Late model Hyundai Sonata owners - opinions please

[Minou]

Originally Posted By: jc1990
I HAVE A 2009 THAT i bought in september its not a bad car i got a 4 cylinder 5 speed car is very slow with the 4 banger also i never had a worse clutch setup in a car before and ive owned manual trannys forever but this one sucks, i will probaly not buy another one


Funny you wrote this about yours. Here is what I wrote to Popinski yesterday in answer to my opinion about my manual transmission:

"Shift quality is OK. Throws are a bit long but engagement is positive. I changed the fluid last year for synthetic and shift action when cold during the cold winter days has improved greatly.

The problem lies with stalling and what I believe engine management. There is no way you can get going without giving gas before you release the clutch one bit. If you don't and the engine is warm, it'll stall everytime revs drop to say below 750-800.

I've been driving manual transmissions for 30 years, this is my 7th manual in a row and the worst and easiest to stall. The slightest uphill start makes things even worse and the electronic throttle is too sensitive at the beginning of its travel. You either have no revs or too much making you look like an amateur learning how to drive a manual.

I definitely won't buy another another one like that. Make sure to go on a good road test with several starts from rest to see for yourself.

Electronic throttle doesn't seem to match well with manual transmissions it seems. My '05 Corolla exhibited a bit of the same symptoms but nowhere near as bad as the Sonata.

And it may well be my last vehicle with a manual. The new A6 transmissions are tempting. Or I'm getting older..."

 

[jc1990]

you are very right those are exactly the problems im having i stall this thing out constantly you either give to much or to little sometimes its downright dangerous and your right i blame that electronic throttle control i gotta say the powertrain on this car is a real dissapointment and like i said ive owned many cars and trucks i had an 89 corrola with over 270000 miles never a clutch issue even my grand am 1600000 miles same clutch to bad though other than that not a bad car but ill never buy one again

 

[jennings]

I had throttle issues with my Subaru GT. Throttle would seem to "hang" and give you more revs than needed. Drop the clutch and you could run right into the car in front of you. Hardest clutch to drive smoothly that I have ever owned and I think most of the problem was engine management throttle curve.

 

[Mr Nice]

Why did manufacturers decided on electronic throttle control instead of the basic cable attached to a throtle body ?

 

[opus1]

I'm a newbie having owned my Sonata for only about 2-1/2 weeks, but so far so good.

The car has about 500 miles on it, and I've averaged 26.1 mpg over 2 fill-ups, one 50/50 suburban/highway and one 100% suburban. I have the 4-cylinder with the 5spd automatic. Haven't used the "shiftronic" feature yet and the only reason I see ever using it is in winter to have the vehicle start in 2nd on bad roads. For the driving I do, the 4-cylinder is plenty powerful, and if I want to burn up some back roads, that's what I'll use the Cobalt SS for.

My only complaint so far is that the center console is a little far back for easy access. But if that's the worst complaint I have in 10 years, I'll be a very happy camper.

 

[opus1]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Why did manufacturers decided on electronic throttle control instead of the basic cable attached to a throtle body ?

My guess is better computer control, aka emissions control.

 

[Minou]

Originally Posted By: Minou
Originally Posted By: Jerryb
I have a 2008 Sonata with 39k miles. No issues except visor falls down and was replaced yesterday under warranty.


My passenger side visor is falling down as well, should get it replaced.

I have an early '08 GL (GLS in the US) with the rare 5 speed manual transmission. My car was assembled at the Alabama plant in March '07 and delivered to me in June '07. I have 43000 Km.

2 issues have been fixed under warranty;

- Rattle coming from the rear window in cooler temperatures when the car was brand new. I searched the net and suggested the dealer that it could be the window not glued properly. After 2 visits and test drives, they came to the conclusion that it was indeed the window.

- The resistor for the fan speed selector quit one -20C morning. It was replaced the same day.

Otherwise trouble free except for a few minor finish defects and the soft/clunky suspension.


My passenger sunvisor was replaced on warranty this week. The time I lurked in the showroom to take a closer look at the Sonata and Tucson and I was on my way.

 

[jc1990]

update on 09 sonata 5 speed went to dealer today for an oil change and to complain about the clutch issue which was getting worse they found a new tsb dated for may and installed an upgrade on it it is so much better now compared to before this applies to all 2006 2009 sonatas with the 4 banger 5 speeds

 

[Minou]

Originally Posted By: jc1990
update on 09 sonata 5 speed went to dealer today for an oil change and to complain about the clutch issue which was getting worse they found a new tsb dated for may and installed an upgrade on it it is so much better now compared to before this applies to all 2006 2009 sonatas with the 4 banger 5 speeds


Wow, really? Do you have the no of the TSB in question? I'm calling my dealer Monday to have the upgrade installed.

Do you mean that your car now doesn't stall so easily when releasing the clutch when the engine is hot? Man that would be great if it could fix that issue.

 

[Minou]

http://www.hmaservice.com/

I checked here and all I've found is ECU upgrade #158:
09-10 MY NF 2.4L M/T-ECM Update.

So let me know if you happen to have thee update number in question for when I call the dealer so they don't tell me it doesn't exist.

 

[jc1990]

its in my car in glovebox i get tommowrow though i gotta tell u i was ready to give this car up it was that bad im serious i dont think that was the update number but ill check all i know car is much better now

 

[jc1990]

minou i could not stakll it today after it went in it,s still kinda slow but nothing like before it was dangerous trust me now its probaly 80% better

 

[Minou]

I'm gonna call the dealer anyhow on Monday to see.

You mention that the upgrade you had was dated in May and for MY 2006-2009. All I found was the ECU upgrade for MY '09-'10 and no TSB pertaining to the issue.

Thanks again.

 

[jc1990]

YEAH ON MY INVOICE ALL it saysecm upgrade 90ba16ro but i do remember the service advisor telling me it applied to 06 thru 09 4 cyl 5 speed models

 

[JustinH]

So the clutch on these cars is computer controlled also?

The ECU update can change the engagement point and the feel of the clutch?

If this is true, that is pretty amazing, I have never driven a car like this.

Electronic throttle has been around for some time however, it is even in cheap cars like cobalts.

 

[jc1990]

yeah i was quite suprised there was not really an issue with the clutch i was told it was all in the engine management even though it sure seemed clutch related

 

[Minou]

Just spoke to the service advisor at my dealer. Of course, he knows nothing about the issue and that upgrades and TSB's for the US don't apply for Canada... He wants to see my car to pull any codes but I told him that I currently have no codes on my Scangauge so they'll likely say that all is OK.

I nonetheless took an appointment for the 29th.

Not that the clutch is computer controlled but the ECU is programmed to stall the engine anytime idle speed drops below a set value so you stall anytime the engine is hot and you don't give gas prior to releasing the clutch.

To compound the issue, the throttle is much too sensitive in the first 1/8" of its travel so it's all or nothing.

 

[Minou]

Went to 2 dealers near me asking for the ECU upgrade. I got the same story that there is no ECU upgrade for my car and that upgrade numbers are different for the USA and Canada. The first dealer even installed upgrade no 105 for booming noise but that upgrade pertains to automatic transmission models... So no change. The tech really didn't like my Scangauge plugged into the OBDII as he thinks it can change ECM parameters and such...

With dealers not really willing to help, I zipped an e-mail to Hyundai Canada customer relations asking them to get in touch with Hyundai USA for the upgrade. I'm waiting for their answer. If not positive, I'll try to have the update installed on my next trip to Florida next fall. Apparently that I would have to pay the US dealer and collect Hyundai Canada for the warranty work.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: opus1
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Why did manufacturers decided on electronic throttle control instead of the basic cable attached to a throtle body ?

My guess is better computer control, aka emissions control.


Drive by wire (electronic throttle) will eliminate the possibility of sudden wide open or close accelerator pedal change that can cause lean operation. Removing this condition recoup some air fuel ratio / ignition timing safety margin that can be used to provide more power or fuel economy.

 

[SteveSRT8]

The whole reason for DBW is to enable the stability control systems.

Driveability is a side effect.