Kia Sportage Clutch Fitment Guide

---

12 Aug 2025

Category:

When installing a new clutch kit to the Kia Sportage CRDI (1.7, 2010-2015), you may come across an actuation issue. If a new clutch kit has been installed and disengagement problems are occurring, the clutch dampener component located between the master cylinder and slave cylinder could be the cause. This is a damper fault rather than a clutch kit fault.

To ensure correct function of the clutch kit, we recommend the following.

Clutch Damper Diagnosis

1. If after correctly bleeding the system, gear selection is difficult or not able to be achieved, the clutch damper could be at fault.
2. If gear selection is possible after manually levering the release fork, this means that the clutch damper is not providing the necessary
   amount of fluid to the slave cylinder. The sealing mechanism in the clutch damper is either not sealing, and/or the rubber damper is compressing when it shouldn’t be.
3. To confirm this is the case, bypass the clutch damper by using a suitable joiner tube from master cylinder directly to the slave cylinder.
   Then depress the clutch pedal to see if gear selection performance is sufficient.
4. If release is now satisfactory, it is recommended that the clutch damper as a whole unit be replaced.

Note: It is not recommended to permanently bypass the malfunctioning clutch damper. The clutch damper should always be used in the fluid system of this vehicle application.

Solution

Always check the vehicle’s fluid damper as described above and, if required, replace it when replacing the clutch kit to ensure correct function of the clutch.

---

Drive Your Clutch Know How

Do you have further queries? For in-person support, book a TechMate visit today! Contact the team on 01174 288090. All other technical support is available via our expert NAPA Technical Team on 03333 136597 or email [email protected].

Download PDF Guide