ATTN: Hyundai tech - 2003 Tiburon clutch question

I have a 2003 Tiburon and the clutch is starting to slip.

If I don't downshift when trying to accelerate up a hill in fourth or
fifth as highway speed, for example, I can hear/feel the clutch
slipping. I'm not aware of it at any other time. My base model 4-banger
has about 96,000 miles on it. Is this something that can be adjusted or
is it more serious. I have 100k bumper-to-bumper and -- because of the
truth in advertising horsepower thing -- 120k powertrain coverage. What
to do?

I love the car, btw. We're a three-Hyundai family with a 2002 Elantra
and a 2005 Sonata in addition to the 2003 Tiburon. Great cars, all of
them!

Thanks,

Erik

 

At that mileage, the clutch disk is probably worn out. Clutch wear is
not a warranty item.

 

Thanks. That's pretty much as I expected. I can't complain though...
I've had only three repairs and one tune in those 96k miles. My
original tires lasted 87k and still had miles on them when I replaced
them. Love that car!

 

I'll reply since you've requested, but Brian's pretty much correct here.
If it's simply worn out, it's not covered. Nothing to adjust.

 

A slipping clutch at that mileage could also be due to oil contamination
from a failed rear main seal. This might be covered under warranty.

Matt

 

If you're the original owner, you'd have a shot if the rear main were
leaking, but my experience is that a leaking rear main rarely gets all the
way around to the other side of the flywheel and gets onto the clutch. I
have seen leaking input shaft seals do it.

The thing that really makes me happy is that seal and gasket leakage on
Hyundai is mostly a thing of the past. Back in the day, these things were
leak machines. I'd be afraid of replacing a timing belt without replacing
all the cam, crank, and any other front engine seals for fear that even if
they weren't leaking, they'd likely leak soon and damage the new belt.
Now, I hardly ever replace these seals, and I hardly ever see one leak
under 100k.