Question for H.T. - Transmission Trouble

I have a Santa Fe with the 3.5L engine with the 5-speed transmission that
takes that world famous Mitsubishi fluid. Lately, at about 40 mph, my
transmission (which I suppose could also be the differential or even better,
the lock-up torque converter), has been giving me a "shudder" when I am
"cruising" (not w. cruise control - neither accelerating or decelerating).
I can stop it by usually accelerating, making it shift to a lower gear. It
doesn't seem to be a problem above 50.

I have not known or heard about this transmission giving trouble. But I
don't know what to think, and am heading for a longer trip soon.

The vehicle has 108,000 miles on it, so it is "JUST" out of warranty (of
course). Yes, I have changed the fluid every 30,000 miles.

Ideas?

 

Sounds like torque converter clutch shudder. This is caused by a slip/
stick of the torque converter clutch. I thought I recalled a
reprogram to address this condition, but a quick check revealed that
it was for 2.4 and 2.7 Santa Fes.

Torque converter clutch shudder was the original reason Hyundai
switched from Dexron fluids to Mitsubishi fluid. If it has been a
while since the last fluid change, you might try a flush to see if
anything changes. If it doesn't go away, I'd say you're probably
looking at needing a torque converter replacement. With the price of
new converters, it's not likely to cost much less than an entire
remanufactured transmission. I don't normally recommend things like
this, but if the condition doesn't get better with a flush, perhaps
add an aftermarket (such as BG) fluid conditioner or friction modifier
to see if the condition improves. Do this only if you've verified
that the converter or transmission is the cause of the issue. There's
no guarantee that the additive won't negatively affect other facets of
transmission operation, so it should be done only if you'd be looking
at a replacement transmission anyway.

As for the trip, I'd say to take another vehicle unless the issue has
been resolved. An slipping converter can cause a transmission to
overheat on long trips, potentially leading to other failures or a
breakdown.

 

Ouch - that is not what I wanted to hear, though I understand it is what I
need to hear.

Will try a fluid flush & change - VERY SOON!

Thanks for the info.

Sounds like torque converter clutch shudder. This is caused by a slip/
stick of the torque converter clutch. I thought I recalled a
reprogram to address this condition, but a quick check revealed that
it was for 2.4 and 2.7 Santa Fes.

Torque converter clutch shudder was the original reason Hyundai
switched from Dexron fluids to Mitsubishi fluid. If it has been a
while since the last fluid change, you might try a flush to see if
anything changes. If it doesn't go away, I'd say you're probably
looking at needing a torque converter replacement. With the price of
new converters, it's not likely to cost much less than an entire
remanufactured transmission. I don't normally recommend things like
this, but if the condition doesn't get better with a flush, perhaps
add an aftermarket (such as BG) fluid conditioner or friction modifier
to see if the condition improves. Do this only if you've verified
that the converter or transmission is the cause of the issue. There's
no guarantee that the additive won't negatively affect other facets of
transmission operation, so it should be done only if you'd be looking
at a replacement transmission anyway.

As for the trip, I'd say to take another vehicle unless the issue has
been resolved. An slipping converter can cause a transmission to
overheat on long trips, potentially leading to other failures or a
breakdown.

 

Another thing to check before you get into this too deep. At that speed
(40mph) it could just be the engine lugging due to low RPMs and the torque
convertor locking up. An easy check is to disable the TC lockup and see it
it goes away. I haven't had the occasion to look on the Hyundais to find
the way to disable it, but on some of my other cars it was as simple as
disconnecting a connector.

 

First thing I did was flush with Diamond ATF SPIII. Problem (so far) seems
to be gone. If not completely in a month, I will drain a 2nd time, and
refill, substituting a quart of some kind of transmission conditioner (a
couple of people around here are recommending Lucas - comments H.T.?).

But if I didn't know better, the problem is solved. Maybe I got to it in
time. Time will tell.

Sounds like torque converter clutch shudder. This is caused by a slip/
stick of the torque converter clutch. I thought I recalled a
reprogram to address this condition, but a quick check revealed that
it was for 2.4 and 2.7 Santa Fes.

Torque converter clutch shudder was the original reason Hyundai
switched from Dexron fluids to Mitsubishi fluid. If it has been a
while since the last fluid change, you might try a flush to see if
anything changes. If it doesn't go away, I'd say you're probably
looking at needing a torque converter replacement. With the price of
new converters, it's not likely to cost much less than an entire
remanufactured transmission. I don't normally recommend things like
this, but if the condition doesn't get better with a flush, perhaps
add an aftermarket (such as BG) fluid conditioner or friction modifier
to see if the condition improves. Do this only if you've verified
that the converter or transmission is the cause of the issue. There's
no guarantee that the additive won't negatively affect other facets of
transmission operation, so it should be done only if you'd be looking
at a replacement transmission anyway.

As for the trip, I'd say to take another vehicle unless the issue has
been resolved. An slipping converter can cause a transmission to
overheat on long trips, potentially leading to other failures or a
breakdown.

 

I don't really know anything about the effectiveness of any of the
additives at eliminating slip. I'd guess that if it works, it's
probably only a short term solution. That's another reason I
recommended this only as a last ditch attempt.

 

Update: After getting quoted a price between $700 - $1100 for a van/SUV
rental for where I was going and how long I was going to be gone, and after
having gone about two weeks without even one further peep out of the tranny,
decided to take it on vacation anyway - against your advice.

Put 3,000 miles on the Santa Fe, including driving through the Appalachians
with a luggage topper and full of passengers. I had no problems whatsoever.
The fluid problem seemed to solve the dillemma.

Thank-you again HT for your useful insight.

Sounds like torque converter clutch shudder. This is caused by a slip/
stick of the torque converter clutch. I thought I recalled a
reprogram to address this condition, but a quick check revealed that
it was for 2.4 and 2.7 Santa Fes.

Torque converter clutch shudder was the original reason Hyundai
switched from Dexron fluids to Mitsubishi fluid. If it has been a
while since the last fluid change, you might try a flush to see if
anything changes. If it doesn't go away, I'd say you're probably
looking at needing a torque converter replacement. With the price of
new converters, it's not likely to cost much less than an entire
remanufactured transmission. I don't normally recommend things like
this, but if the condition doesn't get better with a flush, perhaps
add an aftermarket (such as BG) fluid conditioner or friction modifier
to see if the condition improves. Do this only if you've verified
that the converter or transmission is the cause of the issue. There's
no guarantee that the additive won't negatively affect other facets of
transmission operation, so it should be done only if you'd be looking
at a replacement transmission anyway.

As for the trip, I'd say to take another vehicle unless the issue has
been resolved. An slipping converter can cause a transmission to
overheat on long trips, potentially leading to other failures or a
breakdown.