2007 Santa Fe - Multiple electrical problems

My wife has a 2007 Santa Fe that we bought when it was one year old.
If we had bought this new, I believe it would qualify for the Lemon
Law.

The temp gauge on the in-dash A/C control is way off. Someone pointed
out a fix for that on this site: http://atwww.hmaservice.com/

The passenger airbag light is on all the time. We were told that
would cost $300 to fix. From what I've read, it's a hit-or-miss
proposition, in getting it fixed. In other words, what they try on
the first fix, might not do it.

And now the car security alarm goes off for no reason.

That's why I'm writing here today; is there some way to disable that
permanently?

What she has found is, if she locks the door or doors, with the manual
lock before getting out, it does not go off. But, if she pushed the
electronic button, on the panel that also controls the windows, the
vehicle alarm will at some point go off by itself within the next few
hours.
I had an experience with it one day where I had her car, without the
key fob, and when I tried to unlock the door with my key, it went
off. I had to get in, start the car, and then turn it off. Or it
would do weird things like, go off again right after I turned the car
off. I'd try different things; shut/open the door... put the car in
neutral. Different things would work, sometime, but it just took
about 15 minutes of messing with it before it finally staid off, that
day.

This thing is a piece of junk! But that's another story. I'm just
hoping there's someway to disable the security alarm on it. Thanks.

 

I'd just not push that button.

OTOH, I never lock my doors anyway. It is an invitation for damage and does
nothing to deter a real car thief.

 

Gee, it's realyl unfortunate that you are having such difficulties
with your2007 Santa Fe. I have two '07 SF's and I know of two others
with the same and we all are extremely satisfied with the quality and
performance of this vehicle.

Even if you purchased it used, shouldn't the warranty be
transferrable? And you must still be within the warranty period. If
so why don't you bring it into a dealer and complain about your
issues. Even if its beyond the warranty period I'd bring it in and
explain your dissatisfaction with the service mgr. Hyundai still
would like satisfied owners and mybe they would be willing to work
something out? Also, locate your area's factory rep and share your
story. If you don't ask the answer is already NO!

I hope you get this resolved because you are missing out on a great
overall vehicle.

Good luck.

 

Have someone check the grounds in the car, Usually when multiple items turn
up you should look for something that is common to all of them and that
would be a poor ground !

Striker

 

I've wondered about the ground also. We have had to replace headlight
bulbs 3 times now. And I used that goop that's supposed to insulate
the connection from moisture. Still blew a bulb about 6 months later.

 

I think the warranty was good for 60,000 miles. Which she went over a
few months ago. The list of things that were replaced before the
warranty ran out is shocking:
- both front struts (rattling sound)
- sub frame (under engine)
- automatic transmission
- rear-hatch latch mechanism
Some other front-end parts that I don't remember the name of, that
were related to a rattling noise. I've crawled under the front end,
almost everything under there is brand new.

I'll take your suggestion. I'm going to document everything that has
been done to it and, everything that needs to be done. And bring it
into the dealer. Thanks.

 

So just leave it unlocked? Thanks but I'll pass on that suggestion.
The insurance company might have an issue with that.

 

Your choice. I've not locked a car in decades. Twice I've had someone enter
my car. Once they took a quart of oil left in the back seat, the second
time they just left some of the stuff from the glove box on the floor.
Total losses: $1. Not bad over 48 years of car ownership.

Cars parked in front and back of me had broken windows, scratched door
jambs, a convertible top was slashed for a pair of cheap sunglasses. A
friend had her locked and alarmed Bonneville stolen while parked 25 feet
from her business in broad daylight. My way seems to be working better than
your way.

 

I understand your point about the damage. How will your insurance
company feel about "your way", when your car is stolen, because it was
not locked?

 

I understand your point about the damage. How will your insurance
company feel about "your way", when your car is stolen, because it was
not locked?

*********************************************
How will they know? It would be covered anyway. Nothing in the policy says
the car must be locked. Locking the doors keeps the 10 years olds out, but
by 12, the ones that want to steal you car will know how, even with the
alarm set.

 

This reminds me of my father-in-law. We went to the local K-Mart in
his car. We got out and I noticed he left the keys in the ignition. I
told him he should get his keys. He replied, "what if someone needs to
move it?" Of course, he's from farmland and I'm a city boy. But the
problem is we were IN the city. I went back to the car and took the
keys out myself. : )

 

I do know a few people that do that at time too. At home in a rural area,
maybe, but never in the city. One other benefit of my method, you never
lock your keys in the car.

 

Question is why the grounds went bad. I can think of two reasons maybe
three reasons. One, a bad crash and not well done repair.
Second:Immersion in water(which was what first occured to me).
Third, exposure to salty air(but, there would be other visible cues
for this one(still possible)).
But, yeah, check the grounds for corrosion, especially, at the battery
posts. You may also have some broken grounds in the dash itself. Rats
can and do eat on wiring.

 

Apparently this problem with the alarm, and the airbag issue, is very
common:
http://www.hyundai-forums.com/t25854-2007-alarm-problems.htm

Poor design, followed by poor service at the dealers. My wife called
the local Hyundai dealer yesterday when the alarm went off in the
parking lot at work, they said it was a quick fix, and would only cost
$10. They came out, said it turns out it isn't a quick fix, did
nothing, and said she "could bring it in, and for $98 they would look
at it", and then tell us how much it will really cost to fix it. I'm
not impressed with Hyundai vehicles, or the dealerships.

 

I stopped driving Buicks after my local dealer charge me $70 to tell me it
would cost $675 to rep lace what should be, IMO, a $15 part. and the car had
a year to go on the calendar warranty, but I was 3000 miles over the 36k
allowed. That got me to the Hyundai dealer and both Sonatas have been
perfect so far.

I'm assuming you are now out of warranty. I realize the dealer has to make
a profit, but they may lose you as a customer rather than make even more
money on the next car you buy from them. Seems like some would rather risk
pissing off the customer.

If you can show it is a "know problem" perhaps you can go to the district
manager for help.

 

The issue with the alarm is likely to be a problem with the hood
switch, or one of the door switches. It's pretty simple to check
this. Roll down all your windows, shut the hood, and lock the vehicle
with the remote. Go around to each door and grasp it at the window
sill and pull outward. Similarly, grab the front edge of the hood and
lift slightly. If any of these causes the alarm to sound, it's likely
the switch in question is causing the alarm to sound. In the case of
the door switches, it's likely an issue with the adjustment of the
door or a dimple in the metal of the door contacted by the switch
plunger. In the case of the hood, it may be a faulty switch in the
hood latch assembly. You can bypass the hood switch simply by
unplugging it. Of course, if it indeed isn't simply, you can do as
has already been suggested and simply lock the door manually. The
alarm is integral into the Body Control Module and cannot be
deactivated.

The issue with your air bag lamp could be any problem with the air bag
system. I can recall no instances on '07 and newer Santa Fes where
the same air bag issue continually reoccurred.

 

I'm answering this for the 2nd time - hope it takes this time.
I had read about the hood latch sensor after my first post. Tried
that, worked great - for 2 days. Strange. But not surprising, for
this vehicle. I mentioned to my wife the suggestion about locking the
doors manually and tugging on each door to see it if would set off the
alarm. She said the Hyundai dealership had tried that. Didn't go
off.
The problem with locking all doors manually; the rear hatch can't be
locked manually. Not good, especially this time of year, with
Christmas gifts in there.
Your description of the air bag issue sounds very similar to the alarm
problem, in that there's no consistent fix. It could be many things.
In our case it "was" the hood latch, but it is not the doors. The one
thing I do know; we will never buy another Hyundai. My wife is
disgusted with this thing. I know every brand has lemons. But as far
as she's concerned, Hyundai makes the worst vehicles on the planet.

 

I'll swap you my Buick for it. I got tired of the problems with Buicks and
switched to Hyundai. On my second one and I'm very happy with zero problems
so far.

 

I wouldn't do that to my worst enemy.

 

I think the warranty was good for 60,000 miles. Which she went over a
few months ago. The list of things that were replaced before the
warranty ran out is shocking:
- both front struts (rattling sound)
- sub frame (under engine)
- automatic transmission
- rear-hatch latch mechanism
Some other front-end parts that I don't remember the name of, that
were related to a rattling noise. I've crawled under the front end,
almost everything under there is brand new.

I'll take your suggestion. I'm going to document everything that has
been done to it and, everything that needs to be done. And bring it
into the dealer. Thanks.[/QUOTE]



The manufacturer warranty is 100,000 miles