4 WHEEL DRIVE

Asked by JEFFCARTER1 Mar 28, 2010 at 11:59 AM about the 2004 Kia Sorento EX 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

2004 KIA 4WD SORENTO,  4WD LOW LIGHT IS ON AND TRANMISSION DOESN'T CHANGE RIGHT. DEALER SAID IT WAS TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE,  I REPLACED IT BUT NO CHANGE. THIS REPAIR COST ME ABOUT 800.00 CAN ANYONE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM?

10 Answers

205

Hi ,i had a simular status with mine, do you use your 4 wheel drive on a regular basis,as i didnt ,and only just had a full service and check over,1rst time it happened to me ,was in crawling traffic down hill in san sebastion rush hour am,so i went into neutral ,swithched engine off ,and restarted ,and managed to switch from 4wheel back to 2,then some months again it happened as i was on a dirt track coming from beach,so i did the same again,however i realised i hadnt used the 4wheel drive for some time,so after i started making use on occasion 2 times a week for 4 or 5 mins the 4x4 status,so it could be a gearbox software it prob.

20 people found this helpful.
935

Tire tread depth and the TCM . 95440-4A720 Make sure your tires are all the same tread depth .If you have mismatched tires the Low 4x4 wheel light will come on and stay on until you have tires on the front or back with same tread depth . vehicle has sensors in front and the rear .

18 people found this helpful.
935

With a 3.5 engine in Over drive the tach should read about 3 thousand RPM's .at 70 miles per hour. stop vehicle and pull over and shut off Over drive and turn it back on . or shut down vehicle and this does a re rest of the off over drive .transmission may have a shift module and may need replacement or traction is not good and have mismatched tires and senors are causing the problem front or rear .

3 people found this helpful.
935

Plug in OBD II scanner and check for trouble code . OBD II plug in is in front under hood near main fuse box on fender drivers side .Scanner can be purchased on Ebay for 70 dollars or less .need 20 pin adapter for Kia . Most OBD II scanners USA are 16 pin and can buy an adapter plug in for the kia for under 20 dollars

3 people found this helpful.
935

The dealer can use a software on a PC to get more detailed information on TCM and other problems . Dealer has software that is better than the OBD II scanner and can target the problem .Need to ask the Service dept for a print out or if they hooked up the vehicle to a PC software program . The ECU will store trouble codes or errors .also the OBD II scanner can erase all trouble codes after viewing or fixing . Then the ECU will start a new cycle and if problems are not fixed they will show up again as check engine light comes on .

4 people found this helpful.
590

OMG THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH i HAVE A 2005 SORENTO AND WE HAD A SNOW STORM RECENTLY AND I REMEMBER SHIFTING GEARS TO DRIVE AND BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY NEUTRAL WHILE I WAS IN 4WD-LO I DID NOT SHUT THE CAR OFF INSTEAD I SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND THAT IS WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON I JUST FOLLOWED #35 INSTRUCTION ABOVE AND IT WORKS....LIFE SAVE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND LIKE THAT FOR 3 DAYS....

11 people found this helpful.
30

Can I use tires of 225X75X16 in order 245X70X16 for mu Sorento 2003 Thanks Kemal portakal portakalkemal@gmail.com

3 people found this helpful.
110

Our 2005 Sorento 4 x 4 light was on BUT not engaging in 4 wheel drive causing us to lose control in a snow storm and have an accident. SOLUTION dealer wanted over $4000 to repair. Turned out it was a $2.95 rubber hose that engages the couplers on the front axel. It popped off. Kia consumers beware.Lucky for us we found an honest transmission shop. Total cost $150.

11 people found this helpful.
60

My 2004 Kia Sorento transfer case module has gone out TWICE! No lights came on. Dealer repaired it first time, second time it went out at around 90,000

6 people found this helpful.
40

2003 Kia sorento bought it with 114xxx car is in great shape no skip in engine at all. Test drove wouldnt shift into overdrive. I cant tell you if my check engine light was on or 4wd lights because someone pulled the bulbs. So I bought the car and did some research into this problem. If I switched my four-wheel drive into 4hi or 4lo it shifted into the full wheel in 4 low in a chipped back into 2-wheel drive. I brought the car to AutoZone and have them do a code scan the error codes that came up where: P0700 transmission control system (MIL Request) P0442 evaporative emission system leak detected (small leak) P1795 4WD switch signal malfunction PO700 read this code twice for some reseason. P0442 also read this one twice P0456 evaporative emission system leak detected (very small leak). So after doing research online I found that the tccm transfer case control module chained cars the car not to shift into overdrive. I then went to go on to read that if you unplug the sensor which is on the passenger side left firewall right about where you left foot with rest against the edge that the issue would stop. So I went ahead and I unplugged the tccm not before unhooking the battery, after unplugged I connected the battery and started her up. I have no issue now will it shifting gears I have OverDrive and all I just don't have four wheel drive options. So I guess we're going to drive it until I can get a new transfer case control module but I'm wondering will this hurt my vehicle in any way? I replaced the 4 wheel drive switch then I haven't got to any of those small weeks I'm wondering if that may cause the transfer case control module not to shift is overdrive thanks for any advice.

4 people found this helpful.

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