Lemon Law?

I'm desperately hoping someone who recognizes the following "symptoms"
or who works as a mechanic can help me out. I've posted on a lot of
Hyundai discussions elsewhere, but with little success. I've been
trying to get a couple issues fixed by two different Hyundai dealers
now for four years, and with exception of the last issue that is listed
below, all of the problems you are about to read about surfaced within
the first 300 miles. Currently, I have less than one year left in
Hyundai's five-year, 60K bumper-to-bumper warranty, so if I can't get
anywhere with my warranty my only option is to pay for an independent
shop to troubleshoot or file for lemon law (assuming it's not too
late). Honestly, I just want my car fixed, so please jump in if you
have any tips.

1. Engine rattles during acceleration (sort of a frog-in-the throat
noise or perhaps a pinging like sound). It's especially noticeable when
the roads are quiet, and grows more obvious in cooler, damp weather.
The noise is most evident after the car has been sitting a couple
hours, and fades out after about 5 to 15 minutes of driving. I seem to
hear it best between 5-40 mph, after which the engine noise drowns it
out. There are no dashboard lights illuminated to indicate a fault.
Dealer has: replaced right motor mount and inspected valves/timing. I
have: tried higher-octane gas with no improvement. Tried also a Lucas
brand gas tank additive to clean engine. On the Internet: Heard that a
faulty timing belt tensioner would cause a temporary sort of slack in
the camshaft area that could reverberate with acceleration until the
car reached operating temperature, but the dealer doesn't agree it is
necessary to check the tensioner and wants to charge for the labor
involved with checking the belts.

2. Valve clatter at startup that seems to take too long to settle down
(about 4 minutes). The valve tapping isn't just when I do a cold start,
but any time the car has been sitting as little as 1/2 hour. Dealer:
Checked valve clearances. They also invited me to start up other cars
on the lot that do the same thing, some even worse. But the problem
isn't the noise alone but how long it seems to last. Took it to a
second dealer whose tech said the valve lash was out of spec. When the
corporate rep came on scene the next day, I was then told that no valve
repair was required because the valves were in spec. Result: I am
totally confused! I have: tried 10/40 oil, also tried Lucas oil
additive at the last oil change. Not certain if this helped
(concentration of additive was probably too low). I also took it to an
independent shop, which verified my observation that the noise is valve
train related.

3. When sitting at a stoplight, if I fail to hold my foot firmly to the
brake peddle or ease up lightly, I hear a thumping noise from the right
rear passenger side. It sounds like there is someone in my trunk
banging his or her fist on the sheet metal to get out, and disappears
after about 10 seconds. It sometimes starts up again when I pull into
my driveway, put the car in park, take my foot of the brake and pull up
the emergency brake. I then hear a series of thuds from the rear again.
Except the noise has a sort of hollow ring to it. Dealer: Checked
muffler, but otherwise could not duplicate despite multiple occasions
where I asked them to attempt to do so. I have: Asked for the rear disk
ABS brakes and hydraulics to be inspected. Not sure if anyone actually
HAS inspected it.

4. After the right motor mount was replaced earlier this year, I began
to hear what sounds like sheet metal buzzing whenever I engage the A/C
and begin to back out of my driveway. When I hear the buzzing, I turn
off the A/C button and it goes away. When I turn the A/C back on, I
hear it again but only for a few seconds. If I let the car sit for a
long while, the noise starts up again next time I engage the A/C. I
also hear it sometimes when coasting at low speeds to a stop. Dealer
has: Replicated the noise while turning the car in circles to the left,
but thought it was a suspension issue and failed to fix it by
tightening up suspension bolts.


Can somebody tell me if there are any solutions before my warranty runs
out next August? Also, if I take it to an independent mechanic and he
fixes it whereas in four years Hyundai has been unable to fix it, would
it be possible, legally speaking, to get Hyundai to reimburse my repair
costs, since I have already gone to two dealers and even had their
corporate tech out with no success eliminating items 1-3?

 

Have you seriously considered an Exorcist???
Sounds like your ride is haunted.

 

Well no 2 bits worth ...

If it is pinging, try better or different fuel sources. It sure makes a
difference. You can compensate for poor fuel by retarding timing, but that
presents other issues. Is it timed properly? Maybe sheck it out.

I read somewhere that Hyundai blames some of their valve clatter on not
using their oil filters. Other posters claim this is BS, but might be worth
considering. So maybe it is just the way it is. My 3.0 Caravan had a bad
clatter when the oil began to get dirty. It was checked by chrysler and all
within spec. Drove me nuts for 15 years!

Wierd. Maybe a good brake guy can explain this one! I've had shoes and
springs bind when clogged with brake dust, but don't know about disks. I
just hosed out the dust. Maybe binding of the emergency brake shoes ??

Has to be something rubbing on the A/C clutch or the clutch hooped.

My guess .... not a chance!


Good luck! Have you searched through the Hyundai Tech site.

Gordo

 

Be sure to check what kind of Lemon Law your state has. I don’t
beleive they are all the same.

 

1. I don't know what car or engine you have, so it's difficult to say
much. Different engines make different noises. I may be able to say more
if you let me know what engine you have. You've said nothing yet about
this rattle on accel that convinces me it's necessarily abnormal. Keep in
mind that Hyundai won't pay the dealer to not fix your car. The reason
they're asking for you to authorize labor is that they don't think they're
likely to find anything wrong. Has the dealer heard the noise and
identified whether they believe it's normal/abnormal?

2. Put on a Hyundai filter and fill with good quality 5w-30 oil (most
areas). There's no guarantee this will fix anything, but it's cheap and
removes the possibility that the oil or filter is causing the issue if it
continues. Again, this may not apply, or I may be able to add more if I
know what vehicle/engine you have.

3. If this noise is occurring when the vehicle is stopped, I seriously
doubt the issue is with your brakes. Similar to #1 above, the dealer will
do some basic inspections based on what you say you are experiencing, but
you cannot expect them to do a detailed inspection if they cannot
duplicate the condition. Since they say they've never duplicated it, show
them.

4. Most of the compressors make some noise. Not hearing your compressor,
I don't know how normal/abnormal a condition you have. But I definitely
think it sounds like the compressor is making noise.

As for the lemon law, you're probably sunk. In most states, you're well
beyond having any type of lemon law help. You should have received a
booklet with the vehicle which detailed the lemon law procedures in each
state. Check your state's listing to see how you would initiate a lemon
law claim, and seek information from those people.