Transmission Woes And Ohs! - 2004 Sulev

[negiti]

Hey Everyone,

Happy Holidays to all.

FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN AGONIZING OVER USING ANY ATF OTHER THAN THE HYUNDAI/MITSUBISHI/KIA SLOP:

I got my 2004 Elantra GT w/18K miles on it. The automatic transmission contained the factory ATF (based on service records), and the car came from Atlanta (hott!!) It was shifting v-e-r-y raspy when I got it, so on went a temperature-compensated oil cooler (some sort of valve - probably bimetal - to restrict cooling at lower temps for more neutral operation), and I siphoned out about 4 oz. of fluid, replacing it with about 4 oz. of pre-reformulated Royal Purple Max-ATF.

Shifting has been smooth and awesome ever since, up to about 80K miles - believe it if you will, save it for next Christmas if you don't.

In the last 3K miles (83K miles total), the transmission have become increasingly erratic in its shifting, and very recently developed the symptoms described in TSB-5-04-002, "Engine Controls - Driveline Bump on Acceleration":
___________________________________________
Some 2004 MY Elantra vehicles with automatic transmissions may experience a mild driveline "bump" when accelerating from a stop after the vehicle has been parked for more than approximately one hour.

The driveline bump may be felt as one, two or three successive bumps between 2-10 mph in 1st gear only, and occurs only once for each driving cycle.

This bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the Powertrain Control Module (combined ECM and TCM)
using the Hi-Scan Pro.

VEHICLES AFFECTED:
^ Model: 2004 ELANTRA vehicles with automatic transaxles and CVVT engines
^ Affected vehicle production date range:

-- Produced from November 13, 2003 to May 28, 2004
___________________________________________

And also TSB 04-40-012 - Automatic Transaxle Harsh and/or Delayed Shifts (self explanatory)

In an effort to determine if it was possible to bring the ATF friction factors up to date and thereby avoid PCM reprogramming or replacement, I discovered that Royal Purple Max-ATF has been reformulated to include among others, Hyundai SP-II and SP-III fluid specifications.

I found some of the new formulation at a local NAPA parts store for about 11USD/quart. At those prices, and b/c I was only going to try less than a quart to begin with, I purchased one (1) quart of the liquid gold. I put in about one-third of the quart, first reducing the existing full ATF quantity by about the same amount, bringing the idling/hot ATF level to the top mark on the stick.

The abrupt shifting at speed immediately and completely disappeared. Since this all happened just today, I have yet to confirm that the 1st gear drive line 'bumps' are completely gone, but they were certainly gone for the rest of the day's stop-and-go holiday driving to and from the airport (picking up the college kids).

Royal Purple Max-ATF can be had for as low as 8USD/quart. This is still alot of dough, however please allow me to point out that:

- Having another source for super-high quality ATF further breaks the Hyundai owner's indentured servitude to the dealership, which (as witnessed here), often doesn't even HAVE Hyundai ATF on hand for love nor money.

- The dealer cost for Hyundai ATF, plus the $$$ spent letting them do the work once there (how many reading this have done just that?) comes out to alot more than 8USD/quart.

- My initial 4 oz. bolus of 'old' style Royal Purple Max-ATF, added to the original factory load of ATF, carried the transmission to 80K w/o mishap.

- Royal Purple Max-ATF is a super-filtered, unblended synthetic with an enormously stable and long duty cycle, apparently alot longer than the factory slop.

I am looking forward to draining the 4-5 quarts that can be drained, and re-upping w/Royal Purple Max-ATF, assuming no ill behaviors between then and now.

M-u-u-ur-y Christmas, and H-a-a-a-p-y New Year!

-Joe

[2001VE]

Actually if you unhook one of the tranny cooling lines from the AT cooler(after making sure car is warmed up) put it in a bucket and run the car until it stops flowing steady. Top it up with another 1-2 quarts, put the hose back on run the car for 1-2 mins; then dump from the hose a second time you can purge some of the torque converter oil as well. Hyundai ATF is a full sythetic oil; its made by somebody since they don't have their own oil company.

[cclngthr]

The MAX ATF is the SAME formulation as the Amsoil MAX ATF, which Hyundai has not specifically approved of the Royal Purple or Amsoil automatic transmission fluids even though the RP and Amsoil does mention it is compatable. When you use this fluid, you are voiding your manufacturer warranty because the fluid is a non-approved formula.

I ran into this 3 times when 3 separate customers came to my shop regarding failed transmissions (they had flushed the trans with Amsoil trans fluid which has the SP-III rating plus the other formulas). HMA denied their warranty because the fluid was not an *approved* ATF. Amsoil claimed that the owners abused the trans and stated automatic transmissions can fail as little as 50,000 miles even with proper servicing.

Since you still have some Hyundai SP-III fluid remaining in the trans, damage is reduced because that fluid contains no abrasive detergents, where fluids that are Dexron and other similar types contain harsh detergents because those transmissions are built for it.

Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Kia automatic transmissions do not have a carbon fiber or regular clutch disk grade friction material. The 3 use a combination of plastic, rubber and glass as a friction material, and abrasive material can destroy this material.

I also was told that the Hyundai stuff is already a synthetic grade oil.

[cclngthr]

The MAX ATF is the SAME formulation as the Amsoil MAX ATF, which Hyundai has not specifically approved of the Royal Purple or Amsoil automatic transmission fluids even though the RP and Amsoil does mention it is compatable. When you use this fluid, you are voiding your manufacturer warranty because the fluid is a non-approved formula.

I ran into this 3 times when 3 separate customers came to my shop regarding failed transmissions (they had flushed the trans with Amsoil trans fluid which has the SP-III rating plus the other formulas). HMA denied their warranty because the fluid was not an *approved* ATF. Amsoil claimed that the owners abused the trans and stated automatic transmissions can fail as little as 50,000 miles even with proper servicing.

Since you still have some Hyundai SP-III fluid remaining in the trans, damage is reduced because that fluid contains no abrasive detergents, where fluids that are Dexron and other similar types contain harsh detergents because those transmissions are built for it.

Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Kia automatic transmissions do not have a carbon fiber or regular clutch disk grade friction material. The 3 use a combination of plastic, rubber and glass as a friction material, and abrasive material can destroy this material.

I also was told that the Hyundai stuff is already a synthetic grade oil.

[2002 GLS]

Well you brought the car with 18K, you should of changed the fluid at 30K then again at 60K, then again at 90K miles. Every 30 thousand miles!! that could be your problem right there?:abovelol:

Happy Holidays.