# Does this sound like a transmission issue?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-this-sound-like-a-transmission-issue/35934>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** sephia, kia\
**Created:** [September 1, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-this-sound-like-a-transmission-issue/35934 "2009-09-01T03:27:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![samdude1400](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@samdude1400](https://community.cartalk.com/u/samdude1400)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-this-sound-like-a-transmission-issue/35934/1 "2009-09-01T03:27:04Z")

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Hello, I’ve got 1999 Kia Sephia with ~130,000. Rebuilt the transmission at ~100,000.  
  
  
  
 Recently when I would shift it into drive, I would hear a loud noise steady noise, sort of like a muffled Harley running at a red light, the vehicle also vibrates a little. When I accelerate it gets a bit louder. This noise was never usual.  
  
  
  
 The second I put the car in neutral I can tell the transmission disengages and the sound is no longer made. It never happens in Neutral or Reverse. Is louder during acceleration but when I stop accelerating after 25 mph the car sounds like it normally did.  
  
  
  
 Also I revved the engine at neutral and it sound just fine.  
  
  
  
 What do you guys think?

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**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-this-sound-like-a-transmission-issue/35934/2 "2009-09-01T04:27:14Z")

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A muffled Harley would be rare.

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**Author:** ![samdude1400](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@samdude1400](https://community.cartalk.com/u/samdude1400)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 11:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-this-sound-like-a-transmission-issue/35934/3 "2009-09-01T11:42:06Z")

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Well it wouldn’t sound exactly like a Harley, I just cannot imagine any other way to describe it. Maybe a better way to describe the sound of a loud muffler under the hood.

-Sam

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**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-this-sound-like-a-transmission-issue/35934/4 "2009-09-01T19:32:25Z")

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I think your trans needs surgery again.

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**Author:** ![samdude1400](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@samdude1400](https://community.cartalk.com/u/samdude1400)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-this-sound-like-a-transmission-issue/35934/5 "2009-09-02T01:14:02Z")

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The check engine light came on today, and I went to have it checked, it was an O2 sensor. The mechanic things is a leak in the exhaust, which would make a lot of sense with the noise sounding the way it does, and the headache I’ve been experiencing.

The leak must have also gotten worse because I can hear the noise most of the time now. I suppose that before when the leak was a lot smaller putting the car from neutral to drive increased the exhaust, I have no idea how that might happen but that would be the only reason why there was a noticeable difference in sound between the two.

Thanks for your replies!