2010 Kia Sorento SLi has developed a flutter or shudder when changing gears
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Asked by Peter
My 2010 Kia Sorento SLi has done just over 200,000km and has had virtually no problems over its life. I got it new and it has been a fantastic car. However, it has developed a flutter or shudder when it changes down or up in the transmission.
A couple of mechanics have road tested it but cannot confidently diagnose the problem. I’m told it may be the transmission, but cost for new one is twice the value of the car. They also mentioned that there is no guarantee on a rebuilt transmission these days as it may develop a similar problem.
Could it be the torque converter or drive shaft? I hit a very serious pot hole before all this started to happen. My car is virtually worthless now as I will not trade it in without disclosing the problem. My friends, and the mechanic tell me to ignore the problem and drive it until it stops.
Answered by CarsGuide
25 Oct 2024It kind of goes against the grain a little, but there’s a valid case for listening to your friends and mechanic and driving the car until it stops. Since your car is worth – based on average asking prices – about $10,000, you could easily overcapitalise on a new transmission.
The best advice is to have it checked over by a transmission specialist who will know what to look for based on the symptoms they see. You’re right in that a bad pothole could have damaged a drive-shaft (or a wheel, or suspension component) and the torque converter is also a candidate to produce a fault in the way the car drives. On the flip-side, you might simply find that a service and change of fluid brings the transmission back to full health. Meantime, I’m not so sure about rebuilt transmissions not carrying a warranty. Australia’s consumer law suggests that may not be the case.
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