Just joined this forum for one reason. Probably won't post much else but did need to make this one posting!
I'm in Florida, and my wife's 2006 Spectra started shifting poorly and going into "limp mode" about 2 months ago (at 66k miles). I got on the internet and found this KIA forum as I was searching for answers regarding her tranny problems. The initial code we got from Advance Auto Parts was a P0734 (gear 4 incorrect ratio), and we took it to a shop and they got a code P0765 (Solenoid D open or shorted). The shop we took it to replaced the TCM module under the dash and said it was the problem. They charged us $577.00 to replace it with a used one and the tranny worked great as we drove it back home (13 miles). We parked it for about 2 hours, and then the wife got in it to go to work. She got about a half mile to work and boom...back into "limp mode".
We took it back to the shop the next day and they said it was now most likely that it was a bad solenoid, and in order to fix it it would cost us another $1800.00 for parts and labor. I just got disgusted with them and we drove the car back home and parked it.
I remembered I had read what MSCOAST had said on this forum regarding the bad solder joints on the inner wiring harness. This Saturday (Aug. 16th), I finally got the time to try working on the wife's car and I followed MSCOAST's tips and pictures to pull the valve body and check things out. The job wasn't extremely hard overall, but it was messy due to the tranny fluid continuously dripping all over the place and making my tools very slippery...
I tested the 5 solenoids with my digital meter and each one read 3.2 ohms. I looked at the ribbon style wiring harness and it seemed OK. I finally popped the cover off the bottom of the main plug like MSCOAST said to do and looked at the solder joints with a good magnifying glass. Found 3 of the joints were cracked...BAD solder joints!!!
Took the cable in the house after cleaning it and re-soldered the solder joints (yes I used to be a TV repair guy), and snapped the cap cover back on.
Put everything back together, used Permatex 81180 RTV gasket sealer (for transmissions... just under $7.00 at Advance Auto Parts) on the transmission pan, and let it sit overnight to cure.
This morning, I put the tranny fluid I had drained back in the tranny since it was less than a year old and still clean and red. Cranked the car up and backed it off the ramps I had drove it on. Took it around the block a few times and it shifted PERFECT! Check engine light has stayed off, and we have driven the car 5 times, about 50 miles total today so far...and got it up to 80 mph on the expressways and it has not so much as hiccupped even once! I think it is now 100% fixed...and we just wanted to thank this KIA forum and MSCOAST for your absolute help!!! (and for saving us $1800.00 from that lousy shop also...).
BTW - While doing research, I found several things that may help others. The part numbers I found are:
46307-23000 (upper harness with round plug that typically has the bad solder joints).
46308-23000 (lower harness with plugs for solenoid block).
46313-23000 (replacement solenoid block with 5 solenoids on it).
46321-23000 (transmission filter).
Also found a website called
Kia Parts - Genuine OEM Kia Auto Parts Online where you can order this stuff at a reasonable price if needed.
Special NOTE - Found out 2007 and up Hyundai Elantra parts will work also since it is the same transmission. (model # A4CF2 transmission).
Also, I used Permatex 81180 RTV silicone sealer on the pan, followed their instructions, and let it cure overnight. Car does not leak a drop of tranny fluid...I have verified this! Permatex works great and is far cheaper than other brands I researched. (it was $7.69 plus tax for a tube, and only had to use about 1/3rd of it).
Special THANKS for all your help! I mean that!!!
God Bless You...
(Old Bob...a 58 year old dude who could do this job fairly easy. Save your money and fix your own KIA folks!!!)