Sonata Trip Computer

My wife just bought a 2007 Sonata, and we are both quite pleased with
it. One thing we miss, though, is the trip computer we had on the 2004
Elantra we just traded in.

Since the owner's manual shows both types of Odometer (one with two
trip meters, and one with a trip computer), and since the Trip
Computer looks like an option ("if installed"), I asked today at the
dealership, how much it would cost to install the trip computer.

The sales guys had no idea, and sent me to the parts department. They
had no idea, and sent me to the service department. They had no idea,
and I had to actually take both the sales guy and the service guy out
to the car to show them that it was not installed.

Anyone have any idea what's involved with the "installation". I would
assume (dangerous, I know) that it would be something like a
programmable option (change of microcode perhaps?), or a plug-in
module, or a jumper on a module, or perhaps a replacement module.

The reaction at the dealership leads me to believe that either the
option should have been there, or that the question was never asked
before I asked it.

 

I doubt it was ever asked before. The trip computer is definitely
optional-- some vehicles have it and some don't. At the very least, you'd
need to replace your cluster. Not sure what else it would need to talk to
and the compatibility. Attempting to do this could turn into a money pit
very quickly.

 

Thanks. Once I realized the cluster might need replacing, I figured it
would be more money than I wanted to spend. Too bad, as I really liked
the trip computer, especially the "distance to empty".

 

That is one feature I never use, but I do miss having two trips meters. If
I set one at the start of a tank, I know that at 350 miles or so I'm going
to need gas. Once in a while I use the elapsed time on a long trip. The MPG
is pretty accurate and I do use that.

 

If you had ever done any extensive driving in Saskatchewan, you'd like
the "distance to empty" a lot more. There are some routes that I have
taken that would need maybe 3/4 of a tank to complete. It's nice to
see at a glance, when it's time to make a little detour to a town with
services.

 

I hope to do some driving is Saskatchewan, maybe next year. I want to head
north out of Saskatoon a bit. I've not done a lot of research yet, but I
imagine services are of some distance between them

Of any car I've ever owned, the Sonata gas gauge is probably the most
accurate. When it reads half, or quarter, etc, it really is just that.
I've had cars that would go 250 miles and the needle barely moved, then in
the next 25 miles it drops to a quarter tank.

With two trips meters, I'd always set one when I filled up. At 300 to 330
miles I'd be looking to fill up. Gone are the days when it was no big deal
to run out, then put in $2 worth for the rest of the week.

 

It's nice country up that way. The main highways, even the gravel
ones, usually have pretty good services, and not too far apart. It's
driving on the grid roads away from the highways, that will bite you.

I guess I'll try to do that, and mention it to my wife.

One thing I notice about the Sonata is that it behaves very well on
gravel washboard, usually encountered near a junction, where you need
to brake. The Elantra (and my F-150) really pounded on it, the wheels
jumping up and down with a great deal of noise. The Sonata is very
smooth.. hardly any jumping at all. I'm guessing it has different
suspension.