2010 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV Facelift Scooped, gets new Diesel and Gasoline Engines
April 19th, 2009

It's facelift time for Hyundai's mid-size SUV or if you prefer, crossover - who can tell the difference any more. In view of the fact that the latest generation Santa Fe has only been around for three years, don't expect to see any major cosmetic changes, just minor tweaks here and there that will include reshaped headlights and tail lamps along with restyled bumpers, new mirrors that incorporate turning signals and different alloy wheel designs.




Our spy photographers didn't manage to scoop the prototype's interior but our sources state that Hyundai will update the cabin with new trim options and add a few toys to the vehicle's equipment list.

Hyundai has paid more attention under the skin as the refreshed Santa Fe will benefit from the presentation of at least two new powertrain options including the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder Theta II gasoline engine that produces 175HP at 6,000 rpm and 168 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm. The second-generation Theta engine that can be mated to a five-speed manual or automatic transmission has already been confirmed for the U.S. market. Up until now, the Santa Fe was offered in the States only with a 2.7-liter V6 and 3.3-liter V6.

In Europe, Korea and other international markets, the 2010 Santa Fe facelift will also be available with Hyundai's newly developed 2.2-liter 4-cylinder 'R' diesel engine that cranks out 197HP and 435Nm or 320.1 lbs/ft of torque.

Though not officially confirmed, Carscoop's sources state that in the USA, Hyundai will replace the current 242HP 3.3-liter V6 with the Korean firm's new 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 277HP and 335 Nm or 247 lbs/ft of torque.

Expect to see the 2010 Santa Fe making its debut at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September with the first cars arriving in Hyundai's dealerships on both sides of the Atlantic shortly after.

Source: http://carjake.com/2010-hyundai-santa-fe-s...asoline-engines

Ok.. so I dropped by the dealership to get a part ordered for a warranty repair.. nothing serious.. moisture in one of the lights above the rear license plate.. and I asked the parts guy about their winter tires.. I need them.

His quote was "about" $850.00 for steel wheels and 16" rubber for the limited 235/70 16's and the rubber is Korean Nexus Winguards. Includes installation, balancing etc. Wheels alone were 100.00 each!!

Let's get some canadian price quotes going from those of us who are going to swap their rubber this year!!

i have a 2008 santa fe se i wanted to upgrade my headlight and fog light bulbs but i dont want to go the expensive route with the h.i.d upgrade anyone recommend a xenon type for both headlight and fog light?

I have a 2006 CDX with the 2.2 diesel engine and I thought some of you may be interested in the results of finding and fitting a replacement radio unit. I spent some days on the Internet (I'm retired so time is no problem for me!). I eventually found a company in China who had a range of units which fitted individual cars as "plug and play" with no wire cutting involved. I had the choice between an RDS unit complete with DVD and GPS or another one (WD6001) which had a better specification including iPod control:


• 6.2 inch in-dash Two Din TFT touch screen (480x234)
• 3D graphic menu
• Steering control function to match with the car's steering wheel control
• Built-in AM/FM radio; 30 stations storable (but non-RDS)
• Built-in analogue TV (no use for me in the West Country from May this year!)
• Automatic PAL/NTSC
• DVD/CD/MP3 CD player
• Built-in Bluetooth for connection of mobile phone
• Built-in GPS satellite navigation (runs from the micro SD card) – can have navigation and music at the same time (but see my comments later)
• USB interface (for connection of USB thumb drives or USB drives)
• Micro SD card slot on front face
• One channel AUX Video input, two channel Video output
• Rear view parking camera input
• 45W x 4 MAX power output
• iPod connector
• Dimmer function for night driving mode
I decided on the latter as I had already decided to purchase a DAB radio for the car which would make the RDS feature largely redundant. More on that later!
I guess my major concern was the removal of the dashboard trim to access the current radio - however I shouldn't have worried as a forum member helpfully explained the procedure carefully and even sent me an instruction sheet!
So to ordering the unit. I purchased it direct from the manufacturer (www.szwaywell.com) - I was able to have all my concerns satisfied in advance as I had a MSN Messenger type communication with them for some days before I committed. They were extremely helpful and explained that there would be absolutely no wires to cut as the ISO/DIN connection to the current radio simply unplugs and the new one plugs into the same block, and that all the steering wheel controls would operate as before.
The cost of the unit was 360 USDollars plus $70 for shipping to UK. I ordered it and they shipped it at 1pm on a Saturday (UK time). I was given a DHL link to see it as it moved to Hong Kong Airport, then Heathrow Airport, then the DHL centre in the East Midlands, then my local DHL centre in Exeter. And I could hardly believe it when it was delivered at 10.00am on the Monday morning, less than 36 hours after it was shipped. I thought I had beaten HM Customs & Excise but they sent a bill for the duty and tax at a later date!
I have attached some pictures showing the unit as it was delivered and during and after fitting.
Fitting - I began by removing the 2 screws holding the small glove box above the clock so that I could then see the old radio. I then followed the instructions from the forum member to unclip the dashboard trim and it went exactly as one would hope with no damage being inflicted on the "wood" and plastic trim. Then it was just a case of unscrewing the bolts holding the old radio, unclipping the power/connection block and then offering up the new unit. This was simple and in no time (well, maybe an hour as I went VERY slowly) the new unit was fitted and I tested the functions before I clipped the dashboard trim back in place.
Am I pleased with the result? From an aesthetic viewpoint it is as close to perfect as is possible to get - the silver colour matches the existing trim, even the blue lighting colour is a close match to the existing blue lighting of the other buttons. Everyone who has seen it has remarked that it looks as though it was designed by Hyundai as an original fitment.
How does it perform? Well the biggest problem I had was the GPS satnav and I thought I'd made a mistake buying it at first! As I said earlier you can choose which GPS satnav system you want supplied (the unit runs WINCE 5 and any system compatible with that works OK - in theory!). It actually runs the software which is on the micro SD card. I opted for TomTom as this was the satnav system I had on my current dashtop unit. Well that was a big mistake! It transpired that it is impossible to set the Regional settings in TomTom so the local time (time of arrival etc) is wrong. Doh! So more searching of Forums (especially www.gpsunderground.com) and I found that a more suitable system would be iGO8 and all the software is available on the site together with maps of the world. I have installed v8.3.2 and that includes maps of UK dated November 2008 and I even have speed camera warnings (£17 p.a. at www.pocketgpsworld.com) and Text To Speech ability as well.
What are the problems? It may be my installation but I have a very slight whine when the unit is on (and there is volume on the unit). It is not speed dependent i.e. it does not get louder or change if I rev the engine. It is not noticeable when you are driving – only standing still. I have booked it in the see a "radio doctor" in Exeter next week to see if he can solve it – perhaps it may be something as simple (LOL) as a choke.
The other comment is not a problem as such but when I am using the satnav and the radio for example, I would prefer the satnav screen to be visible all the time and the radio sound be replaced by the satnav instructions. As it is I get the radio screen all the time and the radio is muted and the satnav instructions and the satnav screen appear only when a turning or something occurs. I'm not sure I've explained that very well but I hope you can understand? It's not a problem and I have reported it to the manufacturer to see if a firmware upgrade could alter it. If not, c'est la vie!
Other than that I am delighted with the Waywell unit and can highly recommend it (no connection with the manufacturer!).
Once it was all fitted I then decided to fit the DAB radio and the reversing camera. I purchased the PURE Highway radio and made use of the aux. input connection in the Waywell rather than relying on the FM transmission to send the signal from the Highway. That way you get a solid signal. I fitted the unit itself into the box between the front seats and even using the arm supplied it fits perfectly. The beauty of fitting it there is that it is never on display in the car. I purchased a proper DAB magnetic aerial and the reception is perfect so long as it is not a dead DAB area. I find it better than RDS as it has all the benefits of DAB i.e. constant buffering of programmes so you can rewind live radio or indeed pause live radio to catch any traffic reports or news bulletins you may have missed.
Fitting the reversing camera was rather more tricky as you have to run 2 wires from the camera – one signal and one power wire. I tapped into the reversing light power wire in the tailgate and carefully ran the wires forward. It is hardly noticeable. I fitted the camera just above the number plate.

Here are two articles I found this summer while doing research on the 07 SantaFe AWD system. Very informative. I though it would be a nice addition to this forum.

"Hyundai's all-wheel drive system

By Jim Kerr

Hyundai has just introduced the 2007 Santa Fe and one of the features available on this mid-size SUV is all-wheel drive. It is a new system for Hyundai and is a good example of how electronics are improving all aspects of driving.

All-wheel drive systems are confusing for many people. I must admit to wondering myself to what type of system is being described in the sales literature. Let's see if we can simplify it. All-wheel drive provides power to all the wheels, as opposed to front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive systems that only provide power to one end of the vehicle. That's clear enough, but some systems are also called four-wheel drive. Those systems also drive all the wheels, but are not designed to operate in 4wd mode all the time. The driver has to select 4wd when traction conditions are poor. But operate in 4wd mode on hard pavement and you will soon be paying for expensive driveline repairs.

Click here to find out more!
All-wheel drive however, can be operated on hard road surfaces. Some systems drive all the wheels all the time. A viscous coupling or a variable clutch inside the transfer case controls the rate of slip between the front and rear axles. Subaru and Audi are examples of great all-wheel-drive vehicles that use these controls.

Many of the compact and mid-size SUVs such as the 2007 Santa Fe use a front-wheel drive system with an auxiliary rear-wheel drive to provide all-wheel drive. This is better than it sounds. Modern control systems allow the vehicle to operate with front-drive only for most driving to optimize fuel economy, but engage the rear-wheel drive as soon as additional traction is needed.

Hyundai's new system uses a computer-controlled clutch mechanism mounted in front of the rear axle to engage the drive. It is a Borg Warner system that can provide up to 99% of the torque to the front wheels, but automatically diverts up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels when needed. The driver can push a button on the dash as an input to the computer, commanding it to "lock" the torque transfer at 50/50 for getting out of slippery parking spots in winter or ploughing through some soft sand. While there is no low range in the Santa Fe all-wheel drive system, it is more than capable of handling many off-road excursions.

Because the torque transfer to the rear wheels is variable, a dependable, durable clutch mechanism is needed that can be instantly engaged. To do this, the computer monitors wheel speed, accelerator pedal movement and steering inputs. When 4% or more front wheel slip is detected, the rear axle starts to engage. It can also anticipate the need for additional traction and engage the AWD system when the driver accelerates the vehicle. Another feature is it can disengage the rear axle during ABS events to optimize ABS stopping.

The computer controls a large solenoid coil in the clutch housing. When energized, the solenoid pushes against a multi-plate clutch, which in turn holds a washer-like plate from turning. Ramps and balls between this plate and a second plate cause the two plates to be forced apart, placing pressure on a second larger multi-plate clutch that connects the driveshaft to the rear axle. The path of torque is complete and the rear wheels drive.

A button on the dash can lock the clutch to provide 50% torque to the rear wheels, but this only occurs below 35 kph. Above that speed, the computer pulses the solenoid to disengage the clutch mechanism, but it will automatically engage it again when vehicle speed lowers.

Finally, the system monitors steering wheel angle. Turn the steering wheel, such as when parallel parking or turning a tight corner and the computer will decrease the torque applied to the rear wheels to there is no driveline binding during the turn.

Computer controls, electric solenoids and data communication between computers are all used to provide smooth traction regardless of the driving conditions and optimize fuel economy too. That's modern all-wheel drive."
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/060802.htm

On the BorgWarner website I found this info.

" The BorgWarner High Energy ITM3e™ AWD System is the first industrialized all-wheel drive (AWD) coupling that combines a mechanical system, active gerotor pump, thermal management and new AWD control algorithms into a fully dynamic system that provides world-class performance in a package space only passive systems could achieve previously.

The ITM 3e™ is unlike any other active AWD product. The design features a third friction element, which provides maximum torque transfer in a package size optimized to allow installation in smaller passenger cars and crossover vehicles (CUVs). It also combines best-in-class drag torque performance, which improves fuel economy. The ITM 3e™ was recently launched in the Hyundai Santa Fe and in the Chery Tiggo produced in China. A new North American CUV program and a European high-performance application will begin production later this year.

The BorgWarner High Energy ITM3e™ AWD System and The BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems Gasoline Turbocharger with Variable Turbine Geometry have been named finalists for the 2007 PACE Awards."

Guess who developed Acura's popular SH-AWD system? Thats right, BorgWarner.

I also read that the ITM 3e™ was also used and adapted to the 2006 and up Porche 911TT's!

The check engine light just came on in my brand-new (902 miles) 09 GLS. Car seems to be running fine and I'm going to get over to the dealer for look on Saturday morning. I was just curious if anyone else has their check engine light coem on so soon.

Thanks.

hello,

Aparently I have a posible problem with me engine ( 2,7 L, v6, 9500Km ). If I leave the Santy outside..in the morning my lifters make noise for about 2 minutes..after they go smooth..no noise at all. If I park the Santy in my garage (warmed one)..in the morning I have no noise at all.
I run Castrol Synth since 2000km on the engine.
Is this normal or I have to worry about. What I want to point is that this lifter noise is directly proportional with the outside temp.....if cold ( minus4 centigrade..noise for about 2 minutes..if between 5 - 10 centigrade...noise for about 1 minute....more than 12 centigrade..no noise .
I just want to know the normality of this problem or if is something common with this type of engine.

thanks indeed

Mario

Hi everyone.

I purchased some LED lights to replace the stock license plate lights.

Unscrewed the first light housing easily...there's only 2 phillips screws per housing. Installed the LED light. Looks great!

Moved onto the second light housing. Unscrewed the first phillips screw. No problem. Started to unscrew the second phillips screw and the darn thing just turns and turns and won't come out! Arg!!

Any ideas or suggestions?

We have a 2009 Santa Fe. The owners manual states that the iPod supported models are: Mini, 4G, Photo, Nano and 5G. A friend wants to sell me a 16GB iPod Touch (2nd generation). Does anyone know how well this will work, if at all? I would buy the Hyundai connection cable.

In case I need to use tire chains this winter, which type are best for a 2008 SantaFe Limited with 18" wheels?
Will Diamond Quick Fit chains fit ok? Wondering about clearance on the front tires, when turning, etc.
http://www.lesschwab.com/tires/winter/chains.asp

Thanks!

Hi, I have a question about the parking brake, mine is a 2009 2.2 auto 4wd, the parking brake cannot hold the car if there is any inclination of the ground, I had the same problem with my 2008 SF, at the dealer they say its normal, but I dont think the same, and its not a good idea to hold this car with the transmission, does anybody else has complaints about this??

Hi,
Is it me or at night is hard to find the buttons for the garage doors on the Homelink Rearview Mirror !! why did they not light it !!
Just thought I'd ask..

Kind of odd... our second Santa Fe (the red with beige interior) came with charcoal gray floor mats. We thought this was odd. We decided to contact our dealer to see why we received gray mats instead of matching beige ones and were told that the manufacturer is sending all cars with the gray mats because customers were complaining that the beige mats show too much dirt.

I don't know... we would have preferred matching floor mats... but I guess there is a point about it showing dirt.

Anyone else also experience this?

Hello all.

Going to be purchasing a limited SF soon, and was wondering if installing a aftermarket starter/alarm will cause the warrenty to be void?

P.S. I TOTALLY Agree that a starter is a MUST!! for Canadian winters!

Finally got around to finish this project over the Memrial Weekend. It took quite a bit longer than I'd like. I just don't have time to play with my toys these days.

The camera is much more sensitive to color hues. The color match looks closer to the stock mirrors than the body panels. Everything looks better matched in person. Also, fresh paint tend to look a bit lighter and more saturated. Once the paint fully cures, the match should get even better.

I want to install parking sensors in front and back. There is a thread on this subject, but I still have some questions.

1. What is the best source for the sensors? What brand? What price?

2. If not self installed...what type of tech would be best to approach?

I have had the sensors on the last few cars and really miss them now.

Hi All...just picked up the Limited Saturday. Decided last night I want to drive around the block see what the interior lights as. The dask/radio/climate control are blindingly bright, I tried dimming all the way down, but still going to take getting used to.

I've tried about 10min of searching the forum and google for answers, but no luck...what I'm wondering is if there's a way to dim them a bit more or am I not doing something right?

I haven't really seen much info about the engine in the North American 2010. I have seen the European edition, which will have a diesel or V4 edition. Will the V6 still be available in North America? When I spoke to my dealer about it, he said that they weren't changing the engine in the 2010.

What do you estimate a 2009 Santa Fe's maintenance costs would be over the 5 year warranty period.
Is there any abnormally expensive maintenance items ? Just seeking feedback on user's maintenance
costs for their 2007-2009 Santa Fe's ?
.
Also, checking http://www.hmaservice.com/ to see if I can
find the maintenance schedule for a 2009 Santa Fe..dont see it on there...does anyone have the
navigation to the 2009 Santa Fe maintenance schedule ?

I recently purchased a 2009 Santa Fe after retiring my 2006 Sonata. I was very pleased with the Sonata but needed a little more room. I did have one complaint about the Sonata though thinking it was just a fluke. My AM radio would cut out (no reception) if I hit a bump. Not every time I hit a bump mind you, but often enough that AM radio wasn't usable for the last 60K miles I put on the car. My two month old Santa Fe is now exhibiting similar issues in that I hit a bump in the road and both reception and volume are terribly reduced until the car is left overnight. Usually in the morning the radio works fine until a bump or two.

Anyone found a fix for this?

Hi Guys

Just wondered if anyone has fitted after market running boards, (particularly if you are in the U.K). I have seen some advertised that look pretty good and claim that no drilling is required as they bolt in to pre-drilled chassis points.

Any advice welcomed.

Regards

Hi Everyone ....

Just want to know your position on what color should I paint my OEM 18" wheels ...

My SF just got scratch by a motherf**** ...and two of my wheels got scratch too ...

Then, I was thinking about painting them another color, or maybe just repaint the same color ...

Hello everyone, 1st post here! Been reading up on the replacement audio section and am quite interested! But that will have to wait as we're planning a trip to France in 2 weeks.

Does anyone know where I can get a spare bulb kit from? Halfords only stock the older Santa Fe kit and I think they've changed the bulbs for the later model - can anyone please confirm this?

Thank you

Hi, all. I may be behind the times on this one but just in case....

I searched earlier on how to make the fogs run independent of the headlights and with some help from others here I have. The good news its a quick and easy mod.

I found a thread from like 2007 where the last post was:

"Looking at the Schematic on hmaservice.com if you ground pin 4 of the connector (M52) on the back of the fog lamp switch then the fog lamps will work independent of the headlamp switch. They should still go out upon key removal.

Note: this will probably violate some state (and Canada) laws about having more than 4 forward facing lamps on at a given time. Also the fog lamps will be active anytime the switch is on, regardless of parking lamps or not."

I tried this suggestion and it indeed worked. Thanks!

Here's how to do it:

Open the interior fuse panel. From here, you can reach up and unclasp the pin that hooks the fog toggle light. The lever is on the blind side (not top, not bottom). There are 5 wires, two on the top, three side-by-side but offset on the bottom. The middle wire is brown and orange. Simply ground this and the fogs work like a toggle. An easy method is to use a wire slice/crimper. I think I got one form Radio Shack (The Source). It's blue and you simply attach to you working wire and press and crimp the jaw closed permanently. A metal jaw slices thru the insulation of the existing wire and you can now crimp your new wire to it.

Here's the beauty part: The fogs now work as a toggle when the ignition key is in, regardless of running/parking lights. But pulling the key out shuts them off. ALSO, with the key out, you can still tuen on your parking lights by flipping the barrel switch. When the parking lights are on, I THINK the fogs will come on also.

Hope this is specific and helps all those having the same issue.

Hello everyone. I had the first service performed on my 09 SE Santa Fe yesterday, 3000+ trouble free miles so far. It was mentioned before in this site about having the dealer program the door locks to automatically set. My dealer here on Long Island was able to do this during the service and now the doors locks auto lock at 15 mph. There was no charge, so hats off to the dealer for taking care of this for me. It's a nice feature and all the components are in place for it. Does anyone have any idea why the locks would not be factory set to auto lock ?

Noticed this morning my ashtray light is out? has this happended to anyone else? also im bringing car in for 36K service Friday, this must be covered under B-B warranty correct? I remember my VW Golf had same light out, dealer had mentioned they had to more or less tare apart part of console to change 1 tiny bulb lol, ending up doing nothing, as the $2 bulb would of been $$ with labour added lol.

any hints on changing the auto trans fluid,does it have a spin on filter or a drain plug?

Hi

I just wanted to share my new LED tail lights, which our HYUNDAI dealer installed it for me, with a very nice price approx $187 including installation and one year grantee. ( I was about to order it from CHINA with a price of $480 ) but our HYUNDAI dealer in Saudi Arabia made a very nice deals & discounts on all Hyundai Accessories.

Regards & have a nice day

[attachment=14978:LED3.jpg] [attachment=14979:LED1.jpg] [attachment=14980:LED2.jpg] [attachment=14981:Photo0015.jpg]

Hello all,
I have a 2008 Santa Fe SE that has been great for the 6K miles I've had it for. There is however, one recurring issue that I find rather troublesome. The passenger airbag "Off" light remains on when my wife or sister are sitting in the passenger seat. Both ladies are petite and weigh about 110lbs each.
I had the dealer look at the vehicle and they said the sensor is functioning properly. Apparently, the cutoff weight for this sensor is 120lbs. I asked the service advisor if there was anyway to adjust this and he flat out said there is absolutely no way. I am quite concerned because with the "Off" light on, the airbag will not deploy in the event of an accident. Anyone else have experience with this issue? Any ideas on a course of action?

I wonder if a call to Hyundai USA will net any results. Maybe its the natural pessimist in me, but should someone be injured in an accident that should have triggered the airbag, Hyundai could face some serious criticism and/or legal action.

Thanks for any input.

Three times in the past 2 weeks my Santa Fe wouldn't start. Never first thing in the morning but after the car is warmed up. I have stopped for gas/run into a store for 10 minutes. When I get back and turn the key I get electrical power (radio and fan etc.) but no cranking or engine turnover. It happened on a rainy day and twice when it was very hot and humid so maybe the electronic components are faulty. After 10 or 15 minutes the car will start as if nothing is wrong and then I'll go for several days without any problem. I've tried both keys and I tried moving the second key around the steering wheel - in case the engine immobilizer is having trouble reading the key.
I've called the dealer and they don't have any ideas but I'll be bringing it in soon - untill then - any ideas?

I have had the car since April 2, 2007 and I put only 3500 kms on it. It's a GLS 3.3L 7 passenger.

I've read that it could be the crank position sensor.

Thanks

Hello all!

After months of searching, I have finaly decieded to join the Hyundai family!

My first brand new vehicle purchase ever will be the Santa Fe. Now the only question is 2009 or 2010?

Basically, it comes down to price. Will the 2010 limited be much more expensive than the 2009 limited w/o nav package?

Also, will the dealer still offer $3000 cash back on 2010 models?

If anyone has any insight. I'm all ears!!

Cheers.

I have an 08 SF Ltd and I am looking into side window deflector/vents for it. The two brand choices seem to be WeatherTech's in-channel deflectors or Ventshade's in-channel and/or tape-attached ventvisors. Anyone with experience with either brands or both? I previously had a set of taped-on Ventshades on my 05 Tucson and they were good, but would like to know other's opinions regarding pros or cons of in-channel/taped and quality of product. Any other options? Thanks.

WeatherTech

Ventshade

On another post of a different topic, it was stated that there is indeed an adjustment to get the light left and right. Up until now, everyone I have spoken to stated there wasn't. The adjuster screws look identical to the ones that everyone is familiar with for the up and down. They are quite hidden though. The one on the Passenger side is easiest to find. From the low or outside light, you go from centre of the cap straight out to the outside. You will likely need a flashlight - even in daylight. How the engineers expected anyone to be able to get a tool in here is beyond me. Even a stubby screwdriver is too big. I tried a screw bit on a ratchet and it wasn't easy. Finally, I used my bare hands and I was able to turn it. The driver's side is a completely different story. I don't know how so get at this one.
Anyway, depsite having turned the screw several times clockwise (from the perspective of under the hood looking forward) I could not detect any movement in the beam. If anyone else experiments with this or has successfully adjusted their beams to throw out to the sides more, please provide some input here. thanks!

As many owners have probably noticed, the OEM turnsignal tends to blend in and get washed out whenever the brakes are applied. So, with my wife out of town for a few days, I figured I'd see what I could do on a shoestring budget and some creativity to come up with a solution for adding an additional indicator for the turnsignal without her knowing that I did anything to "her" truck...

I had a few of these 3mm Red LED units from Pepboys from a previous project that I never got around to, and I planned to put them to use somehow. They come in a pack of 3 for about $8.00. Each one has 4 feet of wire, as well as a small black retaining ring (in case you want to flush mount it).


I figured somewhere in the bumper reflector housing area would be a good place to start. So I took out the retaining screw, and noticed that the reflector was still held snugly in place even with the screw removed. After some firm pushing from the backside behind the bumper, the housing came out. I thought about drilling a hole into the back of the reflector housing, but realized it would be difficult to remove any debris that fell inside. Then I realized that perhaps I could put the LED in place of the retaining screw in some fashion, since the housing unit itself could be relied upon to still stay firmly attached.

So I next fed the LED wiring through the reflector housing, and into the back side of the truck into the bumper area. There was a small metal clip that the retaining screw went into, and I removed that as well. I used some clear silicone around the LED in the reflector housing to help keep it secure and weatherproof. I also but a glob of silicone on the back side of the reflector housing to help ensure the whole unit wouldn't pop out unexpectedly, despite it still feeling secure. Peace of mind, I suppose...



Below is the back of the reflector housing (red). You can see the wiring fed through the hole where the retaining screw had been. The clear silicone on the nub is additional insurance to help ensure the assembly won't pop out...


We have a hitch and Hyundai wiring harness for the truck, so I picked up a $2.99 4 plug harness with a 12" lead (also from Pepboys). A few electrical butt connectors into the ground wire (white) and left (yellow) and right (green) turnsignal wires, and everything was done. This will also allow me to simply unplug the LEDs for when I want to use the harness for a trailer as well. The LED wires were ran along the bumper support and well away from the tail pipes. If you don't have a wiring harness, you could perhaps splice them into the factory turnsignals, but I didn't look into that aspect of it.

Here are two short videos showing the results (I wasn't happy with the way either video turned out, so I just put them both up).

http://www.fquick.com/videos/LED_in_reflec...i_Santa_Fe/9137
http://www.fquick.com/videos/Hyundai_LED_i...__video_2_/9141

With the wiring harness, the LEDs now light up with the brakes and turn signals. You'll notice that when the turnsignals or hazards are blinking while the brakes are applied, the LED lights will alternate with the OEM turnsignal. Just a side result of the Hyundai wiring harness that helps make the blinking more noticeable, I suppose. They certainly aren't overpowering compared to the brake lights, and they aren't as bright as the aftermarket kit that converts the rear housing to a turnsignal/brake/taillight. But for less than $15, I'm happy with the results of having a secondary turn indicator, and my wife won't realize I was turning her truck into a small project, even though it makes it a bit safer... And it's easily reversible to remove the LEDs and just put the factory retaining screw and clip back in.

Now if I can just get my wife to actually use the turn signals when she's driving, but that's probably a much longer project... Anyway, if anyone has any helpful suggestions on improvements or other constructive criticism, please feel free to let me know. Thanks!

I went overseas and look what I brought back with me.

Very easy install. No drilling.

Much better than the US models. These are not available via the US Market dealerships. Can only be purchased overseas in Korea, Japan or like me, the Philippines.




2009 Santa FE CM 3.3L V6 SE Model

Hey all,

I've seen a few Santa Fe's around here with nice polished chrome bull bars and nerf bars so I looked around and found some fairly cheap ones on eBay but their construction is nothing close to cheap. Made by Buffalo, they are 304 Marine Grade 3" 100% Stainless Steel made of 16 Gauge .065" Thickness.







Cheers,

Mackay

I have changed my springs for some aftermarket ones, these are stiffer for towing and have a greater lift (approx 1"). I can see that the wheels have a noticable camber now and wonder if it is possible to adjust this before I get uneven tyre wear/ altered handling.


Has anyone got any experience of this?

Has anyone changed the gear oil in the transfer case and/or rear differential on their SF? Are the drain plugs and filler plug accessible? Will I need to purchase any gaskets for the plugs?

My '07 SF is currently at 32K miles. I've already replaced the transmission oil at 30K miles with the help of the posts in this forum. Thanks everyone. The owner's manual states to change the gear oil in the transfer case at 60K and at 30K for severe service with SAE 70W/90 (Shell Spirax 'X' Equivalent) but on the hmaservice website it lists SAE 75W/90 as the gear oil. Which one is the correct one to use? Any recommendations on the gear oil to use?

I have read the comments about the OEM mud flaps and wonder if anyone has used any aftermarket mud flaps and have any comments....good or bad...I just wish the OEMs had a little more coverage!

Thanks!

Does anyone know where I can find the wiring diagram for the 07 Santa Fe Limited. I would like to install a remote starter in the car for the coming winter. I have the Viper 5901 unit, does anyone know if it requires anything else like a bypass? Thanks a lot!

So I live way up north and we're down to -15C or close to zero F. Its not a particularly humid climate here either. Last two days, my windows will not defrost. I have asked on another thread if the A/C should be coming on when selected and there is some disagreement. Mine shows the light on but the fans are not running below a certain temp. I am certain the recirculate and fresh ARE working as I can hear a distninct difference in air flow sound when I swithc them ( I was guessing perhaps my recirculate was stuck on causing the humidity to build). But even with full blast hot air and even my windows down, the humidiy is building. Even the back windshield WITH the electric defrost on cannot remove the building moisture. I am not talking about removing what is there when I started the vehicle, I am talking about the fog building as I drive! This is typical of when the recirculate is on in my experience but as I said, that is not happening here. What else could be causing this?

Hello Guys

Does anyone here has the manual/slide or any sort of direction how to remove the center consule of Santa Fe (CM) 2009 model? I have a project with my ride to install RCA cable form my Kenwood DDX8032BT HU to the second row seat for other video inputs i,e. PS3, compact blue ray player and others.


Appreciated any inputs from you guys!

Since I am new to the Hyundai scene I have a few questions regarding our newly purchased 2009 Santa Fe GL V6

1. What kind of Kilometers can i expect to get out of the vehicle before I may run into major expenses and maintenance?
2. How highly recommended is the rust protection the dealership offers compared to places like Krown?
3. Is there anything a new owner should look into getting for the vehicle (accessories, additional warrenties, etc.)
4. Does it matter where I get the car serviced?

If anyone else has any advice I would love to hear from you

In August we purchased a new 09 Santa Fe SE FWD in Deepwater Blue (with floor mats). Last week purchased a second 09 Santa Fe SE FWD in Dark Cherry Red (with bluetooth, floor mats, cargo tray, cargo net, first aid kit).

My only real gripe is that the red with the bluetooth also came with other options I didn't want- first aid kit, cargo tray, cargo net.

These are our first Hyundai cars so we hope they will be reliable.

Question... thinking of ordering stainless step bars for my GLS and am wondering if anyone has noticed degradation from road salt. Chlorides are usually bad news for stainless.

Will be doing most of my driving in Ontario but do a fair bit to ski hills in US and Quebec.

Anyone have a bad experience with stainless? Thanks.

Hi to all ...I presently have an 02 Dodge Grand Caravan and will be switching to a Santa Fe this week. My dilemma is that I have a choice between an 07 Limited with 55,000kms(about 33000 miles), or an 09 GL with AWD with 13000kms(about 7800 miles). I am not real fussy as to whether or not I have leather, or a moon roof, but I do like the sound of the premiun radio and electric seats. The 09 will cost me $3000 more that the 07 so I am kinda leaning that way as the warranty will go to 2014 instead of 2011....But mostly I will be SO GLAD to get out of that %&*#@ Caravan.

My old Accord's A/C never operated in the winter time. A Honda mechanic told me the was not normal but I never did anything about it. Today it is -10°C where I live (approx 10 F?)and I noticed I couldn't defog the windows. I put the A/C to manual and looked under the hood and noticed neither fan was running. This is a 2008. Can anyone else confirm this? I found this strange since the A/C is hard wired into the defrost buttons (which I have since learned to override).

On my 2009 Santa Fe the tire size is 235/70R/16, what if i use 235/65R/16 or 235/60R/16 or 235/60R/15 as snow tires..does dat effect the ride quality and fuel economy as the right size tires are expensive and not easily available. Your advice is relle helpful and thanx for all the comments and suggestions.

thanx.