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Sonata Clatter

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2.1K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  motd  
#1 ·
Hi everybody. This is a question on my 2007 Sonata I-4. When started cold, I get a noise that sounds like hydraulic valve lifters clattering. It's not real loud and it goes away after a couple of seconds, like the lifters got filled with oil. The car has 5740 miles on it and has made this noise since new. The dealer told me the timing chain tensioner was bad and that they would replace it under warranty. He said they had a TSB on it but the only one I could find online was for the V6. He had me bring it in and they had it for three days. They said they tensioner was OK and a new, like model on the lot made the same noise. They also said the "engineers state normal for make and model". Has anybody else run across this? I'm really happy with this car and I'm not worried about the noise, just curious.

PS: I'm 6'-6" tall and a little more leg room would be nice. Is there any way to get that?
 
#2 ·
Your dealer had your car for 3 days to conclude that everything is normal, though anyone connected with the Sonata KNOWS that only the V6 cars have this issue... Your dealer is not very bright (and Hyundai probably never paid him for this 3-day job...)...

I never noticed any noise on cold startup (I-4 AS WELL), but NOW THAT YOU'RE TELLING US, I WILL LISTEN TO IT TOMORROW.
 
#4 ·
I tend to agree with you about the dealer. He gave me a new Santa Fe for a loaner. Said it came in with in-op A/C and they had worked on it several days, replacing the compressor, etc and that it was now working correctly. Well, it did, about 10% of the time. It just blew hot air the other 90%. Maybe it's a good thing they didn't open up my engine.
 
#6 ·
Originally posted by RickK46@Jul 14 2007, 03:04 PM
PS: I'm 6'-6" tall and a little more leg room would be nice. Is there any way to get that?
Click to expand...

Speaking as someone the same height as yourself, I know what you mean there. I have the electronically-adjustable seat in my car, and it seems to be a bit roomier (to me, at least) than the manual seat was, but maybe that's because it has more variable settings. With the manual seat, if you put it all the way back and pump the seat cushion up to the highest feasible setting (where your head is not going to rub against the headliner all day long), you will find that you can gain a bit of legroom that way since it won't be as straight of a path to the pedals as if you had your seat set low down to the floor.

And this might seem obvious, but the thinner sole of a shoe you can wear, the more functional legroom you gain.

That's about all I've got for suggestions. Hope they help! :thumbsup:
 
#7 ·
My Sonata does it for a couple seconds at start up also, as does my Sequoia, my Corolla did it, my neighbors Ram 1500 pick up. It's part of having aluminum pistons, they expand/contract at a different rate than the steel. When cold there is more clearance so what you get is a little pit of piston slap. Unless it gets really loud or continues for more than a couple minutes I wouldn't worry about it. You might even see a bit of smoke at the same time from oil (off the cylinder walls) that wasn't scraped.

At least it's not like my neighbor 3 doors down. He has a diesel Ford Excursion that I can hear even with the windows closed in the house and driving the whole way down the block while leaving a cloud of smoke.

As a side note: 3 days and not even knowing that the TSB was for the 6 cyl only???? Get a new dealer for service ASAP!!!
 
#8 ·
Yes, I must guess mine does it too... I listened to it from INSIDE at start up this morning, radio at mute, and yes, for a couple seconds there is an extra noise coming from the engine, which I guess must be what we're dealing with here...

Otherwise, at idle speed this engine is smooth as butter... Sorry, V6 folks. :thumbsup:
 
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