Hi All
I hope the knowledgeable crowd here can help with an issue - I noted that my 2013 Elantra with ~255000Km had not had any service to the Transaxle for ~150000kms. There were no specific issues with it but I wanted to check the condition of the fluid and I had been having a little "burble" with the engine that might have been related to the transmission and I wanted to exclude any transmission problems. The transmission was filled with SP4M after a flush by the dealer prior to 100000Km.
So being that I didn't think I needed a full flush, I chose to head to a "Mr Lube" to do a simple drain and fill, as I thought it would be the best way to check the fluid and top up with some fresh. Well they were a little confusing with what was on offer between what fluid was being used and drain/fill vs flush - they seemed to be more concerned if my transmission was under warranty or not. In the end I thought I was getting SP4M for a drain and fill.
During the drain and fill I asked the tech doing up the invoice about the ATF fluid and he let me know that it wasn't SP4M but rather Mobile Multi-Vehicle ATF. I was concerned but he told me that it met the specs for Hyundai, so I thought it must be ok.
The checks (selecting each gear - twice through, up and back) seemed alright and after a the final start up I departed the garage. Three blocks later I was trying to reverse into a parking spot and the transmission would not come out of Drive/Neutral into Reverse. It was locked in either Drive or Neutral and I noted I could not use the manual shifting capability (as well the D/N indicator on the dash was not present). I immediately returned to the shop and they checked the levels again (all good) and made a note on my invoice but told me nothing they did could be at fault. Notwithstanding the errors I was able to get the car home and by using the shift lock release I was able to get the car into Park and shut off. I restarted to see what would happen and the gear lever was making its way through all the gears but again there was no indicator on the dash and as I found out the car was unable to find reverse (in gear but no movement). I could cycle the shift lever through all the gears up until I moved forward in Drive then again it would not shift back past Neutral. I did a short around the block drive to try and warm the fluid (to see if that mattered) and I got the Check Engine Light so shut her down. I left it in the drive overnight as there was little to do until morning (possibly with an early trip to the dealer).
The next morning, I undid the battery (in an attempt to reset the PCM) and after a short time and reattaching the battery - all seemed fine. The car operated as per normal, all gears and indications were as normal for the rest of the day - no check engine. Shifts seemed a little different but not significantly so. I thought all was good...
This morning the issues was back - no reverse, no indications and once I select drive and move the car the lever is locked into Neutral or Drive (but no check engine). Again I undid the battery and afterward everything seems to work as normal.
The Mr Lube rep tells me that the Mobile Multi-Vehicle ATF is suitable for my Elantra but has offered to flush the transaxle and replace with SP4M at cost of the fluid (no labour). I am waiting for a call when they get the fluid from Hyundai.
I checked the ExxonMobile website and there is no indication that their Mobile Multi-Vehicle ATF is compatible with SP4M (or SPIV/SPIII for that matter) and the viscosities seem too high in comparision to the LV SP fluids.
Mobile Multi Vehicle ATF
Sorry for the long post but:
1. Can anyone confirm that Mobile Multi-Vehicle ATF is or is not suitable for the Hyundai Elantra (the shop manager tells me their information from the manufacturer says it is)
2. Is it possible the issues I am seeing are simply due to inappropriate fluid?
Whatever help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated
Crash
I hope the knowledgeable crowd here can help with an issue - I noted that my 2013 Elantra with ~255000Km had not had any service to the Transaxle for ~150000kms. There were no specific issues with it but I wanted to check the condition of the fluid and I had been having a little "burble" with the engine that might have been related to the transmission and I wanted to exclude any transmission problems. The transmission was filled with SP4M after a flush by the dealer prior to 100000Km.
So being that I didn't think I needed a full flush, I chose to head to a "Mr Lube" to do a simple drain and fill, as I thought it would be the best way to check the fluid and top up with some fresh. Well they were a little confusing with what was on offer between what fluid was being used and drain/fill vs flush - they seemed to be more concerned if my transmission was under warranty or not. In the end I thought I was getting SP4M for a drain and fill.
During the drain and fill I asked the tech doing up the invoice about the ATF fluid and he let me know that it wasn't SP4M but rather Mobile Multi-Vehicle ATF. I was concerned but he told me that it met the specs for Hyundai, so I thought it must be ok.
The checks (selecting each gear - twice through, up and back) seemed alright and after a the final start up I departed the garage. Three blocks later I was trying to reverse into a parking spot and the transmission would not come out of Drive/Neutral into Reverse. It was locked in either Drive or Neutral and I noted I could not use the manual shifting capability (as well the D/N indicator on the dash was not present). I immediately returned to the shop and they checked the levels again (all good) and made a note on my invoice but told me nothing they did could be at fault. Notwithstanding the errors I was able to get the car home and by using the shift lock release I was able to get the car into Park and shut off. I restarted to see what would happen and the gear lever was making its way through all the gears but again there was no indicator on the dash and as I found out the car was unable to find reverse (in gear but no movement). I could cycle the shift lever through all the gears up until I moved forward in Drive then again it would not shift back past Neutral. I did a short around the block drive to try and warm the fluid (to see if that mattered) and I got the Check Engine Light so shut her down. I left it in the drive overnight as there was little to do until morning (possibly with an early trip to the dealer).
The next morning, I undid the battery (in an attempt to reset the PCM) and after a short time and reattaching the battery - all seemed fine. The car operated as per normal, all gears and indications were as normal for the rest of the day - no check engine. Shifts seemed a little different but not significantly so. I thought all was good...
This morning the issues was back - no reverse, no indications and once I select drive and move the car the lever is locked into Neutral or Drive (but no check engine). Again I undid the battery and afterward everything seems to work as normal.
The Mr Lube rep tells me that the Mobile Multi-Vehicle ATF is suitable for my Elantra but has offered to flush the transaxle and replace with SP4M at cost of the fluid (no labour). I am waiting for a call when they get the fluid from Hyundai.
I checked the ExxonMobile website and there is no indication that their Mobile Multi-Vehicle ATF is compatible with SP4M (or SPIV/SPIII for that matter) and the viscosities seem too high in comparision to the LV SP fluids.
Mobile Multi Vehicle ATF
Sorry for the long post but:
1. Can anyone confirm that Mobile Multi-Vehicle ATF is or is not suitable for the Hyundai Elantra (the shop manager tells me their information from the manufacturer says it is)
2. Is it possible the issues I am seeing are simply due to inappropriate fluid?
Whatever help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated
Crash
