The Kia Sedona/Carnival Thread [ARCHIVE]

**Cult Zero** · July 26th, 2007 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by OTEP

ECAT stands for electronically controlled automatic transmission. It's pretty much a marketing term since almost all A/T's nowadays have electronic control units even if they don't have an adjustable/selectable switch.

What the switch basically does is adjust the shift points of the transmission. This is detailed in your owner's manual.

Thanks for the info. If I understand it correctly this is similar to overdrive or O/D, right?

We got our Carnival second hand. Unfortunately, the previous owner lost the manual :sad:

**OTEP** · July 26th, 2007 01:00 PM

Nope. Overdrive is different. Overdrive means top gear and the overdrive switch is just an on/off switch for topgear (it does not alter the shiftpoints). With overdrive off, the vehicle only goes up to 3rd gear (for 4speed A/T's).

Overdrive should always be left on (no warning illuminated) because driving with O/D off can seriously damage your transmission. O/D should only be turned off in exceptional cases enumerated in the vehicle owner's manual.

Simply put, the ECAT switch alters shift points but uses all the gears. O/D switch does not alter shift points but just makes top gear available or unavailable.

**Cult Zero** · July 26th, 2007 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by OTEP

Nope. Overdrive is different. Overdrive means top gear and the overdrive switch is just an on/off switch for topgear (it does not alter the shiftpoints). With overdrive off, the vehicle only goes up to 3rd gear (for 4speed A/T's).

Overdrive should always be left on (no warning illuminated) because driving with O/D off can seriously damage your transmission. O/D should only be turned off in exceptional cases enumerated in the vehicle owner's manual.

Simply put, the ECAT switch alters shift points but uses all the gears. O/D switch does not alter shift points but just makes top gear available or unavailable.

Ah ..got it

With the ECAT on, the vehicle shifts earlier or later than normal depending on what the electronic controls dictate. On the other hand, O/D just adds another gear on top of the 3rd gear.

I'm aware that by default OD should be ON. Is it also advisable to keep the ECAT on under normal driving conditions?

**OTEP** · July 26th, 2007 01:48 PM

Yes, OD should always be ON. What are the modes of your ECAT? On the Starex it has a power, normal (no lamps illuminated), hold mode. I just keep it in normal (no lamps) mode.

**pilot** · July 26th, 2007 03:33 PM

Hi everyone.

Very informative thread!

I recently acquired a kia carnival TDI 2.9 diesel. I find the engine very powerful based on its acceleration ability.

however, when i am driving in the North Expressway at about 100kph, the van starts to vibrate a bit. What do you think causes this?

I just had the wornout stabilizers replaced but the vibration still occurs. I am thinking that this may be due to old shock absorbers.

TIA.

**OTEP** · July 26th, 2007 05:42 PM

Vibrations that appear at expressway speeds are usually caused by unbalanced wheels. The wheels and tires may still be serviceable, but they are not just balanced at the moment.

Try to get them balanced first. Most shops that do alignment and suspension will also have balancing facilities (e.g. Servitek).

Shock absorbers will usually not be guilty of causing vibrations. The shocks themselves may vibrate when the bushings are worn, but they will not cause the vehicle to vibrate.

**pup2** · July 28th, 2007 03:18 AM

Originally Posted by OTEP

Vibrations that appear at expressway speeds are usually caused by unbalanced wheels. The wheels and tires may still be serviceable, but they are not just balanced at the moment.

Try to get them balanced first. Most shops that do alignment and suspension will also have balancing facilities (e.g. Servitek).

Shock absorbers will usually not be guilty of causing vibrations. The shocks themselves may vibrate when the bushings are worn, but they will not cause the vehicle to vibrate.

In other words, dahil mas mura magpa-balance, dapat yun unahin i-try.

**jabr** · July 29th, 2007 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by Cult Zero

Partner, is this the one near SLEX Sucat Exit? On the right side when coming from Baclaran? Do they also do paint and body repair?

Cult Zero, Yes, that's the one. Basically it's a hyundai dealership, that's why there are no kia cars displayed there but they accept kia's for service.

Yes, they also accept painting and body repairs.

**utakabo** · July 30th, 2007 11:08 AM

I just want to thank you again guys for the informative posts. without this thread it would have been hard to convince me to buy a korean car. now the kids are very happy with the space, the missus is happy with the very cold aircon, and i am very happy with the fuel consumption.

yesterday i brought it to servitek for wheel alignment and had two tires replaced with fortera (tama ba speling?).

just one question, how far does the temp gauge go when your unit is running? mine hovers in 1/4 but i was alarmed when i was negotiating the teresa-antipolo road when the needle suddenly went up to almost 1/2 (the drive was slow climb as there were trucks ahead of me, so slow that i can only go up to 2nd gear), is this normal? first time ko sa diesel kasi, sa corolla ko hindi ganun kahit anong bagal ng takbo, kahit paakyat.

**pup2** · July 31st, 2007 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by utakabo

I just want to thank you again guys for the informative posts. without this thread it would have been hard to convince me to buy a korean car. now the kids are very happy with the space, the missus is happy with the very cold aircon, and i am very happy with the fuel consumption.

yesterday i brought it to servitek for wheel alignment and had two tires replaced with fortera (tama ba speling?).

just one question, how far does the temp gauge go when your unit is running? mine hovers in 1/4 but i was alarmed when i was negotiating the teresa-antipolo road when the needle suddenly went up to almost 1/2 (the drive was slow climb as there were trucks ahead of me, so slow that i can only go up to 2nd gear), is this normal? first time ko sa diesel kasi, sa corolla ko hindi ganun kahit anong bagal ng takbo, kahit paakyat.

Korean pa yung 2 gulong mo? Huwag mo na patagalin yan bro.

Yung sa temp, mas mataas ang compression at init ng diesels kesa sa gas kaya pag nahihirapan ang makina maaaring tumaas ang needle -- but it shouldn't go anywhere near the red zone. Ako dati, pag uminit yung makina, pinapatay ko AC para makatulong. You should probably ask your SA though just to be sure.