Noise or Vibration When AC Compressor is On

Transmission Damage Due to Low and/or Incorrect Fluid

Improved rear seat belt available

I own a 2003 Kia Rio Cinco Wagon. I will never buy another Kia. I think they are too hit and miss. Some cars are great, no problems, great gas mileage, etc. My car is a 4 cylinder gas hog. The mileage I get for that small car with the cramped interior space is the same as a roomy 6 cylinder SUV. Literally, 17 - 20 miles in city, 25 on the Highway. I once rented a Kia (not sure of the model) but it was their smallest size. I drove from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Paramus, New Jersey, and only filled up once. The trip took me over 8 hours. My Kia, going approximately the same distance, required 2 refills more. I purchased the car from a dealer, and now know why someone had traded in a car that wasn't even three years old and had less than 20,000 miles on it. Since I have had it, the clutch seized up (wouldn't get out of park). That was right after I purchased it. I was told by the mechanic that they had gotten a lot of problems with that. I consulted Kia about the gas mileage, since it was still under the 5 year warranty. They gave me a bogus problem (something about the spark plugs), charged me $275 dollars, which of course was NOT covered under the warranty because they said there was a nest and some critters had chewed through the electrical). Of course, in less than a year the top light in the car stopped working, the cheapo battery needed to be replaced at the 3 year mark, etc, etc. Today, the axle broke. The car has always been well maintained. I lived in Pennsylvania which not only requires emmision testing, but safety testing (they put the car on a lift, remove the wheels and check brakes, etc), plus the necessary things. My mechanic was with me through 2 other cars and I had oil changes every 3 months or 3000 miles (whichever came first), I had proper tires put on and checked air pressure myself, I called my mechanic and had routine checks for noises, etc that seemed weird or if the car wasn't performing right. And when I say I had everything done to resolve the gas issue, I did. That included my regular mechanic, a friend who is a master mechanic, speaking with other mechanics at different shops, looking on line to see if other Kia Rio owners had the same problem, etc, etc. I drove 10 miles to work either way, my daycare was en route home, etc, and I had to fill up that car after about 5 days of driving. Meanwhile, my friend purchased a Chevy Cobalt and was getting over 350 miles for each fill up (she put gas in her car twice a month). I found out I was not alone with the gas problem. One person said they got about 175 miles to a tank, which is about what I get (11.75 gallon tank capacity). Also, as someone else stated, the car has NO PICKUP! It chugs slowly uphill, and living in Western PA meant chugging quite often. Even driving up to speed on the highway, with momentum on your side, at the least incline in the road, I would have to turn off the air conditioning/ heat so that every available ounce of energy could get it up to speed. I have never had to do that with any car I have owned. Now, I can't complain about the axle, even though the car has under 65,000 miles, it is 9 years old and saw it's fair amount of salt in Pennsylvania (I'll know what all the damages are when the mechanic calls). There has to be better cars out there. I figure what I have had to pay in gasoline, I could have been 1/2 way to a brand new car. SO KIA, NEVER AGAIN!

Bought my Kia Rio brand new. They had a $1000 rebate plus dealer incentives. Literally emailed every kia dealership within 200 miles, and bought it for less than $12K. Been a great car. Changed the plugs, battery, 2 front tires, and engine and tranny fluids after 59K. Replaced the timing belt big ouch on cost but what are gonna do. If you don't and the belt goes, super big ouch on cost.

How do you remove the alternator on my rio sedan?
It is on the passenger side near the firewall towards the bottom of the engine. There are 2 hoses above it that might have a little play but not much.