Thursday, February 27, 2014
Does the 2001 Kia Optima Have a Transmission Filter
Proving yet again that the only bad question is the one not asked, heres one with a few different answers. They all involve a "yes," but with a few provisos -- primarily in terms of filter location. The Optimas automatic transmission underwent a few changes in the middle of the 2001 model year that determine where youll find the filter and how youll go about changing it.
Filter Locations
According to Kia technical service bulletin TT651003-005 -- published in the wildly popular Kia Technician Times, Volume 6, Issue 5, 2003 -- the company switched from external to internal transmissions in the middle of the 2001 model year. This goes for both 2.4-liter four-cylinder and 2.5-liter V-6 engines. Check the VIN number and the exact production date of your Optima; cars produced from October 1st, 2000 to December 31st, 2001 used transmissions with an external filter, while later models used an internal one.
A Cause for Change
External filters are a nice touch when it comes to maintenance, but theyre uncommon for one primary reason. If youve ever been under your car, youll notice that Kia left just about enough room for a snake to slither through. While this wasnt anything that Kias engineers couldnt deal with, this particular transmission also saw use in the same-year Sonata, Santa Fe and Trajet; and, Kia being Kia, also likely had designs on selling the design after its production cycle to another manufacturer. So, out went the external filter, and in comes the internal one.
Replacing the External Filter
The external filter is great from a maintenance point of view. It screws onto the the transmission case just above the transmission fluid oil pan and should be clearly visible from the bottom of the car. You should be able to get to it from the top after removing the air cleaner assembly. After removing the old filter with a filter wrench, clean the mating surface and the surrounding area, lubricate the O-ring on the filter and tighten it to 8 or 9 foot-pounds.
Replacing the Internal Filter
Internal filter transmissions are more compact by nature, but changing the filter is a comparative pain. But little more so than any other car. Slide under the car and remove the 10 millimeter transmission pan bolts, starting at one side and working toward the other. Be prepared for transmission fluid to cascade out of the top of the pan. Scrape any gasket material off of the transmission and oil pan. Youll find the filter secured to the bottom of the transmission, inside the pan, by three bolts. Remove them, replace the filter, and reinstall the pan. Tighten all of the bolts to about 10 foot-pounds and ill the transmission with 3.5 quarts of SP3 transmission fluid.
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