Kia Sephia Won't Start in Park
 

OK OK, I know this is a Honda/Acura forum.......
I drive an Acura Integra - a fantastic problem free car.

BUT, my friend Nicole's 1999 Kia Sephia LS is broken and I can't get could help from Kia forums, whereas HAN has always helped me figure things out. Thanks in advance to those who help me try and fix a broken Kia!!

The problem:

Her Kia Sephia LS is having starting problems in Park. Basically, the gauge on the dash will NOT show that the shifter is in park unless you repeatedly ram the shifter into park OR wiggle the shifter around a lot. Note that the shifter itself does say that the car is in park. Consequently, the car does not start since it does not think it is in park and therefore has to be started in Neutral (or you have to mess around until the dash says the car is in park).

Is there some sort of electrical component that could be bad? Anything to try adjusting?

We did clean the entire center console, because a shop claimed that this problem was due to a dirty center console....but believe me, this is not the problem.

Her Check Engine Light has also come on, and that same shop said her Transmission Module needs to be replaced.

Can anybody tell me where this is located?
I've been told that the Transmission module is a dealer-specific part for $150 that plugs into the Kia Sephia's cpu. I'm only familiar with Integras....... Can anybody tell me where the Transmission Module is located.

Supposedly this Transmission Module tells the car when to shift.

Unlike for my Integra, I can't find any Haynes or Chiltons at my local auto shops for a Kia...

Thanks.

Come on HANers, You've probably had a similar problem with your Teg or Civic?

I dont mean to be a smartass but try pushing in the brake pedal when you start the car. That may help. Also your problem could result in that your car is a KIA! :cool:

shake the parking lever around, sounds like the contacts are bad. if that fails, it should start in N too

Since I don't have a Kia, this is kinda vague...

Yes, there should be a switch in the console near the shift lever. Probably has a flimsy bracket holding it in place, too. Take off the plastic shrouds around the base of the shift lever & look around for it. The bracket's probably bent, or it's loose or something like that.

The car does start all the time in Neutral, but, every time it starts in Neutral the Dash says the Kia is in Netural.

Wiggling or slamming the shifter into Park until the Dash finally says that the Kia is in Park does work, and then the car will start in park. Otherwise, you have to start it in Neutral.

I'll take a look for a switch near the shifter and let you know what happens. I'll probably go play with my Teg for a while and find the switch on my car.

Anybody know anything about the TCM (Transmission Control Module)?

My fellow HANers, you guys are definitely more helpful than the streetkiaz forum.

It's hard working on a Kia, the websites and help forums with pictures are all lacking.

re-adjust the shifter cable....that is part of the service when you take the car back for scheduled maintenance.

i mean adjust it under the hood.