Well I bought a used 2006 Sonata 6 months ago I really loved it in the beginning until 3 months ago when I started my car there was a noise it sounded like something was grinding. I took it to the dealer they said it was normal, they could do a oil change and that should quiet the noise. The noise got louder. they called in the regional inspector to listen to it. Well he came in and listened to it and now I am being told this is a normal noise, that I now have to deal with because there is no mechanical problem according to them. They call it a "characteristic" and since there is no mechanical failure they will not correct the problem. Although the car never made the noise when I bought it. I bought a new car to have it not sound like a piece of junk, the looks I get when starting a very nice car is like WOW what a piece of junk. The 2005 to 2008 Sonata's all make this noise, so I am being told now. So needless to say I will be down at the dealer this weekend asking them how much they will give me for my car that sounds like the engine is going to blow any minute when I start it. I know for sure I can't get top retail value for it, as soon as I start the car for an interested buyer and they hear that noise and I tell them this is normal and I have a piece of paper that states this is normal for this car they will laugh in my face and walk away. I am now stuck with a $14,000.00 car that the value I am sure just decreased buy $10,000.00. I wonder how this engine was able to be tested and pass inspection on the production line at the plant and make it in the vehicles without this being disclosed to the unsuspected buyer. I would like to hear from anyone with a 2005 to 2008 Sonata V6 who is currently having or had this problem. With this piece of paper I am being told if there is mechanical failure with the timing chain or tension pulley they will fix it as long as it is within the warranty period. I am sure the problem won't arise until 100,000 miles just as the warranty runs out.

timing chain tensioner --- do a search here on this. It's a known issue with the V6 engine, deffinitely covered under the car's warranty.

http://jerrystout.us/sonata/tsb/timing_cha...replacement.pdf

Just print that out and take it with you. :thumbsup:

Yep that is what it is. There is a TSB and Capaign out on it. Get it fixed. It will take about 3-4 days to fix. My car is not making near a much noise but I took it in to the dealership with the TSP in hand and told them to check it out. They were very reluctant because of the work involved. They asked me if I noticed any abnormal sounds coming from the engine. I told them that it is not my job to make sure my engine sounds funny but a trained ear like thiers. So I have an appointment to take it in. I have slammed my local Hyundai dealer via the phone and online surveys. I explained why it is my job to enforce TSBs/compaigns. It is funny when it comes to "you get what you pay for". When I had my MBZ I never ever had to do anything to that car. When ever I brought it in they would tell me that my car was up to date on all recalls/TSB's/Capaigns. In fact right before the warrenty ran out, they asked if they could take the car for a couple of days to do a intense inspection of the car to make sure that everything that even looks worn or broken they would fix. They gave me a brand new loaner and when I picked it up the car was better than new. But when I drop my car off at the local Hyundai dealer they treat me like I am trying to rip them off. They inspect ever inch of my car to make sure they document any in perfections. All they find is a great looking limited model with lots of mods.

This post has been edited by maguzma: Aug 27 2008, 08:25 PM

I don't mean to put another cloud in your sky, but since you bought your Sonata used, you don't have 100,000 miles of warranty. Used Hyundai's only have the 5 year/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper coverage, unless it's Hyundai Certified Pre-Owned.

If you're still within the 60k, don't give up until this issue is fixed. If this particular dealer is not willing to do the TSB on your car, find another dealer ASAP!

As for that crap about "if there is a mechanical failure with the timing chain tensioner, we'll fix it if you're still under warranty", that's a total line of horse s#!t. The tensioner is known to be faulty from the factory. If it actually fails, the entire engine will likely have to be replaced. No one wants that to happen.

we had the hyundai rep look at it yesterday and this is what they put down on paper about it...

A customer complaint and statement related to start-up engine sound must be documented on the repair order for any warranty diagnosis and repair. Certain mechanical sounds occurring briefly during initial engine start-up may be due to prolonged engine shutdown or long-term storage, and may be considered normal.

Note: If there are no brief engine start-up sounds after repeated 10 minute shutdown attempts, then DO NOT PERFORM THE SERVICE PROCEDURE OF THIS TSB. The engine is operating normally.

We have no problem with the engine, just the clicking noise during start-up which makes the car sound like junk. Even when the car sits or 10 minutes or longer it does this. They are saying that it is a normal noise. I just do not understand how this engine came off the production line like this. This noise never started until it hit 45k miles. If this is a "normal noise" then why is it that the dealer does not notify the buyer about this. Idon't know about anyone in this forum but if I was looking at a new car and I heard this car start up with a noise like that, I would turn around and walk away. Because this vehicle was sold new whenever, it must have not made any noises then and did not make any noises when we test drove the car at the time, then I am thinking that this noise is not "normal".

If it is the tensioners, then I don't understand why they just do not replace them now while the car is under warranty. I think it would cost the dealership much less to replace this problem now then to deal with a class action law suit. When our car was getting looked at yesterday, another person was there for the same thing. I am starting to wonder if this car is going to become a lemon.

As I noticed some people are also dealing with the ABS/ESC light coming on as well. Funny thing, ours is also doing the same. Along with that, the recall they are having with the passenger airbag, which we never received any notice on is another issue. This is where I am thinking this car is a lemon. Don't get me wrong, we love this car we just don't like paying payments on a car that seems to be falling apart.

Anyone else going through this?

We are just over 52k on the car. We even purchased the extra warranty (gold plus) which will cover us up to the 100k on the car.

These are all known issues with the NF Sonata. There is a TSB (as mentioned earlier) about the timing chain tensioner (covered by warranty). The ABS/ESC problem is easily fixed by replacing the accelerator position sensor (also covered under warranty). And the passenger airbag light only affects a small number of people (and again, covered under warranty if necessary). Unless you've had issues with the light staying on while someone is seated in the passenger seat, there's nothing to worry about.

None of these things qualify the car as a "lemon" unless the same problem needs to be repaired repeatedly (the number of times varies by state).

It's unfortunate that these things have turned you off to your Sonata. Hopefully your dealer (or the new dealer I suggest you find) will take care of these issues for you and you'll be a happy camper again. Other than the things you've mentioned in this post, the Sonata's have been very dependable and relatively problem-free.

All in all, I wish you the best of luck.

We are not turned off by Hyundai Sonata. We love that car. It is just the BS of that tensioner making that noise. If we decided to sell that car on our own, could you imagine that person laughing at us when we started the car and told them that the noise is normal. They would turn around and walk off even if we showed them documentation that the dealership gave us in black and white.

Brother do one of the following.

1. Go to another dealer.

2. Park your butt in a lawn chair in front of the dealer. If this happened to me and I knew about the TSB or not they would not like me around them. I'd have the GM and Owner involved in this one. I'd let the expletives fly. Heck, they'd probably give me a new car along with a dozen doughnuts.

3. Use the extended service plan you paid for. Let them fight it out.

Time to get this fixed and enjoy your Sonata like we enjoy ours.

This post has been edited by craigbrooks: Aug 27 2008, 10:44 PM

delete..........

edit: Just tryin' to get the post count up. :banana: I think I'm 4000 away from matching Miami. :bwekk:

This post has been edited by craigbrooks: Aug 27 2008, 10:45 PM

Now I'm really baffled.... The Hyundai rep claims "Note: If there are no brief engine start-up sounds after repeated 10 minute shutdown attempts, then DO NOT PERFORM THE SERVICE PROCEDURE OF THIS TSB." --- You claim that even after siting for 10 minutes it DOES sound that noise ---- this is simple, no? There IS a problem that needs to be fixed. Period.

Posters here were complaining about this noise that occurs ONLY WHEN FIRST START UP A COLD ENGINE IN THE MORNING..... Yours is probably "advanced" enough to make that noise on EVERY start up.....

......Am I missing something here? :w00t:

Couple thoughts. You did not "buy a new Car", you bought a used one. You mention all 2005- 2008 Units make this noise which is news to us. 2005 Units
were a previous generation Model made in Korea.
The Lamda V 6 Engine is one of the quietest Engines you will ever experience
If it makes a noise, and a constant noise at that (unlike the Tensioner?) , why would they need the regional inspector? What is the regional inspector?. Where
do you live? Some areas have many Dealers to chose from. Of course
now that this regional inspector has been involved, who knows what will happen.

Oh and your Sonata is not worth $14,000 :w00t:

...Maybe that "Hyundai rep" does not exist? Maybe the dealership is making things up? I don't think the car is a Lemon, I think your dealer is a Lemon. Dealers are not too happy to do warranty work, 'cause they're paid less than doing non-warranty work.

Yes, find another dealership. Or call Hyundai and ask them who they recommend you go to. This is such a known issue with your car model, that I don't believe you should have ANY problem have it fixed under warranty.

When we first start the car up in the morning it starts making this noise. Then anytime after that when the car sits for 10 mins or longer, it will start the noise again when we start it. The Rep said it made no noise after sitting for 10 mins but I know thats not true because just today I watched the time and restarted the car right at the 10 min mark and low and behold, it did it again.

As I posted before ---- I think your dealer is lying to you. There's no "rep" inspecting your car.... And in the meantime your engine is getting DAMAGED. I would call Hyundai --- asap.









This post has been edited by mamamia: Aug 28 2008, 05:32 PM