Hey guys,

I joined here a year ago but it's my first post.

My 97 Accent starting having troubles ever since Midas put in a few quarts of the wrong fluid. Since then I had them flush it out. I also drained the pan and replaced the filter and 4 more quarts afterwards.

The shift problems seem to occur after several minutes of driving. The car will fall out of OD and will shift from 1 to 2 at high rpm's, usually different after each start up. Eventually it goes in to fail safe mode and stays in 3rd gear until either you restart it or it cools down. From a stop i have to shift it manually and it will go into 2nd though not 1st. Every now and again, especiallyif I take it near 70 mph and decelerate it will downshift harder (into 2nd?) and feel like its braking.

Anyway, eventually the check engine light came onand I took it to the dealer to get the error codes for free, which read:

temp sensor
input speed sensor
output speed sensor
incorrect shift ratio 1-2
incorrect shift ratio 3-4
and a tcu error (?)

I dont have the print out in front of me. I was told that one problem could set off codes for the other problems.

Since with all of these errors the trans computer seemed like a likely culprit and I found one for 25 bucks, im going to swap it out and see what it does. strangely I had noticed what looked like atf fluid around the cables of the tcu connectors under the dash last year. Perhaps it somehow dripped off the speedometer cable?

My next step would be to check the TPS and the other sensors(and I noted someones recommendation to try cleaning the speed sensors and reonneting them).

Any other advice or suggestions?

Thanks,
J-bob

Incidentally, for anyone out there dealing with the wrong fluid being used, the local dealer recommends flushing the system twice if need be. The trans. tech stated that it sometimes takes him 3 or 4 times before it starts shifting right.

Turns out there was some oil in the transmission computer connectors AS WELL AS the pulse generator connector, which is right by the trans dipstick. I went ahead and replaced both parts just in case, although I don't think anything was wrong with the trans computer. I'm still a little perplexed at how both areas were exposed to oil or atf.

For anyone with these symptoms I'd recommend checking the connections and also the pulse generator which commonly fails after so many miles. It's only a 50 dollar part. The updated number is 45955-38051 for those that use the pulse generator (which take place of input and output sensor).

John Nance, parts manager at Indy Hyundai, proved to be very helpful with this part and seems to offer better prices than other dealerships.

cheers

Hi guys, new here. My 1999 Accent GL has this problem. It will randomly stay stuck in 3rd gear and only come out if I turn off the ignition and turn it back on. I've ready the replys on this thread but am confused. Where is the transmission computer and/or pluse generator located so I can check them or replace if needed. My Accent has been sticking in 3rd gear all month and it's driving me nuts. Any help would be apprisheated.

I owns 01 Sonata. I solved this problem by replacing an input speed sensor. Still I have other problems, which is rough shift and high rpm as shifting.

The 01 Sonata is not set up the same as the Accents. The Sonatas have separate input and output speed sensors. The Accents have a pulse generator set, which is located on the top of the transmission housing, under the air cleaner ductwork and air cleaner box.

I doubt it's the TCU, they aren't really known to go bad, however the pulse generator set is known to fail.