Edit 10/12/25: I've updated this post for clarity and to add more information:
I have a 2019 Kia Soul Base, 6 speed manual transmission with the 1.6L GDI engine, 55,000 miles, and have developed rod knock, potentially in cylinder 3. I am religious about oil changes (3k miles) and checking the oil. Always use full synthetic 5w30 and check it at least once every other week. Engine does not burn oil. You all know me here, I take good care of my "little Jewel".
Driving the other night with the windows down and going under a bridge I heard a ticking noise. The noise can be heard between 2K - 3K RPMs and even higher, but it goes away when I let off the gas. Only when revving or holding speed in that rpm range is when I hear it. I went into a car wash bay and revved it up and heard it between that range too.
I'm the second owner, so I'm at the mercy of Kia and good will.
Dealer looked at it and can't tell me what the noise is even though it can be heard clear as day. They told me they think it's in the clutch because the sound changes when stepping on the clutch. This is NOT true. The sound does not change when stepping on the clutch so I have no idea what the dealer is talking about. But they wanted me to pay $2300 for a new clutch.
So even when you take care of these GDI engines, they still fail. What a shame. I've owned several Hyundai and Kia's, and so has my family and they were great cars. I was convinced that most of the issues with these engines were from poor maintenance, but that's not the case. They are junk.
This new video shows that the "noise" can be heard at lower rpms (low 2Ks) but gets more pronounced as the rpms increase. I went up to about 3K in this video.
This is another video of the rod knock. Rpms varied in the 2Ks with a few blips over 3K
In this video, I used @bwdz75 trick and went right for cylinder 3 and unplugged the coil. Noise changed. It's pretty much gone, at least the metallic tapping. I think this confirms it's a rod bearing. I don't think I have to do anymore tests. Now why didn't the dealer try this? It took 5 minutes.
10/12/25: Final test unplugging the coils posted here.
I caught this early, that's why it's not hammering like most bad kia engines I've heard. I don't want a hole in the block, or potential fire, so I brought it back to the dealer.
.
I have a 2019 Kia Soul Base, 6 speed manual transmission with the 1.6L GDI engine, 55,000 miles, and have developed rod knock, potentially in cylinder 3. I am religious about oil changes (3k miles) and checking the oil. Always use full synthetic 5w30 and check it at least once every other week. Engine does not burn oil. You all know me here, I take good care of my "little Jewel".
Driving the other night with the windows down and going under a bridge I heard a ticking noise. The noise can be heard between 2K - 3K RPMs and even higher, but it goes away when I let off the gas. Only when revving or holding speed in that rpm range is when I hear it. I went into a car wash bay and revved it up and heard it between that range too.
I'm the second owner, so I'm at the mercy of Kia and good will.
Dealer looked at it and can't tell me what the noise is even though it can be heard clear as day. They told me they think it's in the clutch because the sound changes when stepping on the clutch. This is NOT true. The sound does not change when stepping on the clutch so I have no idea what the dealer is talking about. But they wanted me to pay $2300 for a new clutch.
So even when you take care of these GDI engines, they still fail. What a shame. I've owned several Hyundai and Kia's, and so has my family and they were great cars. I was convinced that most of the issues with these engines were from poor maintenance, but that's not the case. They are junk.
This new video shows that the "noise" can be heard at lower rpms (low 2Ks) but gets more pronounced as the rpms increase. I went up to about 3K in this video.
This is another video of the rod knock. Rpms varied in the 2Ks with a few blips over 3K
In this video, I used @bwdz75 trick and went right for cylinder 3 and unplugged the coil. Noise changed. It's pretty much gone, at least the metallic tapping. I think this confirms it's a rod bearing. I don't think I have to do anymore tests. Now why didn't the dealer try this? It took 5 minutes.
10/12/25: Final test unplugging the coils posted here.
I caught this early, that's why it's not hammering like most bad kia engines I've heard. I don't want a hole in the block, or potential fire, so I brought it back to the dealer.
.
