An electronic component, that apparently replaces the old distributor cap. Hyundai says yes this can happen at any time to any car and blah, blah, blah and maybe you've got your bad luck out of the way now, and no we won't pick up the tab for your towing costs, etc.

The 2008 Tucson replaced a reliable 16 year old Colt. It was time for a new car, a nice new reliable car to last the next 16 years. A few bells this time, a few whistles, but hey, I deserve it - and this is going to be MY new car that I can trust because Hyundai makes good cars, and well I want to feel safe on the highway...even though my 16 year old Colt still drives like a charm, and has not cost me much in the way of repairs over the years.

So, I take my first long distance trip in my new safe, spiffy Tucson - to bond, since naturally I haven't had car payments for years, and this is a bit of any upgrade from my previous car, and well, I want to know it was all worth it...

So how do I feel now? After my Tucson lost power suddenly on the highway, and kept dropping speed at dangerous levels until thankfully I got it over into the slower lanes and finally off the highway...sputtering, and dying the whole way...

I've lost faith...they are fixing it as we speak, but how am I going to trust that car again??? And I am appalled at the attitude of the dealership; am I wrong in thinking it might be a nice gesture for them to pick up my tow tab?

The car is brand new. It has less than 3000 kms on it. Engines don't die on new cars!! That's not how it's supposed to work!

Ok, so they'll fix it, and I'll wonder when is it going to happen again? Every 3000 kms perhaps? There wasn't even a warning light, nothing, to warn me it was happening...to me, this has safety implications...one wrong move, and that situation could have proven deadly.

I am disenchanted with my Tucson, and even more disenchanted with the service people...nobody will ever convince me this is normal, and could happen to any car at any time...it happened to MINE, and I'd feel safer now in my 16 year old Colt...if I still had it!!

Anybody else out there had a really bad experience like this one?

Hi
I was reading another Tucson forum (a canadian one) because I remember something similar some time ago (Sep 12 2008)
The driver had the same symptoms as yours and he was driving a Tucson DynamicVersion 2WD 2.0i CVVT (140)CVVT with a five speed manual gearbox.
He said "I was for 3 weeks on holiday in spain, with my caravan.
Last Friday I went home. After 250 km I get serious problems with the Engine of my 2008 Tucson.
I'ts a 2.0 liter version with 10.000km.
On the Highway I have to stop, because the Engine has'nt got enough power to get on the hill.

The motor was still runing, but could'nt pull the caravan (1.400 kg). (It wqas later taken by trailer from France to Holland)

The end result was The Hyundai dealer has immediately checked the engine of my car.
The problem was a sensor on the crankshaft what was not working.
There are two of these sensors, which arrange the ignition.
When one of these sensors is not working, the engine will fall in a emergency program.
Then the engine will have half of the power.

He had mobile recovery for 3 years when he bought his Hyundai so everything was covered- You say your car is near new don't you have recovery free from Hyundai for a period after you buy where you are?

Look I hope this helps come along to tucson drivers dot com and we will see you there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Itza






pamastre is my jog on this

This post has been edited by Itsatusconmatey: May 20 2009, 04:55 PM

By the way chico that was the only time such a problem as this seems to be recorded and it is fairly rare- there have been some issues with auto boxes with power surge but this has been resolved immediately.

Some dealers are more proficient at diagnosis than others and a few people have bought a scan guage so that they can monitor electrical faults electronically.
It is a shame this has happened to you so quickly after buying your Tucson but I am now with my second one since they came out in October 2004 and all that went wrong with my first one was a wiper motor andf a clutch pedal. My 2nd (better spec) one has been trouble free from new in january 2007. (touch wood)


Itza (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif)

How far away from a dealer were you? Did you call Roadside Assistance? Canadian Hyundai's have 3 years, 60,000 kms roadside assistance, longer if you have extended warranty

Sounds like you are describing the failure of an oxygen sensor.... a very common fault on cars i general.

Without information from the sensor, the engine management system doesn't know how the engine is performing, so goes into a "get you home" mode which has limited power and drinks fuel and you are advised to limit yourself to 50mph MAXIMUM. The idea is it keeps you going long enough to get to the nearest dealer.

Most UK breakdown recovery agencies will plug their computer into your engine management system and be able to tell you straight away if it's happened, and often have spares in the van as it's a very common component to fail.

If you only potter around in the car to the shops and taking the kids to school it can happen without you even knowing, especially on older cars... you only find out when it fails the MOT emmisions tests.

Roadside Assistance is offered for Canadian Hyundai's, as other's have already posted.

If you have this, and did not contact them to have your car towed, I cannot disagree with the dealership for not wanting to foot the bill on this one. Hopefully your problem gets fixed and can be considered a one time mis-hap. Good luck.