Sonata reliability?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brian Nystrom
  • Start date Start date
The message <[email protected]>
from Brian Nystrom said:
Based on my experience with them, you should be able to get them to
cover at least 75% of the repair cost, but with the mileage on your
vehicle, there's no reason that they shouldn't cover it 100%. You have a
very reasonable argument that the belt was failing before the end of the
warranty period, since they don't just suddenly fail, they break down
over time. It's also unusual for timing belts to fail at 60K miles, so a
defective part was most likely the cause. No car manufacturer would
recommend a 60K service interval if the part was actually expected to
fail at 60K miles. They're always going to leave themselves a cushion in
order to try to avoid situations like yours.
When I replaced the timing belt in my Excel at 64K, the old one was
nearly indistinguishable from the new one. The replacement has been in
the car for 100K miles. I don't think I'll do that with my Elantra,
since the belt is longer and travels a more circuitous path - like the
one in your Sonata - which probably accellerates the wear on it.


Also - are you telling me that a Hyundai Speedo/ODO is accurate to
within 1 percent ?

even at that 60,000 has a 600mile 'swing'

We have very good Solicitors in the UK who would adore handling that one
on a no win no fee basis.
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I never thought about a +/- on an
odometer. Is there a way to find out more about that?

The latest is that they are still making a decision about whether to make
a "Good will" effort at fixing this. At least according to their
operations manager, they will reimburse me for a car rental for the next 3
days over the weekend while they make their decision. I've been maintaining
a calm, professional demeanor with them, but one thing I did do was to send
an email to Frank Ferrara, Hyundai's VP of parts and service. Hopefully
since it wasn't returned as unable to send, I figured out what his correct
email address was.

Guess I'll have to wait until Monday. Thanks agin for all your support and
suggestions.
 
My figures was in US miles. I did not change the belt on schedule, instead I
had that timing belt changed around 96,000 miles (155,000km??? estimated
translation).

Either way you measure it, it was a gamble where I got away with delaying
the price of getting maintenance done.

Ron in Florida
2001 Hyundai Sonata V6 GLS. All Options except anti-lck brakes and auto
climate control.
 
My figures was in US miles. I did not change the belt on schedule, instead I
had that timing belt changed around 96,000 miles (155,000km??? estimated
translation).

Either way you measure it, it was a gamble where I got away with delaying
the price of getting maintenance done.

I'm sure glad you didn't wait till it was Swedish miles, golly you
Yanks are gamblers.
The price of maintenance? versus what? the price of non maintenance?
i sure hope you at least change the oil occasionally.
Ron in Florida
2001 Hyundai Sonata V6 GLS. All Options except anti-lck brakes and auto
climate control.

For a very plain website try
http://ii.net/~farmerjim/
 
Hey, I can't understand why one doesn't just buy the extended service contract,
because, for example, if/when that damne air conditioner "blows (fails),"
it'll cost ya beaucoup la bucks more than the approx $800 extended service
contract

I suppose if one's mileage is mostly on the highways--several hunderd miles a
day, and that's perhaps compensated by one's company--then to heck with all the
garbage & trouble maintenance service shite

Nobody likes to take a car into the shop for that $200 or $600 scheduled
service, but for me it beats the inevitable (or random) expense of the
alternative, and i've had several different brands of the machines to know how
the sop/ripoff works

VW's questionable quality requires ye protect yerself with an extended service
contract, as one oughta do with any brand of machine, but I recall mucho
repairs on the three VWs we've had over the years, and two of 'em were
thankfully covered

Each to his own, of course
 
Graham said:
Also - are you telling me that a Hyundai Speedo/ODO is accurate to
within 1 percent ?

even at that 60,000 has a 600mile 'swing'

Excellent point!
 
Robert said:
Hey, I can't understand why one doesn't just buy the extended service contract,
because, for example, if/when that damne air conditioner "blows (fails),"
it'll cost ya beaucoup la bucks more than the approx $800 extended service
contract

Because the likelihood of needing to use it is very low. If everyone was
going to need it, do you think you'd be able to buy it for $800?
Insurance companies aren't stupid. The dealer is getting a cut on this,
too. It's a rip-off for the average car buyer. It's an even bigger
rip-off for DIY types.
 
Brian said:
Thanks, that's the kind of info I was looking for.

OK, I'll give you 2 examples:
here's one for the Sirius-II engine:
===========================================================
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe GL

Engine: 2.4 L / 4 cyl / Gas / DOHC
Fuel: Fuel Injection
Ignition: Distributorless
Trans: 5-speed Standard Transaxle
Mileage: 74,083 mi
VIN: KM8SB12B62
More Info: Test results & repair history included below

_____________________ CLOSED W/SUMMARY _____________________

This one is headed back to the dealer.
One response suggested loosening motor mounts lifting engine
slightlyand retightening.
Also checking IAC and throttle bdy forcarbon buildup.
Overwhelming responses said dealer did not time balance shafts
correctly when they replaced timing belt.
There is an updated cover available to help keeptiming belt from
jumping.
The procedure for timing balancer belt is available at
www.hmaservice.com
Thanks for your imput.

_____________________ ORIGINAL MESSAGE _____________________

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this request.
This vehicle has excessive engine vibration. Car doesn't
have to be moving or be in gear. Initial start up it seems
ok. Once engine settles down to idle speed, vibration felt
throughout car.This is not a miss.Ran engine without drive
belts-no change.Replaced balancer with new oem. Seems
slightly worse with ac on. Evacuated ac and recharged with
correct amount of freon. Pressures appear normal withe the
exception of high side going to 250 before electric fan
kicks on.This feels like a mismatch between crank and
flywheel, an out of balance condition.Has anyone seen this?
The dealer couldn't figure out what was going on.

Xxxx Xxxxxx
Technician
X xxx X Xxxx Xxxx
Portland, Oregon, USA



___________________ TEST AND REPAIR DATA ___________________

TESTING AND RESULTS

compression check - good
motor mounts - good

RELATED REPAIR HISTORY

New harmonic balancer. Broken timing belt replaced at
62,000 miles, bent valves replaced at that time by dealer
__________________________________________________________________
From: Xxxx from Wisconsin
Date: 10/19/2004 19:38:52
The balance shafts are likely mistimed. This should have
been obvious to 'the dealer', but I guess you never know.

From: Xxx from Australia
Date: 10/20/2004 00:17:53
Hi Xxxxx, this sounds to me that when the timing belt broke maybe the
balance shaft belt was not timed right when it was replaced. The
balance shaft belt fits in behind the main belt.

From: Xxxxxxx from California (Northern)
Date: 10/20/2004 00:22:05

Hi Xxxx-
Look for a jumped timing belt, or the front balancer shaft is not in
time.
There is a new upper cover for the timing belt. Look for a small
"lump" inside the upper timing belt cover; it's there to help keep the
belt from skipping teeth. The rear balancer is driven by a small belt,
similar to a 2.2L Honda. The rear shaft is easily timed, nothing more
than lining up the two marks. The front shaft needs to be correctly
set.
With the mark lined up, turn the shaft slightly. If it turns back to
the mark from either direction, the shaft is correct. If it turns away
from the marks, the balance needs to be turned one revolution, then
reinstall the boot. Look at www.hmaservice.com for the TSB that
describes this procedure.

From: Xxxxxxxx from Texas
Date: 10/20/2004 09:52:00
if the motor mounts are good i would loosen them and raise
the engien slightly up and tighten them up again to see if
that helps. also check the throttle body for being dirty
and iac operation and to make sure it dosnt have any carbon
build up.

==================================================================

One case for the Sirius engine:

1994 Hyundai Elantra

Engine: 1.8 L / 4 cyl / Gas / DOHC
Fuel: Fuel Injection
Ignition: Distributorless
Trans: 5-speed Standard Transaxle
Mileage: 91,138 mi
VIN: KMHJF32M9R

Misc Data: 4dr GLS
Affected Item: engine
Condition: vibration
More Info: Repair history included below

_______________________ CLOSED W/FIX _______________________

I would like to thank all who responded. The rear balance
shaft was indeed 180 degrees out.
Seems the tech spun the oil pump/balance shaft pulley around with the
timing belt off for some reason.
Set the rear balance shaft by removing plug and installing screwdriver.

Ran car without timing cover due to it being broken on the last removal
and vibration is gone.
Sorry for the delay in closing.
Seems the young owner of this car did not have money for the
repairs so I now own it and had other pressing projects.

_____________________ ORIGINAL MESSAGE _____________________

This car came with what appeared to be an exhaust
leak.Found the head gasket had burnt through the fire ring
on #1 cylinder and was leaking externally. Replaced head
gasket had cyl. head gone through.After completing repairs
took car out for a test drive and it ran great until it was
wound up a bit. A vibration starts at about 3100rpm and
gets worse with an increase in rpm.The timing belt was set
according to a timing belt manual (Autodata I
believe).Pulled every thing back down and double checked
the timing marks all was as set before right on the
marks.
Customer informs me the car had been at the dealers a
month ago and had the oil pump either resealed or replaced
and the oil pan gasket replaced.
Is it possible to not get the pully back on the rear balance shaft
correctly or is there another way to verify the position of balance
shafts.
I am leaning towards a balance shaft issue as the car did
not vibrate before the repairs.

Xxxx Xxxxxx
Owner/Technician
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Kimball, Nebraska, USA

___________________ TEST AND REPAIR DATA ___________________

RELATED REPAIR HISTORY

Replaced head gasket due to external combustion leak.
Timing belt, waterpump,idler and tensioner replaced.Valves
ground,seats cut and cyl. head planed.
__________________________________________________________________
 
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