Reconditioned Kia Gearbox

The Kia gearbox changed significantly between 2001 and 2023, evolving in step with successive engine generations and model ranges.

From the Carnival with its J3 2.9 CRDi engine in the early 2000s to the Sportage and Stonic powered by the 1.0 T-GDI (G3LC / G3LE) in the 2010s and 2020s, the Kia range underwent several major technical shifts. 5-speed manual gearboxes gradually gave way to 6-speed units from the mid-2000s onwards — though engine capacity or model name alone is not enough to determine which: a Ceed 1.6 CRDi may have a 5-speed or a 6-speed gearbox depending on its generation year, and engine codes D4FB, D4FD, D4FDL or D4FE — all 1.6 diesel units — do not share the same transmission.

Engine Codes and Models: the Identification Pitfalls Specific to Kia

The Sportage alone accounts for the widest variety of configurations: 1.6 CRDi (D4FD / D4FDL), 1.7 CRDi (D4FE), 2.0 CRDi (D4EA / D4HA) and 2.2 CRDi (D4HB) diesel engines have coexisted across several generations, each paired with its own gearbox. The Sorento 2.2 CRDi (D4HB) and the Carens 1.6 or 1.7 CRDi add further to this variety. On the petrol side, the Rio, Picanto and Venga use G4LA, G4FA, G4HE engines with 5-speed gearboxes, while the Ceed and Soul move to G4FC, G4FD or G4FG units with 6-speed gearboxes. Mixing up two closely related references — for example 4300032849 and 4300032506 — can result in an incompatible part despite a similar appearance. The engine code stamped on the block, combined with the vehicle's registration year, remains the only reliable starting point for identifying the correct gearbox.

Reconditioned Manuals: What the Collection Covers

The collection covers ten models — from the Picanto to the Sorento — spanning the period 2001–2023, exclusively in manual gearboxes (5- or 6-speed), both diesel and petrol. Two reconditioning methods are available depending on the unit: exchange or full rebuild of the customer's own original unit. No automatic or dual-clutch gearboxes are included in this Kia catalogue.