Ring Shift Archives - Transmission Digest
2012 KIA Optima 2.4 Hybrid

Not often do we get the opportunity to work with a tech that is having issues with a transmission in a hybrid vehicle. Not too long ago, Gerald Campbell had the chance to do just that with Carlos Costa from Transmission Technology. He had a 2012 Kia Optima 2.4L Hybrid using an A6MF2H transmission. There is no torque converter in this transmission. It does have an “engine clutch” and an “electrical motor” that sits in the area where the torque converter would be (Figure 1). The vehicle came into the shop with a “Stall on Engagement” complaint with repeated “Engine Clutch” burn out. In fact, when the trans was removed and disassembled, the engine clutch was smoked, and the clutch plates frozen/welded together.