Kia Optima Crankshaft-Pulley

Kia Optima Crankshaft Woes – A Juddering Arrival at Pellon Tyres

Well, here’s another little tale from the workshop floor, that might ring a bell for a few of our readers, especially if you’re driving one of the more modern Kia models. This week, we had a Kia Optima in the garage with, a rather nasty engine judder. The customer, a chap from nearby Mixenden, had started to notice the shaking getting worse over a few days, and it didn’t take long before he decided it needed looking at sharpish.

When he rolled into Pellon Tyre and Autocentre, it was clear, something was badly wrong under the bonnet. The whole engine bay was visibly vibrating like a washing machine on its final spin. You could hear it before he even parked up—that sort of deep mechanical rattle that gets a technician’s ears twitching. We’ve seen it before… and we had our suspicions straight away.

Straight to the Point – Kia Optima Crankshaft-Pulley

Once we got the car into the bay, it didn’t take long for Dale, to spot the culprit. The crankshaft pulley, also known as the harmonic balancer, had failed. These things are often overlooked, but they play a vital role in keeping engine vibrations in check and powering accessories like the alternator and power steering via the auxiliary belt.

In this case, the rubberbonding inside the pulley had started to break down. The outer ring was wobbling badly, throwing the belt off balance and causing that juddering sensation. Left much longer, and it could’ve snapped the belt entirely—and then you’d be looking at a dead alternator, failed power steering, and potentially more serious engine damage.

A quick job with the right tools- Kia Optima Crankshaft-Pulley

We keep a good range of tools and parts in stock, and luckily, we had access to a quality aftermarket crankshaft pulley for this particular Kia. With the help of the air tools and a bit of elbow grease from our lad Alex, we soon had the old one off and the new pulley fitted up.

Once it was back on and the belt re-tensioned, the transformation was instant. The engine ran silky smooth again—no judder, no noise, no fuss. The customer was well chuffed and even popped into the local corner shop to get us a packet of chocolate Hobnobs as a thank-you (which didn’t last long in our brew room, let me tell you).

A Quick Look at the Kia Optima in the UK-Kia Optima Crankshaft-Pulley

The Kia Optima isn’t as common on British roads as its smaller siblings like the Ceed or Sportage, but it’s a smart-looking saloon that’s found a loyal following. Kia first launched the Optima here in the UK around 2012, trying to break into the mid-size executive market—you know, up against the likes of the Ford Mondeo and VW Passat.

It’s a well-equipped car with a bit of a premium feel, offering loads of tech for the money and that famous Kia 7-year warranty that gives buyers a bit of peace of mind. The later plug-in hybrid versions even appealed to the eco-conscious crowd, though they’re still a rare sight around Halifax—we’ve only had a couple through our doors so far.

This particular Optima was a 2014 diesel model—clean, comfy, and built like a tank. But like any motor, it’s not immune to wear and tear, especially once the miles start to stack up. The crankshaft pulley issue is one we’ve seen a few times now, particularly on higher-mileage examples.

A Reminder to Keep an Ear Out-Kia Optima Crankshaft-Pulley

If you’re driving a Kia—or any modern car, really—and start to notice a juddering engine, rattles from the front, or problems with your alternator or power steering, it could well be something like the crankshaft pulley on its way out. It’s always better to catch these things early before they snowball into bigger, more expensive jobs.

Here at Pellon Tyres, we’re always happy to take a look, whether it’s something simple like a battery change or a trickier job like this one. We’re proud to serve drivers from right across Halifax and Calderdale, and we’ve built up a reputation for doing a proper job at fair prices—no smoke and mirrors, just honest work from a garage that cares.

So if your car’s making odd noises or shaking more than usual, don’t leave it to chance—bring it down and we’ll get it sorted.

And thanks again to our Kia Optima customer—hope she’s running smooth now all the way over to Elland and beyond!

Kia Optima CrankShaft Pulley

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