Door locked by itself - 2007 Sonata

Discussion in 'Hyundai Sonata' started by Partner, Jan 29, 2008.

  1. Partner

    Partner Guest

    Today when I stopped to get gas, my door locked by itself. Luckily I had a
    spare key in my wallet. The key was still in the ignition(turned off).
    After I got back in, I checked the key - it was a fraction of an inch pulled
    out. I had not pulled on it when I turned the engine off. All I touched
    when I got out of the car was the gas cap button. My wife has complained
    that this has happened to her before also.
    As it turned out, I had an appointment later in the day with the dealer to
    get an oil change. I told them about it and they later told me that they
    could not find anything wrong. I got the distinct feeling that I was been
    blown off. They also said that its the first they have heard of that
    occurring..
    In my opinion there are two problems here,
    1) why did it lock in the first place.
    2) Why did it lock with the key in the ignition.
    I explained that on my 2003 Sonata that I had to pull the key out about 3/4
    of the way to make it think the key was out (when you are working on
    something with the door opened it ding-dongs all the time with the key in),
    with the 2007 its only that fraction of an inch. I think that its not
    correct for it to it to be that sensitive.
    Has any one else had this problem? Has anyone's wife complained about this
    problem and you assumed she messed up? Maybe you should have listened to
    her.
    At this point I am a little leery of this car, not sure what to do except
    put a hide a key someplace on the car for a backup.


    --
     
    Partner, Jan 29, 2008
    #1
  2. Partner

    Vic Garcia Guest

    That's a new 'Feature', to teach people "NOT to leave the keys on the
    ignition when they get out of the car. This is a major NO-NO, so Hyundai
    is helping their customers. ;-)
     
    Vic Garcia, Jan 29, 2008
    #2
  3. Partner

    Pit's Guest

    good idea when at gas stations or any where to get into the habit of
    taking the keys with you.Just in case some clown jumps in while you
    are paying for the gas Groceries etc etc and takes off on a joy
    ride .To me is a good bit of security that the car locks itself when
    keys removed yours seem exceptionally touchy though
     
    Pit's, Jan 29, 2008
    #3
  4. Partner

    hyundaitech Guest

    The locks on the 2007 Sonata shouldn't lock unless such an input is
    received (or, if programmed, the vehicle reaches a preset speed).

    This will be a difficult problem to find, given the intermittent nature.
    This doesn't of course mean you shouldn't take it to be looked at, but
    unless the dealer can reproduce the condition, the'll pretty much be
    limited to anything Hyundai can tell them about similar problems
    nationwide. It's possible they may pull the interior door panels to
    investigate for pinched wires and such, but I'd doubt they'd get into too
    much disassembly unless they had significant reason to believe they were
    going to find something.

    Comparing the 2007 to a 2003 will yield little of any value. There's
    virtually nothing that's the same on either car. Also consider that it's
    unlikely all of any particular car's design features will be exactly as
    you'd prefer. The best you can hope for is to have the manufacutrer act
    because you've made your opinion known to them. And believe me, they do
    listen to these things.

    Also, once the door is shut, the locks will again lock with the key in the
    ignition. At this point, the car assumes you're inside. For now, the best
    advice I can offer is to not leave the keys in the car. Furthermore, if
    the vehicle believes the key to be in the ignition, the remote won't work,
    so taking the remote with you isn't likely to be the solution, either.

    I agree there's something wrong with the car, and that you have a right to
    have it fixed. Unfortunately, finding the fix is likely to be costly to
    you in terms of time and inconvenience.
     
    hyundaitech, Jan 29, 2008
    #4
  5. I leave the car running while pumping gas and it has not locked on me. In
    the case of hte OP, it would be good practice to either remove the key or
    lower a window until some conclusive cause is found.

    As for going inside to pay, thee is a bit of security if you have the proper
    type of remote starter installed. With mine, I can hit the button on the
    fob and then remove the key and leave the engine (and AC or heat) running
    while you do into the store. You can lock hte doors if you want, but putting
    your foot on the brake without hte key in the "on" position kills
    everything.

    I really like the remote starter when temperatures are extreme in either
    direction.
     
    Edwin Pawlowski, Jan 29, 2008
    #5
  6. Partner

    irwell Guest

    Isn't it breaking the law to leave an unattended vehicle with
    the engine running, either on the highway or a public place?
     
    irwell, Jan 29, 2008
    #6
  7. Partner

    631grant Guest

    Our 2007 Sonata does the same thing with the key pulled partially out of
    the ignition. We do this when we put it in the garage so we don't have to
    search where the other one put the keys. I never took it to the dealer
    because of the intermittent nature, as HT suggested. Maybe there will
    eventually be a TSB on it.
     
    631grant, Jan 29, 2008
    #7
  8. Partner

    Pit's Guest

    Ed that is illegal in OZ There lays the problem of posting to groups
    that are multi national.
    Illegal to leave keys in ignition at any time when the vehicle is
    unattended ( $200 fine in this state)
    Filling a vehicle with engine running
    and the fine is as per
    "What are the penalties for non-compliance?
    Answer: Maximum penalties provided on conviction for breaches of the
    Explosives and Dangerous Goods (Dangerous
    Goods Handling and Storage) Regulations 1992 are $50 000 or if the
    breach is a continuing one, $5 000 per day.
    These penalties apply to everybody including the licensee, console
    operator, mechanic and even the customers."

    But wait there is more another fine is just about to come into force
    This one is a Federal ping under urban pollution controls act
    Up to One mIllion dollars (although I think it is aimed more at large
    particle emitters than the normal fuel station customer)
    It gets worse now there are various toll free lines to Govt Depts and
    purpose is to Dobb in observed offenders

    So we here for all sorts of reasons take our keys -mainly though to
    deter the scum bags who delight in hopping in vehicles and buzzing
    off. More than not the vehicle is nearly always found wrapped around a
    tree or pole or bunt out :(

    We have had far too many instances where the scum have taken off with
    babies in the back and in a couple of tragic instances all died when
    the noddy lost control and crashed ------- Different eh :0
     
    Pit's, Jan 29, 2008
    #8
  9. Partner

    Mike Marlow Guest

    No - you've got it wrong. It's no major NO-NO to leave your keys in the car
    for such things as filling up the tank. That's only for the foolish people
    of the world. It's really the Korean version of a joke. Different sort of
    sense of humor and all...
     
    Mike Marlow, Jan 29, 2008
    #9
  10. Partner

    Mike Marlow Guest

    It's only a good idea if that's what you think is going to happen. Many of
    us don't live in areas where that is terribly likely, and many of us fill up
    at pumps where we simply put our card in, pump the gas and get back in the
    car. There are even some of us that can remember to take our keys out in
    areas where it is more advisable to do so.
     
    Mike Marlow, Jan 29, 2008
    #10
  11. Partner

    Mike Marlow Guest

    Depends on where you live.
     
    Mike Marlow, Jan 29, 2008
    #11
  12. Partner

    Pit's Guest

    One could say a different slant on humour perhaps
     
    Pit's, Jan 29, 2008
    #12
  13. Partner

    irwell Guest


    Like this old guy who offered to buy us a cup
    of coffee if we gave him a lift to san Francisco,
    200 miles away!
     
    irwell, Jan 29, 2008
    #13
  14. Partner

    Old_Timer Guest

    In Calfornia and I believe a number of other states it is illegal to
    leave the car running while refueling.

    Old_Timer
     
    Old_Timer, Jan 30, 2008
    #14
  15. Partner

    DonC Guest

    Ditto Michigan. In fact I think it's illegal to leave a car running
    unattended anywhere. The law caused quite a flap when remote starters
    became popular 'cuz technically it was illegal to remotely start your car in
    your own driveway! Not sure of the current law now that I'm living in warm
    Arizona.
     
    DonC, Jan 30, 2008
    #15
  16. Don't know, don't care. Probably is in some places.

    The news recently had a story about cars being stolen while people warmed
    them up while they finished their coffee in the morning. With a remote, it
    is still secure. Hit the button and the doors lock, engine starts and runs,
    but stops as soon as you hit the brake unless the key is in the on position.

    Common sense dictates you don't start a car in the garage. The button has
    to be held for about 4 seconds so a bump won't start it accidentally. It
    will shut down at a pre-determined time also so that it cannot be left
    running all day. Mine will go 10 minutes. When I park the car at night, I
    also put the heated seat button in the on position.

    This is my second winter with it. I won't have a car without it.
     
    Edwin Pawlowski, Jan 30, 2008
    #16
  17. Partner

    irwell Guest

    This is the second year for the law in California that requires
    headlights to be one in bad weather, i.e weather that is
    bad enough to have the windshield wipers on. Still many
    drivers that don't have their lights on under these conditions.
    Apart from it being the law, it is also commonsense to be
    seen by other drivers.
     
    irwell, Jan 30, 2008
    #17
  18. Partner

    Pit's Guest

    Untill your fuel stocks run out over and the past catches up with
    you:0
     
    Pit's, Jan 30, 2008
    #18
  19. Partner

    Vic Garcia Guest

    No, is not a joke, I wish it was, if you live in a little town, like the
    one I was born in, yeah, but things had changed, and not for the good.

    Do that in a big city .... you are asking for BIG trouble.
     
    Vic Garcia, Jan 30, 2008
    #19
  20. Partner

    Mike Marlow Guest

    Well, not really. We're not talking about walking away from a running car
    here. We're talking about getting out to gas the thing up.
     
    Mike Marlow, Jan 30, 2008
    #20
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