Sonata transmission fluid level

[Bob Westerlund]

New 2004 Sonata LX V6 just purchased and driven about 400 miles, then I checked fluid levels. The automatic transmission fluid level is1 quart low. No sign of a leak. Is it possible it was not filled completely before delivery?

 

[Jason (archive)]

New 2004 Sonata LX V6 just purchased and driven about 400 miles, then I checked fluid levels. The automatic transmission fluid level is1 quart low. No sign of a leak. Is it possible it was not filled completely before delivery?

Yeah, they do that.

 

[Sudip Bhattacharjee]

What is the difference between "recall" and "TSB"?

 

[FerdyPooh]

Why do they do that? My 2004 Sonata was delivered the same way--

 

[hyundaitech]

Your car may not have been completely warm when you checked it. The dealer should have checked this during their predelivery inspection. Be sure to check the fluid hot, idling in Neutral. If it's low, have the dealer add some. They should have no problem with this. It's unlikely you have a leak and more likely it was just underfilled.

 

[hyundaitech]

A recall is any service procedure which is specified to be done free of charge to rectify a specific problem which exists in an automobile. Normal warranty periods do not apply to recalls. Most recalls exist for the life of the vehicle and relate to safety issues.

A tsb is an official publication intended to assist the technician in diagnosing and repairing the vehicle. It may list known problems, correct incorrect shop manual information, tell of new parts, advise on diagnostic procedure, or any variety of things.

 

[Bob (2)]

Thanks for responding Jason and hyundaitech. There is no Hyundai dealer closer than about an hour from me. I made sure it was hot and idling in nuetral and checked it again and it was indeed low. I bought a quart of "Mitsubishi Diamond SP III" trans fluid and added about 3/4 quart which brought it up to just a tad below the full hot mark. I noticed there is a TSP(on webtech site) reminding the dealer to check trans fluid level and add as necessary before delivery. I guess my dealer didn't check it. 900 miles now on the odometer and the car is flawless so far. I think I'll be happy with this car.

 

[Jason (archive)]

Why do they do that? My 2004 Sonata was delivered the same way--

A quart here, a quart there... It adds up. Hyundai is keeping their prices low by cutting corners all over the place. Still, aside from little annoyances like this one, my 03 Sonata LX has been problem-free.

 

[theta00k]

A quart here, a quart there... It adds up. Hyundai is keeping their prices low by cutting corners all over the place. Still, aside from little annoyances like this one, my 03 Sonata LX has been problem-free.

Are you saying yours too came low on ATF?? How much was added to your tranny?

 

[Jason (archive)]

Are you saying yours too came low on ATF?? How much was added to your tranny?

I don't remember exactly. I think it was about 3/4 of a quart.

 

[theta00k]

I don't remember exactly. I think it was about 3/4 of a quart.

Did you do it yourself?

 

[Jason (archive)]

Did you do it yourself?

Of course not. Why should I have to?

 

[Bob (2)]

Of course not. Why should I have to?

I would have had the dealer do it too but the nearest dealer is over an hour away. It's not real hard to do it yourself. Just make sure you use the correct fluid (SP III), and a long spouted funnel helps a lot. You pour it down the transmission dipstick tube.

 

[theta00k]

Of course not. Why should I have to?

So your dealer did it. They probably didn't file a claim for that bottle of ATF since it shoulda been done during PDI. HMA pays the dealers for PDI labor+parts. Why Hyundai would ask the dealers to check the ATF level must be a mystery to you if you think they want to keep their prices low by underfilling trannies by "a quart here, a quart there"... http://www.hmaservice.com/webtech/iindex.asp?id=394890107#_394890107

 

[Jason (archive)]

So your dealer did it. They probably didn't file a claim for that bottle of ATF since it shoulda been done during PDI. HMA pays the dealers for PDI labor+parts. Why Hyundai would ask the dealers to check the ATF level must be a mystery to you if you think they want to keep their prices low by underfilling trannies by "a quart here, a quart there"... http://www.hmaservice.com/webtech/iindex.asp?id=394890107#_394890107

My dealer did not top it off at delivery. In fact, it was a different dealer almost 3 months later. I told them it was lower than it should have been, they said "OK, we'll take care of it." When they gave me my car back they told me that it was indeed low and that they added some more (as I said, the exact amount escapes me, I believe that it was around 3/4 of a quart). My invoice said that they added ATF and that it was billed to "Warranty".