Sonata SE'07, parking lights stay on, fuse box replacement?

[ivop]

Hello, forum.
I have 2007 Hyundai Sonata SE V6, 72k. Out of warranty. I love every bit of it.
Problem is parking lights does not turn off when I turn off the car and take the key out. I have to play with the switch from On to Auto many times in order to turn them off. Sounds like stuck relay. I also have "auto switch off" feature which is supposed to turn off everything when I open the driver’s door AND the key is out. This does not turn off the lights as well. Lately it is very difficult to turn them off, especially when the car has been running for some time. Brake switch as per the recall has been changed in the past.
I went to the dealership, paid $110 for diagnostics and they said I need to replace the junction fuse box in the engine compartment - $722.99 (part 91950-3K560). Not in a position to do it. I found such a box for less and replaced it myself. Problem still exist. After reading some more online, the forums said that the parking relay is integrated in the other junction/fuse box – the one under the left front dash (91950-3K560).
Does anyone know from experience if the replacement is the only solution? Can this box be opened and fixed?
Is there another solution other than replacing the fuse box? I don't want to spend another lump sum and be at the same spot.
Thank you. I will appreciate any input!
Ivo

[wymi]

You state that you have to move the stalk switch from on to auto to get the lights turned off. So the lights also don't turn off if you move the stalk switch to off?

[Supernova88642]

Maybe its the actual switch itself that's shorted out internally. I don't recall if the lights can be turned on without the key in the sonatas but if they can maybe it shows that the switch can in a sense override having to have the key in to have the lights on and thats why your lights stay on when you take your key out. I don't think a replacement switch is to much.

[ivop]

@wymi: I made a mistake when I wrote it. Yes, the parking lights stay ON even if the stalk switch is on OFF position. I have to wiggle the switch from Off to something else and back to off to make the lights off. Sometimes they go off when I move the switch to Auto settings.
Here is a full example:
Car is running, lights are On. Turn the car off. Main lights go off, parking lights (front and back) stay on. Take the key out as to go out of the car. Move the switch to OFF. Parking lights stay on. At this point the fun begins. If this is in the morning and the car is cold, I may have to just move the switch one position to parking and move it back to off to switch parking lights off. Sometimes it does it on the first try, most of the times - after 4-5. I can also go all the way to auto and sometimes they go off when the switch is on Auto.
If I have driven the car (it takes me 30 min to get to work), I may have to move the switch 15-20 times before the parking lights turn off.

@Supernoca88642: Re Switch suggestion. It could be and I will check that, but the reason I do not think it is the switch is there are cases where the switch should not matter. For example: If I drive the car at Auto lights settings (I start it at that settings and it is at day time - all lights stay off) and get under a bridge - lights turn on and when I get on the other side, they should go off. Well, main lights go off, but the parking stay on. Sounds like relay get stuck and from this moment it does not release. But I will check the switch as well. Also, no matter the switch position (full lights On or Auto), the door relay should turn all off (this feature was included with the SE edition of 2007 Sonata). And currently it doesn't.

Thank you for the reply guys. Any more ideas or comments are welcome.

[ivop]

Hello again. I managed to convince a friend with identical Sonata to let me swap the driver side fuse box (part number: 91950-3K050).
I took his passenger compartment fuse box from his fully working Sonata and put it into my car. Indeed the problem went away and everything started working as it should.
The fuse box is located in front of the left knee of the driver, under the face panel and just above the lever for opening the engine lid.
It is not the easiest thing to remove, but not impossible and with some practice it can be done relatively quick. Once you pry out the center garnish (2 clips) you can easily remove the lower panel (4 screws and 4 clips). Then remove the metal plank (4 screws) to get easy access to the cable connectors. The fuse box holds to the chassis with 2 nuts and to a plastic cable holder with a screw. The screw face is towards the engine and is a pain getting a hold on the screwdriver.
Anyway, this fuse box indeed seems to be the problem. Now off to find one for less than the dealer price $385.60
I want to make a point that despite the fact the dealership service department tried to sell me a $800 part which would not solve my problem, I do not hold a grudge towards dealerships in general. They have their place and time, I am just not in a position to pay full price at the moment.

I hope this post will help someone else with similar problem as mine.

[wymi]

Thanks for keeping us updated on the issue. Good luck on your search for the part.

[santa06]

Try fourgreen auto for a quote they list the $763 box for $264 might have the other box if you ask with your serial number, although it doeesn't turn up on their online site ; you never know.


JUNCTION BOX ASSY-ENG ROOM - Hyundai/Kia - GRANDEUR TG

(919503K560)

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[SGT Rock]

My 07 just started having this same problem.

[ivop]

To further update you on the issue... I found the internal fuse box from a salvage yard, taken from a hit Sonata 07.
I took both of the fuse boxes (engine side and driver side), cleaned the fuses (took them out one by one) and put my original engine-side fuse box along with the "pre-owned" driver-side fuse box.
After I put everything together the "ESC OFF" and the Check Engine light came ON on the dashboard. When I took both fuse boxes out I disconnected only the negative cable from the battery - was I supposed to remove the positive as well?
Even if I return my original fuse box (with the stuck tail light relay, which was causing the original problem) the ESC OFF light and the engine light stay ON.
I went to Autozone (car runs fine) and the were 2 codes there:
P0660 Intake manifold tuning valve, bank 1 – circuit open Wiring, intake manifold tuning valve.
P0102 Mass air flow (MAF) sensor/volume air flow (VAF) sensor – low input Wiring short to ground, MAF/VAF sensor, ECM.

I did not touched anything around those sensors. I hope it is something with connections, or fuse, but wanted to check if anyone has a better understanding of what could cause the ESC OFF light to go on. I believe the Brake Light Switch (as per the recall) has been performed couple of years ago.

[gwager]

I brought my 07 Sonata in for service (had to get a new key and fob) and while there, the dealer replaced the stop lamp switch under a recall. Immediately upon leaving the dealership, my parking lights would not turn off when left in the on (daytime running lights) position as they are supposed to do. Now, about 2 weeks later, the lights do not turn off when in the off position. Like ivop, I have to fiddle with the switch and the ignition to get the right combination to turn off. The dealer claims the stop lamp switch has nothing to do with it but it is too much of a coincidence that it never happened in four years and then happened immediately when I got to work after leaving the dealer.

Has anyone noticed if their lights problem started after replacing the stop lamp switch or having a new key fob programmed?