Sorry, don't have the manual handy.... Following the instructions for a regular transmission fluid level check up ---- how do you check it, with the engine RUNNING or do you need to shut it off first?

 

engine/trans at operating temp, car on a good level surface, place the shifter in neutral, with the ebrake of course and than you can check the fluid, engine running.

 

gOD bLESS yOU, mIKE. :amen:










:liebe011:

 

What's an "engine flare?" Sounds like something an arsonist would be familiar with.

 

Well, this morning I drove to work, which is 6-7 miles away from home, mostly on the highway (75 mph) --- so I must guess my transmission got HOT ENOUGH, AM I RIGHT?

Checking my fluid level, the dipstick is shaped different than what's showing on the TSB, it's a Z shape stick.

The level was at COLD, did not go beyond the first line.

I guess I'm short of transmission fluid?

Was my car delivered to me 10 months ago with low transmission fluid????

Any harm done???

:w00t: :w00t: :w00t:

 

yeah I had a hard time checking mine because of the dipstick as well. I wiped the stick dry, and re-inserted it just as checking the oil. The the fluid didn't seem to be as visible on the stick as when checking oil, as far as actually seeing the raised surface of liguid on the stick. I only only see red raised liquid on the 'z' , or very bottom portion of the stick. But where I had wiped completely dry I could see that it had a 'wet' look to it, but absolutely no trace of red. That coulda just been from touching the side when pulling the stick out? Should I see that red 'puddle' of fluid all the way up until the 'hot' area on the stick? I added probably an 1/8 of a quart, and now I can see the 'red' all the way until the very bottom of where the 'hot' zone is, but the stick itself is moist much higher than that, and I was afraid of putting too much in. Does it sound like I should add some more?

It may be in my head, but it did seem to shift smoother afterwards?!?! It was never neccessarily rough in the first place, except from 4-5 when cold sometimes, but it certaintly didn't shift as smoothly as some have raved about on the forum.


If it was low, I too am concerned that driving it 3k miles like that may have done some damage due to the negligence of teh dealer. But I figure it was doing anything that harmful it would have shown/felt in performance?!?!

 

Originally posted by mamamia@Nov 28 2006, 02:54 PM
Well, this morning I drove to work, which is 6-7 miles away from home, mostly on the highway (75 mph) --- so I must guess my transmission got HOT ENOUGH, AM I RIGHT?

Checking my fluid level, the dipstick is shaped different than what's showing on the TSB, it's a Z shape stick.

The level was at COLD, did not go beyond the first line.

I guess I'm short of transmission fluid?

Was my car delivered to me 10 months ago with low transmission fluid????

Any harm done???

:w00t:  :w00t:  :w00t:

[snapback]64768[/snapback]​

Yes you were low and should add to bring it up to full on the HOT mark.
I don't think any damage was done as you didn't dip below the COLD mark.

 

I added probably an 1/8 of a quart

-- of what kind of transmission fluid? I understand you must use only hyundai' s OWN fluid, no?

 

yeah I stopped by a dealer today first thing and picked up a quart..$5.06. might be cheaper at other dealers, as this dealership price gouges everything else they sell. While standing in the service area, I took the chance to glance at the prices for various services. This board also included prices for the same services at pep boys and goodyear. Their price was significantly higher for EACH and EVERy service. Must be some form of high tech reverse marketing?!?!?! No, I did not buy my sonata there, but it's the closest one to where I live. It was also my understanding that you must use the hyundai fluid, I'm taking no chances w/ my baby!

 

Hyundai will tell people that you have to use genuine Hyundai fluid...but the simple fact of the matter is that any fluid that meets the spec is perfectly fine. (Remeber that automotive manufacturers don't actually make their own oils.)

That spec being SP3 (SP111). An example being Castrol TQM ST.

As for driving with slightlyk low fluid levels - should cause absolutely no problems whatsoever. No cause for alarm or worry.

 

I'm just concerned about adding too much, dipstick seems very difficult to read. I'll try it again when I get home tonight and see if it's any easier.

 

Transmission dipsticks can be quite hard to read. The problem is the thin fluid, which when hot, pretty much turns almost transparent because it's so thin!

A tip - get yourself some nice clean kitchen paper and when you check the fluid, give the dipstick a wipe, then check again, then wipe and check again, then wipe and check again. You will then get an idea of the average result.

If you are worried about over-filling, when you top-up only do a little at a time - just enough so that you can see the difference in level on the dipstick. Then check again the next day.

If you do overfill it's not the end of the world. Turn off the car and get yourself a nice big syringe and put a thin piece of silicone hose on the end of it. Poke the hose down the dipstick tube, and suck out some of the fluid. Nice and easy.

Transmissions (like modern engines) are better off with running slightly "under-full" rather than slightly "over-full".

 

i've also read you won't get an accurate reading if you have been driving at high speeds for a prolonged period of time. I have a 20 mile or so commute home, which atleast 15 miles of are at highway speeds. Would it be ok to check it as soon as I get home, or should I wait 15-20 minutes for it to cool down a little?

 

Highway speeds are fine. Prolonged high speeds are typically a good hour at fast highway speeds. Normal highway speeds (80-110km/h) are typical, and certainly fall into "normal running". Before checking, it is a good idea to cycle the selector through P/R/R/D a couple of times, stopping for a couple of seconds at each detent.

 

thanks for all of the helpful replies.

 

Prolonged high speeds are typically a good hour at fast highway speeds.

Hmmmmm... NOW you're telling me? Maybe my transmission was not hot enough, since my drive this morning (any morning) takes about 10-12 minutes only, to cover the 6 miles distance....

 

no, the high speeds are a bad thing. I would think a 10-12 minute drive would be fine, especially in chicago. i don't miss that traffic anymore.

 

10 minutes of driving is just fine. The transmission only needs to be at normal operating temperature.

 

K. I will go to my dealer tomorrow morning. Luckily enough he's about 3 minutes drive from my office.

Home to office -- 12 minutes on the expressway.

Home to Highschool -- about 3 minutes drive.

Home to the most popular, beautiful shopping center is Chicagoland -- 3 minutes drive.

Home to downtown Chicago -- an HOUR.

See, that's why we stay home. rarely go to Chicago.

fftopic:

 

Originally posted by mamamia@Nov 28 2006, 07:58 PM
K. I will go to my dealer tomorrow morning. Luckily enough he's about 3 minutes drive from my office.

Home to office -- 12 minutes on the expressway.

Home to Highschool -- about 3 minutes drive.

Home to the most popular, beautiful shopping center is Chicagoland -- 3 minutes drive.

Home to downtown Chicago -- an HOUR.

See, that's why we stay home. rarely go to Chicago.

fftopic:

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Mama, you go to High School. Man, 1976 was the last time I saw High School :w00t: .

What problems are you having?. I checked mine on a slight incline, while it was cold, in neutral with the motor running. While this is not the way to check, the dipstick was at the full mark, and the fluid was as clean as can be!. Of course I only have 2400 miles on the LX. If you worry too much you will lose all your Hair, plus its bad for the Heart. Take Xanax, works wonders!. :thumbsup:

 

MIAMI, DEAR,

I already lost all my hair, I am on a waiting list for a heart transplant, and I take 4 Xanax every 2 hours. My blood pressure is 160 over 240, I urine blood, and spit fire.

I'm a lost case, so what's there to live for, if not for my babe Sonata?

 

In summary - transmission dipsticks can be hard to read especially since the fluid is clear (or should be). And the dipsticks on the V-6 are down low.

And there is such a thing as checking it when the engine is too hot - on my gm cars the manuals warned about that. I check after 5 to 10 miles of driving - never a problem.

Lastly check your driveway also - not just the dipstick - if you have a leak, this will probably be the first place you find the evidence of it.

 

Originally posted by mamamia@Nov 28 2006, 10:00 PM
MIAMI, DEAR,

I already lost all my hair, I am on a waiting list for a heart transplant, and I take 4 Xanax every 2 hours. My blood pressure is 160 over 240, I urine blood, and spit fire.

I'm a lost case, so what's there to live for, if not for my babe Sonata?

[snapback]64825[/snapback]​

I could have sworn the Pic you posted had Hair?. :w00t:

Please take care of yourself. At least you have family members to discover the body. Why I just have the Sonata, and I don't think it really cares if it ever saw me again?. :whistling:

 

Family?!?!?!?!?!?!

My wife just left me for a horse, and the girls converted to Islam and now walk in the house with the Burka.

I tell you, my 4-banger baby S is my only sole mate on this miserable planet!

No wonder I'm gonna check her fluids time and again.

 

So after reading a low level of transmission fluid yesterday I stopped by at my dealership this morning.

It's not as simple as I thought....

In order to make an ACCURATE reading of the transmission fluid level, the car must be at a CERTAIN range of operating temperature.... Too cold is no good, but too hot is neither...

So it's not just as the manual is suggesting. They practically REFUSED to read the dipstick. First they must attach their SCANNER to have a reading of my temperature, wait for it to go up or down, as neccessary, and ONLY THEN read the dipstick...

Well, once they were "ready to read the dipstick" it showed the level to be just very slightly above the COLD mark.

"So add just a bit of fluid" I said... "No, it's within specs" they said. The explanation for all this is ADDING TOO MUCH FLUID WILL DAMAGE THE SEALS IN THE TRANSMISSION.

OK, as long as they say so...

So there you go, if you want to LEARN something about this.