Vehicle Details
- Make – Kia
- Model – Spectre5
- Model Year – 2008
- Trim – SX 5-Door Hatchback
- Engine – 2.0L DOHC MPI (B2-2.0L – Beta) (138 hp)
- Engine Number – G4GC7H215377
- Transmission – 4 Speed Automatic 2WD
- VIN – KNAFE162985016686 (VIN Decoder here)
- Production Date – November 2, 2007
- Delivery Date – June 23 2008 (per Kia Tech Info website)
- License Plate – 6ELF359 (California) (SMOG Lookup here)
- Exterior Color – Sweet Orange (Color Code 09)
Additional Specs online here and a recap of the Kia Spectre5 over at Wikipedia here
Service History
Date: February 26, 2025
Mileage: 290,009 miles
Performed by: Stefano
Services Performed: Continuing fixing up the issues found in the initial inspection. Today’s work included:
- Installed the new park brake cables
- Both left and right
- Lubricated fulcrum points with white lithium grease
- Adjusted to factory spec
- Working great. Fully locked at 4 clicks on the handle
- Had to completely remove the center console to do this work, so cleaned it more thoroughly since it was on the bench.
- Replaced the positive and negative battery terminals with new Kia OEM ones
- Coated with dielectric grease while installing them
- Reset the time on the clock (for hopefully the last time)
- Installed custom cargo mat (ordered from eBay). Fit really well.
- Installed Weather Tech generic fit front and rear row floor mats. Custom cut the front mats to fit. Rear row fit well without mods.
- Installed new front and rear license plates and Stefano’s license plate frames and security screws.
- Took a few ‘final’ photos to memorialize the completion.
After a bunch of work, she’s ready for delivery to client!
Date: February 23, 2025
Mileage: 290,009 miles
Performed by: Stefano and Aaron
Services Performed: Continuing fixing up the issues found in the initial inspection. Today’s work included:
- Installed the now repaired front bumper cover.
- The JB Welded repaired joints were very solid
- Lubricated the slots the tabs fit into with white lithium grease
- Remounted bumper cover
- Reinstalled battery
- Coated terminals with dielectric grease to prevent corrosion
- Reinstalled headlights and tested bulbs
- Looks great!
- Trickle charged the battery again while removed from car. Charger said it was at 40% again. Even though the battery is just 18 months old I suspect its going bad.
- Cleaned the debris from the battery tray while it was removed. Lubricated the mounting bolt
- Noted that the positive battery terminal clamp is broken. Recommend ordering factory replacements for positive and negative terminals.
- Lubricated the four door checks with white lithium grease
- Lubricated the hood latch with white lithium grease
- Set the dash clock one last time.
- Added a bottle of Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner to the fuel tank and topped off with full tank of fuel.
- Just a few items to go from the original very long list:
- Replace Front drop links and sway bar bushings (already ordered)
- Replace the park brake cables and adjust (already ordered)
- Find generic rubber/plastic floor mats (already ordered)
- Find cargo area mat (already ordered)
- Replace the license plates when the new ones arrive
- Replace the battery terminals
Date: February 22, 2025
Mileage: 290,006 miles
Performed by: Stefano and Aaron
Services Performed: Continuing fixing up the issues found in the initial inspection. Today’s work included:
- Installed the new (used) leather steering wheel.
- Chemical Guys leather cleaned/conditioned
- AMMO lathered the plastic bits
- Torqued back into place.
- Installed the new (used) rear seat release knob. Works great now.
- Cleaned up and installed two headrests (passengers front and rear)
- Vornado’s and vacuumed
- Bissell upholstery cleaned with Oxy clean solution and nylon agitating brush on drill.
- Cleaned up nicely!
- Aimed the new headlight assemblies.
- Set to approx 1″ drop at 25 feet.
- Right side was massively high
- Fixed the rear wing drivers side mounting.
- Discovered a missing bolt, and managed to have one on hand.
- Cleaned the windscreen washer sprayer nozzles
- Only one jet was working per side, two were plugged
- Used a small pick and compressed air to clean them out.
- All three working great now.
- Hand wiped out door jambs/frames to make it all clean like the rest of the car now
- Vacuumed the carpets one last time
- Cleaned the glass, interior and exterior, one last time
- Ceramic coated the front wheel rims to see if it will help minimize the brake dust build up and ease of cleaning.
- Attempting to repair the front bumper cover that is broken away on the passengers side
- Removed battery
- Removed headlights
- Removed bumper cover
- Missing two push fit mounting screws on underside. Could use a 6-pack of them and replace the lot of them.
- Discovered torn off mounting tabs on both drivers and passengers side
- Re-bonded tabs to bumper cover using JB Weld epoxy mix. Hard to align since such small torn off bits. Fingers crossed.
Date: February 19, 2025
Mileage: 289,986 miles
Performed by: Aaron and Fair Auto Repair and Tire
Services Performed: Continuing fixing up the issues found in the initial inspection. Today’s work included:
- Air conditioning system was recharged
- Evacuated and held vacuum 20+ minutes
- Recharged with 0.52kg of R134a refrigerant
- 199psi High side, 29psi low side.
- Blows nice and cold!
- Four wheel Alignment was performed
- Front toe was notably out, not unexpected with two tie rod ends being changed and no alignment.
- Drives nice and straight now!
- Cleaned the sun visors and grab handles using 409 and elbow grease.
- Set the dash clock
Date: February 16, 2025
Mileage: 289,950 miles
Performed by: Stefano and Aaron
Services Performed: Continuing fixing up the issues found in the initial inspection. Today’s work included:
- Purchased and installed a new right side steering gator and tie rod end. Napa house brand.
- Installed the new A/C system
- New Compressor
- Added 4.0 ounces of PAG oil to compressor body
- Tightened the drive belt to spec
- New Expansion Valve
- New Condenser/Drier
- Discovered some previous person had incorrectly installed the radiator and it wasn’t in its lower mounts. Engine side fins looked beat as well. Someone had been in the area battling before.
- Added about 0.25 ounces of PAG oil to the condenser just as we connected the pressure pipes
- New O-Rings at all joints/connections
- New Schrader Valves
- Now the system is assembled, it will need to be taken to a professional show to be vacuum tested and then properly recharged with refrigerant. Fingers crossed.
- New Compressor
- Torqued all wheel nuts to 88 ft-lbs
- Lubricated the key exterior key lock cylinders (drivers door and hatch) with 3-in-1 ‘Lock Lube’.
- Took for a test drive. Car is coming back to life amazingly well.
- Still to go:
- Replace Steering wheel (already ordered)
- Replace RR seat release knob (already ordered)
- Replace Front drop links and sway bar bushings (already ordered)
- Four wheel alignment
- A/C system recharge
- Replace the park brake cables and adjust (already ordered)
- Aim the new headlights
- Upholstery clean the two additional headrests that have been discovered, then install
- Clean the dirt off the sun visors and grab handles. 409 ought to do it.
- Vacuum the interior one last time
- Clean the interior glass and mirrors one last time
- Find generic rubber/plastic floor mats for front and cargo area
- Maybe diagnose the doors randomly autolocking issue.
- Try and repair the front bumper cover attachment
- Check the tire pressures and spare.
- Replace the license plates when the new ones arrive
- Set the dash clock
Date: February 15, 2025
Mileage: 289,945 miles
Performed by: Stefano and Aaron
Services Performed: Continuing fixing up the issues found in the initial inspection. Today’s work included:
- Purchased new RR and LR door moldings from KiaPartsNow.com and installed. Looks much better now.
- Re-installed license plates using new matching screws front and rear
- Purchased and installed new LF and RF headlight assemblies from Amazon.
- What an amazing improvement
- Purchased and installed new Sylvania Silverstar Ultra Bright 9003 H4 headlight bulbs into brand new headlight assemblies (removed the cheap stock H4 bulbs that came with the assemblies)
- De-badged the ‘5’ and ‘SX’ from the rear hatch and removed glue residue The Spectre was already missing, so went for the full de-badged look.
- Exterior Detail (and transformation) Day!
- Snow Foam and Pressure Wash.
- Probably the first thorough hand wash in many years that got into all the nooks and crannies
- Pressure washed the wheel wells/liners as best as we could
- Used Meguiars Wheel cleaner solution and scrub brushes to clean the brake fluid stains off the rims. With a bunch of effort and multiple applications it finally came off.
- Clay bar with Clay Luber
- Machine polish with Chemical Guys 34/36 and orange/white cutting pads
- Alcohol wipe down
- Avalon King Max Ceramic Coat paint and plastic trims and moldings
- Dressed the tires and the front and rear diffuser plastic with Adams Graphite solution
- Snow Foam and Pressure Wash.
Date: February 14, 2025
Mileage: 289,940 miles
Performed by: Stefano
Services Performed: Continuing fixing up the issues found in the initial inspection. Today’s work included:
- Took the car to America’s Tire Company and
- Had four new Roadhugger GTP AS/02 tires installed
- Installed the Stefano supplied TPMS sensors
- Balanced all four tires
- No more tire imbalance at freeway speeds!
- No more TPMS warning light on dash!
Date: February 13, 2025
Mileage: 289,935 miles
Performed by: Stefano
Services Performed: Continuing fixing up the issues found in the initial inspection. Today’s work included:
- Safelite Autoglass mobile service came and replaced the front windscreen. Looks so much better!
- Purchased and installed new Bosch Icon wiper blades
- Drivers windscreen – Bosch Icon 24A
- Passenger windscreen – Bosch Icon 16A
- Rear Window – Bosch H352
- Purchased and programmed four new Autel MX TPMS Sensors
- Metal stems
- Connected with Autel TS501 to OBDII port and read existing sensor codes and positions
- Programmed four new sensors and labelled LF, RF, etc.
- LF code 8C175916
- RF code 8C0E1542
- RR code 8C10C531
- LR code 8C1758FB
Date: February 12, 2025
Mileage: 289,930 miles
Performed by: Stefano
Services Performed: Continuing fixing up the issues found in the initial inspection. Today’s work included:
- Went to 1-800-Radiator and got an A/C hero kit
- New compressor
- New condenser and drier
- New expansion valve
- New Schrader valves
- New O-rings
- PAG oil
- Signed up for a http://www.KiaTechInfo.com 72-hour online account and downloaded the various official PDF manuals to get the specs and procedures.
Date: February 11, 2025
Mileage: 289,917 miles
Performed by: Stefano
Services Performed: Continuing fixing up the issues found in the initial inspection. Today’s work included:
- Took car to Natomas Automotive for A/C diagosis
- Removed 0.4 lbs of refrigerant (low, but at least holding a vacuum)
- Recharged system with 1.x lbs of refrigerant per factory spec
- xxxx pressures determined
- Recommended
- Complete system replacement
- New compressor
- New condensor/drier
- Seals and valves
- Stefano declined their $2k quote to do the work
Date: February 9, 2025 (Superbowl Sunday)
Mileage: 289,917 miles
Performed by: Stefano and Aaron
Services Performed: Continuing fixing up the issues found in the initial inspection. Today’s work included:
- Continuing interior detail
- Bissell upholstery cleaning of the seats and door card fabric sections
- Massive task
- Used Bissell OXY clean solution along with nylon agitator brush on drill.
- Vacuum and Vornado work continued
- Scrubbing out of the center console cup holders, nooks and crannies
- Wet Microfiber cleaning out door sills
- More use of AMMO lather and vornado wipe down
- Interior and exterior glass cleaning
- Bissell upholstery cleaning of the seats and door card fabric sections
- Replaced cabin air filter with Autozone house brand
- Put battery on Odessey charger. Was about 40% capacity at start
- Replaced key fob battery with Energizer CR2032 battery
- Looking even better with another 10 hours of work! Habitable now.
Date: February 8, 2025
Mileage: 289,917 miles
Performed by: Stefano and Aaron
Services Performed: Time to start fixing up the issues found in the initial inspection. Today’s work included:
- Changed engine oil and filter with Mobil1 5W-30 and Mobil1 oil filter
- Changed engine air filter with Autozone STP brand
- Cleaned engine MAF using CRC MAF cleaning spray
- Cleaned engine throttle body with CRC throttle body cleaner
- Changed power steering fluid using Valvoline Multivehicle Red ATF fluid.
- Sucked out old fluid (brown – yuk)
- Filled with new, then ran for a few minutes turning steering back and forth. Sucked out, refilled. Repeated this twice.
- Changed engine coolant.
- Drained, was mostly water with some green coolant. About 4 liters drains.
- Vacuum filled with fresh water, started car and run to temp with HVAC on max heat. Drained again. Repeated twice.
- Final vacuum filled with Xerex Asian car formula 50/50 mix.
- Sucked out fluid and muck in the overflow tank, and then filled to Max cold line with fresh coolant
- Changed transmission fluid and filter
- Napa house brand filter and transmission pan gasket
- Valvoline Multivehicle Red ATF fluid (about 4 liters)
- Cured the scary deep engine knocking noise. Turned out to be a loose lower rear mounting bolt on the Alternator bracket. A few turns of the 12mm bolt and noise was gone and engine was running nice and quiet. Whew!
- Changed front brake pads and rotors
- Napa house brand pads and rotor
- Right front caliper piston was difficult to press back into caliper
- Flushed brake fluid using Prestone DOT3
- Sucked old fluid out of master cylinder
- Bled all four corners
- Begin Interior Detail
- Took photos and videos of ‘before’ condition
- Emptied contents from car
- Removed front and rear seats
- Vacuumed and Vornado’d all surfaces
- Wiped all plastic surfaces with wet microfiber to take off surface layer of dirt
- Bissell carpet cleaning along with bristle brush on drill agitator
- AMMO NYC lather (w/detail brush) dash, door panels, center console, sills, everything plastic
- Amazing interior transformation so far for the 10+ hours of effort
Date: February 8, 2025
Mileage: 289,917 miles
Performed by: Stefano and Aaron
Services Performed: Initial inspection of the vehicles condition. Here’s what is notable in the first look:
- Inspected Powertrain
- For 289K miles, amazing that there are no notable engine oil leaks!
- Deep scary knocking noise coming from front of engine block area. Oh no.
- Inspection revealed that it’s not from the head or block, but rather the alternator body. Pressing on rear of alternator body stops the noise.
- Dipstick says engine oil is 1 quart BELOW low. So, only 2 quarts out of 4 probably in the engine.
- A bit of a weep at both transmission half shaft seals
- Belts OK
- Battery
- Replacement date is Aug 2023 (only 18 months old). Napa gold battery.
- Battery terminals showing some corrosion.
- Quiescent draw is ~60 milliamps
- Battery charger shows the battery at ~40% charge after just 2 days of sitting. Not great.
- Plastic trim cover near front of battery present, but was snapped off and just sitting there (all three mounting tabs cracked off). Repair of this would require replacing a large front plastic trim, plus the trim itself, and its mounting bolts. Not sure its worth it.
- Coolant looks like mostly water with a bit of green coolant in it. Unknown age.
- Air conditioning not working.
- Clutch engaging
- Low pressure port shows 70+ psi (too high)
- Just blows ambient air temp
- Inspected Exhaust – OK
- Metal flex webbing on pipe under engine shows a small wear from impact damage
- Rear exhaust tip could use a proper polish
- Inspected Suspension
- Front
- Drop link dust boots cracked – recommend replace
- Sway bar bushing showing signs of wear, soft. Recommend replace.
- Lower control arm rear bushing showing signs of tearing. Recommend replacement soon.
- All the rest was OK.
- Rear
- Trailing bar links getting soft – recommend replacement soon.
- All the rest was OK.
- Steering
- Right side steering rack gator torn. Recommend replacement along with RF outer tie rod end.
- Front
- Inspected Brakes – Grinding noise heard at front
- Pads
- Front Left – <1mm
- Front Right – 0mm (metal on metal)
- Rears – OK (about 50%)
- Recommend immediate replacement of Front pads
- Rotors
- Recommend replacing damaged front rotors
- Rears are OK.
- Parking Brake
- Handle pulls to top with no drag
- Inspected – Removed center console and discovered the LR brake cable is snapped off at head. No emergency brakes at this point.
- Recommend replacing both emergency brake cables and then adjusting.
- Brake Fluid reservoir is full, but looks a bit yellowed. Recommend brake fluid flush with DOT3.
- Pads
- Inspected Tires and wheels
- Three different brands of tires on the vehicle.
- Fronts were ~40% remaining America’s Tire Company Roadhugger GTP AS/02 205/50 R16 87V
- Left Rear was a generic brand, nearly new. Mismatched to right rear.
- Right Rear was completely worn
- Space saver spare has been used, but OK to live on.
- TPMS light on dash. Used Autel scanner to learn the RR sensor is dead.
- Wheels are OK, although there is deep brake fluid staining on LF and RF rims from various brake line bursts in previous years.
- Recommend four new matching tires, four new TPMS sensors, and tire balance and alignment.
- Three different brands of tires on the vehicle.
- Inspected Exterior Lighting
- Headlights deeply yellowed and now cracking. Recommend replacement.
- Front fog light lenses deeply pitted and faded. Recommend polishing since not used by owner.
- All the rest of the interior and exterior lighting is OK.
- Inspected Exterior
- Inspected windshield. Massive cracking. Recommend replacement.
- Inspected wipers
- Front wiper blades aged and smearing
- Rear wiper blade entirely missing
- Washer system working fine
- Recommend replacing both front wipers and rear wiper
- Right front bumper cover pulled away from fender arch. Seems to have been damaged.
- Left mounting of rear spoiler/wing loose. Seems like mounted with tape and its let go.
- Rear ‘Spectra’ badge missing
- License plated peeling paint, dented. Recommend replacement.
- License plate screws mismatched
- Exterior Paint
- Deeply faded and in need of attention.
- Clear coat burnt through on roof. California sun and drive through car washes grinding it off.
- Front and rear bumper covers many, many pits and scuffs. Rear bumper cover top edge has failing clear and sun burnt paint.
- Recommend full exterior detail
- RR exterior door moulding broken off. Recommend repalcement.
- LR exterior door moulding clips broken off similar to RR, but not entirely yet. Recommend replacement.
- Inspected Interior
- Very, very dirty. Dirtiest car Stefano has ever been in. Dirt in vents, stains in seats, carpets stained and dirt ground in.
- Passenger side and rear seat head rests missing
- Steering wheel deeply worn through leather in many spots. Recommend replacement.
- Doors are randomly locking. Recommend key fob battery replacement and further diagnosis.
- Some form of ODBII gizmo connected. Purpose unknown, but its adding to the quiescent drain.
- Right rear fold down seat release knob sheared off. Unable to fold seat. Recommend replacement.
- Cargo area, door pockets, bins, all full of things.
- Registration and insurance slips in glove box are expired in 2024
- Cabin filter dirty. Recommend replacement.
- Recommend full interior detailing. This will be an epic challenge.
- Recommendations:
- Pressure wash the engine bay
- Engine oil and filter change
- Transmission fluid and filter change
- Power steering fluid change
- Engine coolant flush
- Check alternator mounting bolts
- Fill washer fluid reservoir and aim washer jets
- Clean MAF sensor and throttle body
- Replace engine air filter
- Have the A/C system professionally diagnosed, then plan repairs.
- Replace the front brake pads and rotors
- Flush the brakes fluid
- Replace both park brake cables and adjust
- Replace the right side steering gator and outer tie rod end
- Replace the front drop links and sway bar bushes
- Replace all four tires
- Replace all four TPMS sensors
- Have all four tires balanced
- Four wheel alignment
- Replace the headlights with entire new units and augment with super bright bulbs.
- Aim the headlights.
- Replace the battery terminals, fully charge battery, and load test the main battery to make sure still at 100% performance
- Replace screws for the license plates and remount
- Change the batteries in key fob so we know they are fresh
- Replace RR and LR damaged exterior door moldings
- Replace the damaged RR seat latch release
- Replace the steering wheel
- Replace the windshield
- Replace al the wiper blades
- Replace the cabin air filter
- Set the dash clock
- Install new floor mats and cargo mat
- Find the missing head rests and install
- De-badge the rear hatch
- Fix the RF bumper cover attachment
- Replace insurance slip and vehicle registration slip with new, current ones.
- Full mega detail including:
- Exterior
- Snow Foam and Pressure Wash
- Clay bar with Clay Luber
- Machine polish with Chemical Guys 34/36 and orange/white cutting pads
- Alcohol wipe down
- Ceramic Coat paint and plastics
- Dress the tires with Adams Graphite
- Polish the exhaust tip
- Clean the glass
- Interior
- Remove all the stuff
- Pressure wash the rear cargo cover
- Remove the front and rear seats
- Vacuum and Vornado of the carpets
- Bissell carpet cleaning of seats and carpets
- AMMO Lather and wipe down of all interior panels
- Ceramic coat the plastic surfaces
- Clean the glass, mirrors and binnacle windows
- Exterior
Date: December 12, 2024
Mileage: 42,602 miles
Performed by: Concord Mazda in Concord, CA
Services Performed: Previous owner took car in for annual service. Carfax reports:
- Performed 45K mile service
- Maintenance Inspection completed
- Changed engine oil
- Changed Oil Filter
- Tire condition and pressure checked
- Tires rotated
- Drive belts checked
- Reset oil life monitor
Stefano's Garage 