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Oil Light when Braking Hard

31K views 26 replies 11 participants last post by  Celesteel19  
#1 ·
Hello,

2011 Santa Fe with 3.5L V6 and AWD, 38000 Kms:

Very recent work (last month or so) - new battery (old one had a bad cell), brake light switch and for a repair of the seat adjustment bar (not sure what it is called). The most recent oil change was done by me in November and I have only put about 1600 kms on it since. I put 5W20 Castrol Syntec and a made in Korea WIX filter. I fill the oil to just a hair below the top dot on the dip stick. I torque everything properly.

OIL LIGHT PROBLEM:

When I was driving home from work this evening, I had to brake a little harder than I normally would when I was turning into the back lane (about 8 houses from my house). I thought I saw the oil light come on, but I wasn't sure. I continued down the lane when someone walked out in front of me and I had to brake again. This time, the oil light did come on for sure and then went off when I took the brakes off. It was -20 C outside, so I continued to my house which was now 4 homes away. I braked to go into my (heated!) garage and the light came on again as soon as I touched the brakes.

I decided to let the car sit for an hour to get an accurate reading on the dip stick. I checked it and the level read exactly where I had filled it - just a touch below the top dot. I took the oil filter out to check that it was still seated properly and was not obviously clogged. It looked just fine. No signs of any leaks in the engine compartment or under the vehicle. I decided to take the car out again to go around the block - maybe not a great idea. The light didn't come on again when I braked until the vehicle had warmed up again.

What could the problem be?

I guess I need to take it in, but I start work at 7 AM and my wife is on maternity leave and she needs a car tomorrow. So, this means me taking the Yaris is out. She can't take the Santa Fe to the dealer with my infant son and so I guess I have to get it towed. This is bullshit. This POS has been in the shop several times since November. I can just feel it nickle and dime-ing me once warrenty is through.
 
#3 ·
At first I was thinking hard braking = oil sloshing combined with low oil causing the sump to go empty. But now you are saying that level is good.

May be a faulty oil pressure switch. Let the dealer take a look.


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Earliest I can get it in is Thursday. Probably some kind of electrical problem. Again. The temps are good and I would assume the pressure is OK as if it was not, I would always have the light on. I wonder if this could be related to the new battery and brake light switch?
 
#8 ·
IMO, that filter is questionable?
By the way, a Wix filter is made by Fram, They're all I've used in the past, but after quite a bit of reading lately, the general consensus is they're garbage! I would replace that filter with a Hyundai one, I read they're better then most, plus your warrantee is safe.
 
#22 ·
IMO, that filter is questionable?
By the way, a Wix filter is made by Fram, They're all I've used in the past, but after quite a bit of reading lately, the general consensus is they're garbage! I would replace that filter with a Hyundai one, I read they're better then most, plus your warranty is safe.
I would put money on it and say that Hyundai filters are made by Fram, they make most OEM filters. If you hold both together you'll see they are identical!

I agree about the questionable filters, there's a lot of 'Junk' filters made in the far east and labeled as Fram, Wix, Crosland, Donaldson etc. etc. Be careful where you purchase your filters from. Don't buy off eBay many are bad.
 
#14 ·
Thanks for the help everyone.

The engine RPMs were unaffected (meaning they did not drop to anything stall worthy) by hard braking. I took it to the dealer and it is a bad Oil Pressure Switch. There are no signs of any leaks by it (because no oil is going down the side of the pan) and I have been advised that it is perfectly safe to drive my Santa Fe as long as I check for leaks everyday until the new pressure switch comes in early next week.
 
#17 ·
Sorry for bumping this back to the top, but are oil pressure switches a common issue on this vintage of Santa Fe?

I too have a 2011 Santa Fe 3.5L AWD (60,000 kms), and just this morning I noticed that my oil light comes on only at idle. Coincidentally, I live in the same city as Kravchenko, and it was REALLY cold this morning, as in -42 with the windchill factored in.

Anyway, I booked an appointment at the dealership tomorrow, so I'll let everyone know what the problem is as well.
 
#27 ·
Hello,

2011 Santa Fe with 3.5L V6 and AWD, 38000 Kms:

Very recent work (last month or so) - new battery (old one had a bad cell), brake light switch and for a repair of the seat adjustment bar (not sure what it is called). The most recent oil change was done by me in November and I have only put about 1600 kms on it since. I put 5W20 Castrol Syntec and a made in Korea WIX filter. I fill the oil to just a hair below the top dot on the dip stick. I torque everything properly.

OIL LIGHT PROBLEM:

When I was driving home from work this evening, I had to brake a little harder than I normally would when I was turning into the back lane (about 8 houses from my house). I thought I saw the oil light come on, but I wasn't sure. I continued down the lane when someone walked out in front of me and I had to brake again. This time, the oil light did come on for sure and then went off when I took the brakes off. It was -20 C outside, so I continued to my house which was now 4 homes away. I braked to go into my (heated!) garage and the light came on again as soon as I touched the brakes.

I decided to let the car sit for an hour to get an accurate reading on the dip stick. I checked it and the level read exactly where I had filled it - just a touch below the top dot. I took the oil filter out to check that it was still seated properly and was not obviously clogged. It looked just fine. No signs of any leaks in the engine compartment or under the vehicle. I decided to take the car out again to go around the block - maybe not a great idea. The light didn't come on again when I braked until the vehicle had warmed up again.

What could the problem be?

I guess I need to take it in, but I start work at 7 AM and my wife is on maternity leave and she needs a car tomorrow. So, this means me taking the Yaris is out. She can't take the Santa Fe to the dealer with my infant son and so I guess I have to get it towed. This is bullshit. This POS has been in the shop several times since November. I can just feel it nickle and dime-ing me once warrenty is through.
I'm having the exact issue with my 2017 Sonata Sport as soon as the warranty is up. I just spent $600 to replace a computer in it 2 months ago, I'm so annoyed. What was the outcome of your situation?