We own a 2001 2wd Santa Fe. Recently replaced the harmonic balancer, due to an interstate emergency!! :w00t: Thats another topic all together!
Anyway, yesterday, we were at road speed of 65mph, using cruise control, when all of a sudden, it downshifted into 3rd gear! Talk about scaring the ---- out of you!
So, got it home, checked trans fluid, all was well, and we let it sit.
Later, we got in it again, and it drove fine.
After it had warmed up, it did the same thing AGAIN!
Now, it will not shift from 3rd gear! It will obviously go into park, but will stay in 3rd not go into 1st, 2nd or overdrive.
What is going on with our LEMON??
We have had ALOT of problems with this vehicle, and this is just another one to add to the list...Is this going to be a big bucks $$$ fix???

Sounds like a bad speed sensor. Do you have a check engine light on?

We had a check engine light BEFORE this happened. We had gone to Auto Zone, and they had told us, it was something to do with the fuel system?? Like gas cap etc. So we bought a new gas cap, and reset the computer (unhooked to battery) and the light went off.
I went to an import mechanic this morning, and he said something about the speed sensor, and he also found a recall. It is for a corroded automatic ransaxle oil cooler tube??
What the ??? is this ???
He is leaning toward replacing the transmission. $750 for transmission, $500 labor!!
This vehicle is gonna brake us!!
:w00t:

Dear mammaj!,

STOP! Do not let this mechanic do a $1250 transmission replacement when all you need is a $80 sensor replaced. Why not try the simple and cheap fix befoe moving to the complicated and expensive?

I had the shifting problem in a 2001 Sonata, fixed with three sensors, and the car is still running strong at 110k miles.

Byron

I had same problem last november on my 2001 sante fe. Coincidence? It was the speed sensor and it's been fine since. Don't remember how much it was but prob. around the $80 mark.

We are going to have the guy replace the speed sensor and go from there. Hopefully that will solve all of our problems! Thanks for all of your help! :)