. If you have to add then you need to get it back to the dealer for a check up. Tranny fluid should not be going anywhere. I happen to fall under their definition of "normal". I aggree with you that Flushing is the best way to get all the fluid out but I was also told that it could dislodge small particles that could plug the very small passages in the shifter body.

[oldjeep]

Interesting, it also says to use Dextron 2 ATF which is about $4 a gallon at Wallmart. I'm bringing my wifes 2003 in for tranny fluid change this week, guess I better make sure they are actully flushing it and not just draining the pan.

[SoCalSorento]

Originally Posted by nstoolman1

Gentlemen, not all of us have the pleasure of knowing someone with a machine to flush out a A/T or having the money to replace 12 qts of fkuid @7.00 a qt every 20-30 thousand mile. I agree it would be nice to do it, and mechanicly proper but remember the book says drain not replace to meet the warranty. If you have the resources to do it go for it.

Wouldn't you rather pay about $150.00 every 25,000 miles for a tranny flush instead of $3,500 for a new tranny if your just out of warranty??
You guys do what you want, I have a friend who has been servicing auto tranny's for about 40 years (owns a shop) and he tells me to IGNORE what the manual says and FLUSH the tranny to COMPLETELY clean it.
(Iv'e heard this same thing from other tranny mechanics, again this is how they treat THEIR auto trannys)

Just trying to save you guys a week or more waiting for your dealer to install a new tranny or worse your warranty run out and the tranny dumps on you.

[SoCalSorento]

Originally Posted by nstoolman1

I happen to fall under their definition of "normal". I aggree with you that Flushing is the best way to get all the fluid out but I was also told that it could dislodge small particles that could plug the very small passages in the shifter body.

If you drive in bumper to bumper traffic quite often (who doesn't in So Cal??) OR drive in extremely hot temps (July through September, I live by you in Menifee) you should follow the "severe" sched of maint. Tranny's go though torture and work very hard.

What your talking about with the particles is if you NEVER service the tranny then flush it at say 100,000 miles, then it's possible to plug it up.
If you do regular flushes you won't run into that.

I once took a high milage used car to a tranny shop to have it flushed and the guy told me if it was never flushed before to just run it till it dies because it can cause more problems if he flushed it. (with old particles coming loose with the flush, and possibly causing problems) Since i didn't know the history of the maint on the car I just left it alone.