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Manual Transmission quits shifting after warming up

13K views 26 replies 9 participants last post by  Drunken.Swagger 
#1 ·
I have recently purchased a kia soul 2010 5 speed manual, 4 cylinder with 130k on it. The clutch had been changed prior to the purchase. The problem I am having is when shifting. After the vehicle is warmed up, say a few hours of highway driving, and it's hot now (August in Texas), and you come up to a stop or a light and put it into neutral heading back to first you cannot get it into gear. If you force it there is grinding. If you turn the vehicle off, wait a few seconds, I even removed the key completely from the ignition, then you can slide into first and start the car. Sometimes is starts working again and sometimes it doesn't want to start at all. This morning I drove it and it shifts just fine with no problems. Seems electrical in my mind but sure would appreciate any help to resolve this as my son will be heading to college in a couple of weeks. Thanks, Daniel
 
#4 ·
"Grinding" would not be electrical.
Clutch may have been changed but the question is when?
Since the problem seems to arise with both time and heat buildup, greges^advice is sound!
Drain the fluid thru a kitchen strainer and insert a magnet if possible to catch any metal particles of substance.
This may help diagnose if there is more damage than meets the ear.
The use of super slippery "redline" transmission fluid may help quell the issue.
Good luck Mr. Phelps.
 
#8 ·
I am going to go a different direction. I think the shifter was not correctly adjusted when the transmission was dropped for the clutch replacement. It was close enough that it works when cold, but when it gets hot it is enough out that the interlock of the 3-4 gate engages and keeps you from selecting 1-2.

Have the mechanic check that as well.
 
#13 ·
working on draining the gear oil and I see the fill bolt, 17mm, on the side. I removed the air filter housing to get a good look from above and for ease in filling. Having trouble locating the plug to drain all of the gear oil. I found what I though was a plug bolt at the the bottom but it was not it. Can anyone help relieve me of my ignorance. :)
 
#14 ·
it would be helpful to answer if we knew what you was driving - please fill out your drive info (settings/edit profile) with full details - it makes things so much easier for us in replying to questions and comments when we can see these details.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Looking for the tranny drain plug. I am driving a 2010 Kia Soul, 1.6 manual 5 speed. I have Redline gear oil, MT-85 which was recommended to me in this thread. As I said, I have located the fill bolt, a 17mm on the side of the trans, but not the drain plug. I removed a bolt at the bottom with a washer on it, 12mm, which was really long and not like a plug at all, and only a drop or two came out, so I was wondering if anyone knew where the drain plug was located. Appreciate the help.... (UPDATED MY PROFILE TO INCLUDE THE VEHICLE....Thanks for the heads up. D
 
#17 ·
Looking for the tranny drain plug. I am driving a 2010 Kia Soul, 1.6 manual 5 speed. I have Redline gear oil, MT-85 which was recommended to me in this thread. As I said, I have located the fill bolt, a 17mm on the side of the trans, but not the drain plug. I removed a bolt at the bottom with a washer on it, 12mm, which was really long and not like a plug at all, and only a drop or two came out, so I was wondering if anyone knew where the drain plug was located. Appreciate the help.... (UPDATED MY PROFILE TO INCLUDE THE VEHICLE....Thanks for the heads up. D
thanks, you got part of your drive info, but add Base MT to complete it, otherwise we don't know which model trim without that info - 2010 black Soul doesn't narrow it down enough.
 
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#21 ·
After reading the "Problems" forum for quite some time now, I see one re-occurring theme.
And, that is, that most all of the transmission problems with the Kia Soul are related to the Manual Transmission.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for saying that, by the "dyed in the wool" MT owners/drivers. I'm not throwing rocks, but just recounting what I've been reading here in this forum for quite some time.

For me, an MT is just out of the question. With my last MT car, 26 years ago, I remember how tired my left leg would get when driving through a large metropolitan area, like Orlando. It would be even worse today, so when I went to look at Kia Souls, I told the salesman that I wanted an AT, CC and cloth seats. The car I drove home later that day, filled all my requirements. At that time I didn't even know that the Soul came with two different engines, but now I'm so glad that I came home with the spunky little 1.6L. It's all the engine I could ever want. :)



The six speed AT in the Soul is, and I quote, "a real work of art". It even seems to have ESP, because it's always in the right gear for what I want to do. If I just slam the gas pedal to the floor, the AT will find the right gear for the operation. If I'm already doing 80mph, it will shift down to 4th gear and the car will take off like a shot!
I guess you all can tell I'm a very happy AT owner/driver. Eh wot?

Oh yes, if I start off from a standing start and just hold the gas pedal DOWN, with the AT in manual mode, it will automatically shift gears at 6000rpm+, just short of the Rev. limiter and be doing 80 mph in about 10 sec's.
I heard this mentioned on this forum, by another member, and I though I'd try it out for myself, and IT WORKED!

I've learned a lot from this forum, about my Kia Soul, and I want to thank the guys who know what's going on, and give a "Bronx Cheer" to those who don't know sh**, but just like to antagonize. (you know who you are. :tongue-new: )

Motor ON!
http://www.kiasoulforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=92481&d=1470788936&thumb=1&stc=1

Technomage. Busted
 

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#18 · (Edited)
I changed out the gear oil with Redline MT-85. Here are some pics I took showing the exact location of the gear oil fill bolt and also the drain bolt. I highlighted the bolts in two pictures. Appreciate the help on the gear oil as a first step dealing with the difficulties in changing gears when the vehicle heats up. I did run through a screened filter the old gear oil and found no metal at all. Ok, maybe a flake. Anyway, it had no pieces or chunks or slivers at all....zero. Test drives have gone well with no further problems but we are still keeping our eye on our Soul and will let you know if this resolves the transmissions inability to shift when it warms/heats up.
 

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#20 · (Edited)
I really can't think of why the MT-85 would help your particular problem, even though I recommended the oil. I recommended it because I think it's the Dom Perignon of gear oils for out MTs, not because I thought it would fix your issue. I actually figure the problem is something more along the lines of a bad slave cylinder.

But hey, if the MT-85 fixes it, I'm happy to be wrong. It's an easy and relatively cheap fix if it worked.

I'll bet it's a lot quieter now, huh?
 
#19 · (Edited)
FLHamster said: "The six speed AT in the Soul is, and I quote, "a real work of art"


I'm hoping, though not hearing, from a tech friend at least, that the new 7 speed D.C.T's are not quite the "work of art" you described the current 6 speeds to be.
I think the problem is that with new technologies come the necessity for new expectations and new driving habits.
What I am not sure of is that after 40+ years of driving that I want to learn how to drive again and unlearn all that I know and have come to expect.
A case of çan't teach an old dog new tricks" me thinks and some dogs are simply happy with sit, paw and fetch.
No need for dancing around on hind legs or jumping over hurdles like a dog & pony show!
 
#23 ·
Update on the manual transmission that sometimes will not go back into first after stopping. Also struggling some with reverse as well now.
Well, having put the Kia Soul to road test all day yesterday we still have the same recurring problem with difficulty going from neutral to 1st. Now it added a new twist in that while in a drive thru, in first gear with the clutch engaged, the vehicle died. With clutch engaged and foot on the brake pedal I tried to start it again and the car was trying to walk forward. I turned the car off and took the key out and put the stick in neutral and stared the vehicle with no problems and then it went into first gear with no further issues. This morning more of the same sporadically but it showed the same refusal to go into first or reverse first thing so with this happening it appears it is not a heat problem at all. I did stop by the area Kia Dealer and speak to the parts man who looked at my vin # and suggested that there is a sleeve under the stick that might solve the problem. It's a .95 cent piece that will be in on Monday. Here's the link from the TSB....https://www.automd.com/tsb/bulletin_b275854/
It states....Kia: soul manual transmission shift skirt (sa015). Some vehicles with manual transaxles may experience difficult to get into first (1st) gear when coming to a stop.
It only occurs when completely stopped. Don't know this is the answer but it's cheap so I am going to try this option.
 
#24 ·
Have you tried bleeding the slave cylinder? Is the Soul a hydraulic clutch or does it use a cable? I can't remember, but if it is hydraulic, you should bleed all the air out of the system. Hydraulic clutches are prone to poor shifting if there is any air in the lines or cylinder.
I had a jeep comanche that gave me fits like you describe and after bleeding the clutch 4 times, I finally got some air out and my shift problems disappeared. Sometimes the air fights to stay in there!
 
#25 · (Edited)
OK, I changed out the lower shift skirt (It was quite worn) after having changed the gear oil and I'm still having the same problem with gear either sticking in Reverse or 1st after coming to a stop. Then sometimes it sticks in 1st or reverse and the clutch seems unable to disengage...a type of 'clutch drag' as the vehicle will move forward or backward if it happens in reverse. Only turning the soul off and then starting again disengages the gear. Is it logical to check the gear shift cable next? That is where I am researching (My first manual Kia) Or Should it just be replaced (130k) or is adjusting it a good thing to do? If adjusting the gear shift cable is a good idea then how do I do this. I mean, how do I know that I am adjusting correctly? TKS, D
 
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