Thank you so much for helping us out on this forum!

I just purchased a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe and it's been great for
the first month. Only two concerns so far:

The car tends to pull right on most road surfaces. I took it
back to the dealer and they adjusted the tire pressure. But that
didn't fix the problem. From internet research, I found that it
could be a slightly defective tire, something called radial
pull. I'd appreciate any advice you'd have on what to do next.

Also, the speedometer seems about 5-7 miles off at least at high
speeds. When the speedometer reads 80mph, I'm going closer to
70-75mph, based on other cars and my knowledge of the road (I've
been traveling this same interstate for many years). Again, I'd
be grateful for your advice on how to fix the problem.

Many thanks!
Ken

 

In regard to the pulling-- and I presume this isn't just an issue of the
steering wheel not being centered-- it's likely that the rolling
resistance of one of the front tires is greater than the other. Often,
swapping the front tires should solve the issue.

In regard to the speedometer, the dealer can test the accuracy of the
speedometer if they're willing to do a little rigging. Once upon a time,
the speedometer was testable using the scan tool through the data link
connector. But because the terminal used for speedometer tests was needed
for CAN communication lines, it was moved to another location. That means
testing the speedometer would require making an adaptor harness or
jumpering the output from the scan tool to the vehicle speed sensor
circuit. I haven't yet done anything like this, but looking at the
circuit in a 2006 Sonata, it certainly appears possible. I'm presuming
the Santa Fe circuit is similar.

 

Thank you very much for your help! This gives me great
information when I bring the car in for service under warranty.

> In regard to the pulling-- and I presume this isn't just an
> issue of the steering wheel not being centered-- it's likely
> that the rolling resistance of one of the front tires is
> greater than the other. Often, swapping the front tires
> should solve the issue.
>
> In regard to the speedometer, the dealer can test the
> accuracy of the speedometer if they're willing to do a
> little rigging. Once upon a time, the speedometer was
> testable using the scan tool through the data link
> connector. But because the terminal used for speedometer
> tests was needed for CAN communication lines, it was moved
> to another location. That means testing the speedometer
> would require making an adaptor harness or jumpering the
> output from the scan tool to the vehicle speed sensor
> circuit. I haven't yet done anything like this, but looking
> at the circuit in a 2006 Sonata, it certainly appears
> possible. I'm presuming the Santa Fe circuit is similar.
>
>
>
>

 

"hyundaitech" <notpublic@not.public.com> wrote in message
> In regard to the speedometer, the dealer can test the accuracy of the
> speedometer if they're willing to do a little rigging. Once upon a time,
> the speedometer was testable using the scan tool through the data link
> connector.

Easier method is to use a GPS unit and take a ride. It will give a rather
accurate reading of your speed. Have any friends that own one?

 

Regarding the pull: Mine did the same thing. Took it back to the dealer.
They said the problem was imbalanced tire pressure, which they
corrected. Obviously this didn't do any good. Took it back. They
aligned the front end (on a new car???) or said they did. Naturally no
improvement. I looked in the service manual at http://hmaservice.com,
where there is a section describing the steps to take to correct a left
or right pull (why didn't the dealer look here in the first place?). The
first step is to reverse the front tires. I took it to my local
mechanic, since this was easier than going back to the dealer. He
switched the tires and problem went away. The Hyundai people must be
pulling their hair out trying to get these dealers squared away now that
they are selling so many cars.

 

I'm sorry to hear about all the trouble this caused, but am very
grateful you shared your experience. I'll recommend this to the
dealer when I take the car back. They've already tried option 1
(adjusting tire pressure).


Edgar MacArthur <edgarmac@verizon.net> wrote in
news:46B68283.5080508@verizon.net:

> Regarding the pull: Mine did the same thing. Took it back to
> the dealer.
> They said the problem was imbalanced tire pressure, which
> they
> corrected. Obviously this didn't do any good. Took it back.
> They aligned the front end (on a new car???) or said they
> did. Naturally no improvement. I looked in the service
> manual at http://hmaservice.com, where there is a section
> describing the steps to take to correct a left or right pull
> (why didn't the dealer look here in the first place?). The
> first step is to reverse the front tires. I took it to my
> local mechanic, since this was easier than going back to the
> dealer. He switched the tires and problem went away. The
> Hyundai people must be pulling their hair out trying to get
> these dealers squared away now that they are selling so many
> cars.
>

 

I have a friend that drives a taxi that can tell his speedometer is off by
comparing to the GPS and the meter, which agree with each other but not
the speedometer.

 

Just remember that you're offering information to possibly help them. My
recommendation is to offer it up and drop the subject. A knowledgeable
technician actually diagnosing the car trumps "some guy on the internet."

 

"hyundaitech" <notpublic@not.public.com> wrote in
news:276f78eeafd40734ae91b3bff27fef73@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com:

> I have a friend that drives a taxi that can tell his speedometer is
> off by comparing to the GPS and the meter, which agree with each other
> but not the speedometer.
>

My Sonata is off consistently by 3 MPH as compared to my GPS. Oddly, my
wife's Entourage varies from 2 MPH to as much as 6 MPH when over 60 MPH.

Both cars read higher than the actual speed. And both still have the
original OEM rubber on them.

Eric

 

> GUEST wrote:
> Thank you so much for helping us out on this forum!
>
> I just purchased a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe and it's been great for
> the first month. Only two concerns so far:
>
> The car tends to pull right on most road surfaces. I took it
> back to the dealer and they adjusted the tire pressure. But that
> didn't fix the problem. From internet research, I found that it
> could be a slightly defective tire, something called radial
> pull. I'd appreciate any advice you'd have on what to do next.
>
> Also, the speedometer seems about 5-7 miles off at least at high
> speeds. When the speedometer reads 80mph, I'm going closer to
> 70-75mph, based on other cars and my knowledge of the road (I've
> been traveling this same interstate for many years). Again, I'd
> be grateful for your advice on how to fix the problem.
>
> Many thanks!
> Ken

I use this method of checking the speedometer and it is
suprisingly accurate. Drive on the interstate and count 10 mile
markers while going at constant 60 MPH. Measure the time it takes
with stop watch or second hand of watch. It should take 10 minutes.
Works better than you would expect and no special tools. Also, you
can check the odometer.

I fixed a car recently that was pulling to the left pretty strongly by
exchanging the two front tires.

 

"southluke" <luke.l.talley@boeing-dot-com.no-spam.invalid> wrote in message
> I use this method of checking the speedometer and it is
> suprisingly accurate. Drive on the interstate and count 10 mile
> markers while going at constant 60 MPH. Measure the time it takes
> with stop watch or second hand of watch. It should take 10 minutes.
> Works better than you would expect and no special tools. Also, you
> can check the odometer.

Aside from the variation that is inevitable on the hills here. you are
risking your life driving at 60 mph on the highway. You'd be run over
inside of three miles

 

> GUEST wrote:
> Thank you so much for helping us out on this forum!
>
> I just purchased a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe and it's been great for
> the first month. Only two concerns so far:
>
> The car tends to pull right on most road surfaces. I took it
> back to the dealer and they adjusted the tire pressure. But that
> didn't fix the problem. From internet research, I found that it
> could be a slightly defective tire, something called radial
> pull. I'd appreciate any advice you'd have on what to do next.
>
> Also, the speedometer seems about 5-7 miles off at least at high
> speeds. When the speedometer reads 80mph, I'm going closer to
> 70-75mph, based on other cars and my knowledge of the road (I've
> been traveling this same interstate for many years). Again, I'd
> be grateful for your advice on how to fix the problem.
>
> Many thanks!
> Ken

But he has a Santa Fe. Imagine how I feel fighting all
the red neck pick-em-up trucks in my Integra.

 

> GUEST wrote:
> Thank you so much for helping us out on this forum!
>
> I just purchased a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe and it's been great for
> the first month. Only two concerns so far:
>
> The car tends to pull right on most road surfaces. I took it
> back to the dealer and they adjusted the tire pressure. But that
> didn't fix the problem. From internet research, I found that it
> could be a slightly defective tire, something called radial
> pull. I'd appreciate any advice you'd have on what to do next.
>
> Also, the speedometer seems about 5-7 miles off at least at high
> speeds. When the speedometer reads 80mph, I'm going closer to
> 70-75mph, based on other cars and my knowledge of the road (I've
> been traveling this same interstate for many years). Again, I'd
> be grateful for your advice on how to fix the problem.
>
> Many thanks!
> Ken

And there are other options. For example, one could go
120 MPH and expect to go 10 miles in 5 minutes.

 

Reply to message from "hyundaitech" <notpublic@not.public.com> (Mon, 06 Aug
2007 11:14:48) about "Re: Hyundaitech - 2007 Santa Fe questions":

h> Just remember that you're offering information to possibly help them.
h> My recommendation is to offer it up and drop the subject. A
h> knowledgeable technician actually diagnosing the car trumps "some guy
h> on the internet."

That said I recall the time I took my Tib to the dealer for other work on a
Saturday and asked the so called advisor to have someone look into my
clutch pedal squeak. The guy said I would have to bring the car back on
Monday as they would have to put it up on the hoist and drop the
transmission. I was floored! I told him the squeak was from the pedal
spring but he stuck to his lame story. All I wanted was for someone to
lubricate the spring but nooo....

Did it myself later that day and the squeak has been gone for over a year
now. I wrote an email to the service manager and gave them a negative
survey response when asked how the service went.

Moral of Story - Be properly informed, get TSB printouts or whatever, buy a
copy of the Shop Manual and print out the relevant pages, and suggest these
fixes because sometimes the person 'advising' is a moron. Then check the
car out before leaving the vicinity of the dealership. If it is still not
fixed turn back and let them know right away. Don't just pick up the keys
from the cashier. Speak to the 'advisor' again and ask what they found and
what they think they fixed. Tell him you will be back if not satisfied.

My 2 cents.

Regards
Wayne Moses <wayne.moses@comcast.net> Sun, 19 Aug 2007 00:06:18 -0500

=== Posted with Qusnetsoft NewsReader 3.3

 

"Wayne Moses" <wayne.moses@comcast.net> wrote in message
> That said I recall the time I took my Tib to the dealer for other work on
> a
> Saturday and asked the so called advisor to have someone look into my
> clutch pedal squeak. The guy said I would have to bring the car back on
> Monday as they would have to put it up on the hoist and drop the
> transmission. I was floored! I told him the squeak was from the pedal
> spring but he stuck to his lame story.

Was it warranty work? I can imagine them squirting some lube on the spring
and billing Hyundai for transmission adjustments with 4 hours labor.