OFFICIAL THREAD: Manual Transmission Issues

[brad fischer]

2.0TGT : I think we are getting close to getting a Canadian TSB. I just wrote another nasty letter to,

CustomerRelations@HyundaiCanada.com

Also talking to some good parts and service reps at other dealers in Ontario that are making the same type of calls your service guy did.
I would like you to post or pm me your dealers name as there are about 5 in the montreal area. I am keeping a list of dealers that do the TSB or at least make an effort to get some info for the customer, as your service guy did.

[WhatsDone]

Originally Posted by tarpan

It never really occured to me until I read the post from TeamK but I am wondering how many other potential sales were lost because of this.

+1
The transmission issues are the main reason I don't already own a Gen Coupe

[brad fischer]

WhatsDone : I am sure I have heard of problems with your other 2 car choices as well. I think the Genesis manual has been improved since November 2009. Not many cars are perfect, my only issue with my car is cold shifting and I just wish Hyundai Canada would issue a TSB in a timley manner, to repair the early transmissions. Good luck with your car shopping.

[scottydont]

Username - scottydont
Location (i.e. city, state) - Edmonton, Alberta
Engine/Trans/Trim - 2.0T/6speed/Premium
Mileage - 28000km

To what degree is the problem? - Very difficult to shift into 2nd gear, grinding in third and fifth. Very clunky on all shifts, much worse in the cold.

What have you done to try to get it fixed? - Talked to Hyundai service, they said there is no service bulletin so nothing happened.

[Phenix3st]

Originally Posted by WhatsDone

+1
The transmission issues are the main reason I don't already own a Gen Coupe

Tranmission issues plagued my Tib too. so frusterating.

[brad fischer]

An excellent parts and service guy from Owen Sound, talked to a district rep, and others in the tech dept regarding my cold shifting problems. All that needs to be done is take it to my dealer on a cold morning or leave it over nite. A service tech will test drive to verify problem. Then open a case file with Hyundai tech, and call the district rep. Hyundai Canada will approve changeing to Pentosin 75w80 or for colder climates Hyundai's regular SP-3 ATF. What ever oil is chosen it is best to flush with the ATF. Just did some more research online the SP-3, or ( SP-lll ) as it is properly called, is very similar to a bunch of other ATFs, even Redline D4 ATF. This seemed to be the best choice before all the TSBs came out in the US and Canada.

[cmarinos89]

Just started experiencing 5th and 6th gear grinding about a week ago. Car just crested over 7100 miles. Took it to the dealer yesterday and they changed the trans fluid as per the TSB, did not flush or bleed the clutch as I asked. After the fluid change the 5th gear grind is gone but the 6th gear grind appeared to become worse. I'm going to take it back into them on Wednesday and they are going to drive it and look at it again. Was hoping that since I came this far without the issue I would be one of the lucky ones but I guess not. This is very frustrating and I hope I can get this fixed in a timely and respectable manner.

Location: Chicago, IL
Car: 3.8 GT 6 MT
Mileage: 7186

[carenthusiast]

Originally Posted by TeamK

I honestly think this Thread has probably deferred Many potential customers away from this car.

+1
I was strongly considering a GC. It seemed like the best choice performance wise and reliably wise. But the reliability has turned into a problem like what the Evo people are experiencing. Transmission problems.

[The Brat]

Sorry for the delayed reply. Here's my update.

Brought my car in to the dealer and tried to replicate the 1st gear clunk-move problem. After a number of tries I finally got it to do it a few times. I'm told that they don't think that its a case of a non-disengaging clutch since it doesn't happen everytime. District Service Manager took it for a test drive and said that its "the smoothest GenCoupe he's driven to date". Which doesn't say much... They added "Smooth Shift" to the tranny and its improved the general shifting a lot, but still having issues downshifting to 2nd when cold and still experiencing the sycro kickback going up into 3rd. I feel sorry for those of you that don't have the "smoothest tranny" on the block b/c mine's NOT great by any stretch of the imagination.

So, basically, my dealership has done everything they can, including going above and beyond what HMC has instructed them to do to try and solve my tranny issues. In fact, the tech who has been working on my car for the last year now refuses to do anything else on it. He's invested countless hours into my coupe and approx. 25 additional hours - outside of proceedures prescribed by HMC - which he is fighting HMC to pay him for. I don't blame him for not wanting to work on my car any longer. He's literally tried everything. The TSB with the fluid flush & shift linkage replacement was conducted by Hyundai of their own accord. I had come armed with the US TSB, but they already knew about it and had planned on performing it on my car. I assume that it was a CDN TSB... They put a thinner fluid in, but still a Hyundai-approved fluid. The "Smooth Shift" additive I don't think was prescribed by HMC.

I'm still not happy with my transmission and I'm coming up on a year May 1st. So, here are my options: (1) Keep the car (which I've financed) and cross my fingers that a fix is found and that my issues don't get any worse, or (2) start CAMVAP proceedings and get Hyundai to buy back my car (payout the balance on my loan) and find another vehicle to drive. I can't express how much I love the car and hate the trans all at the same time. This is a very tough decision, as not many - sorry, not ANY - of the cars in my price range have the double-take "wow" factor that the GenCoupe has. But the trans. just makes me want to cry with frustration. So I'm leaning towards the latter. I went and test-drove a couple of new cars to day and think I found a winner. But I'll lease this time. If the Gen was leased, I'd stick it out for the next 3 years, but I can't be stuck with a lemon that I won't be able to sell when I'm ready to move onwards and upwards.

[brad fischer]

Brat : Do you know exactly what fluid they put in, was it Pentosin 75w 80, or Hyundai SP-lll ATF, or something else? Also can you ask for the brand name of the Smooth Shift additive. What dealer are you going to for all this transmission work? They seem very helpful. Finally got my service tech to drive my Gen. He said it shifts like all the others he's driven. I am expecting a phone call from the service manager next week, I am not sure if they will help. When the sevice tech drove my car it was still cold and I could tell he used alot of force to shift. More force than I would ever use on my own car. I am over 6'3'' and over 200lbs, I don't consider my self weak, but I do have "mechanical sympathy' meaning I dont like to abuse or force mechanical items or abuse machinary, especially my new car. This may be an important point, some people find the tranny fine and others don't, maybe the people who think the shifting is fine are used to being more forceful with past cars and the Genesis as well. I can't remember driving another manual car needing so much force to shift at 0*C, and I have owned nothing but manuals, and own 4 cars right now, and have been driving for over 30 years.
I find the Genesis shifts at 0*C, like other manual cars would at -20*C.
My Coupe's build date, March 2009

[Sonic Genesis]

I bring'th news from Guelph! The new HMC updated fluid did exactly what I thought it would! NADA! So after a brief moment of me explaining my lack of confidence in Hyundai's warranty as well as an angry "I told you so... 17,000km ago!!" A transmission has been ordered for me o_o so, hopefully this fixes it, if not then maybe an Evo is in my future.

[DamnYankee]

Well... Looks like my car is going to the dealer tomorrow. Clutch wouldn't engage or disengage from 1/2 way last night. I've had the grinding and synchro kick out in 3rd gear like everyone else, too. I'm at only 5,000mi to top it off. Also, I have very notchy shifts into 5th gear regularly. What did I get myself into?

[Mike_D]

It is a shame to see so many people backing away from getting a GC MT. Newer models don't seem to have the cold 2nd and 3rd downshift issue.

I am having similar problems to Brad with my car (3.8 MT - manufacture date Jan 2009). My wife just got a 2.0T MT (manufacure date Dec 2009) and her transmission is wonderfully smooth, which confirms Brad's statement about November 2009 and later models aren't exhibiting the same symptoms.

I've had the transmission fluid replacement done on my car and, as others are reporting, it doesn't seem to have made any difference. The dealer's service department is currently out of options available to them through Hyundai Canada.

I'm currently waiting for feedback from Hyundai Canada in response to a customer relations email, and although the experience of others makes me wonder if this will be productive, I have to pursue it all the same.

The concern I have is that even if Hyundai does replace transmissions in response to these complaints the replacements might have been picked from early batches to build up a parts inventory in Canada and will have the same problem. This is purely conjecture, although posts by owners who have had transmissions replaced and experiencing the same problem might bear this out to some degree.

[Jonnei]

Username - Jonnei
Location (i.e. city, state) - Jacksonville, FL
Engine/Trans/Trim - 2.0T/6speed/R-Spec
Mileage - 1200m

Started having a slight problem getting into gears 1,3, and 5, around 900 miles. Now at 1200 miles, it is more noticeable. Still not at a point where I want to deal with the hassle of leaving it at a dealership. If it gets worse, then I'll have no choice. The problem is intermittent.

[Trelin]

Originally Posted by Trelin

Update: I spoke to Hyundai Canada the day this was posted, today is 4 days later, and the only thing that happened is Hyundai Canada left me a same day message informing me the dealer would be calling me. 4 days have passed with no contact. They have till mid next week - or I will be the one calling.

I phoned the dealer, requested the service manager. Turns out the service rep I was working with is no longer employed there. The service manager is going to contact Techline, and try and get permission to replace the 'gear assembly' (forgot what he called it), the 1 and 2 gear assembly anyways. He is also going to take a look at the clutch. Someone here mentioned they found the clutch was not fully disengaging - and I was able to reproduce it 10% of the time.

We shall see where this leads. I will keep you all up to date.

Dealer: Southtown Hyundai in Edmonton, AB (Canada)

[brad fischer]

My dealer called yesterday and wants to change my 75w 85 original gear oil out for Hyundai brand ATF. Funny last week the service manager said if I wanted the HMA TSB specified 75w 80 gear oil I would have to sign something to cancel my transmission warrenty. I asked what specific type of ATF oil they planned on installing, they were not sure. I think hyundai has more than 3 types, I will look into this today. Anyone care to comment on the use of ATF in this gear box, I assume the ATF they want to use is not a dual use ATF like Redlines D4.

[swankins]

I'm not sure if this is an issue and this happens once in a while. When I press on my clutch to shift from 1st... my car slows down really fast like I just slammed on the brakes. I can't replicate this but it happens once in a long while.

@1,100 miles
Other issues:
1) Cold start: can't get into 2nd unless I FORCE it in.
2) Going into 1st to 2nd ALWAYS make a metal sound (not like when you dont fully engage the clutch while shifting)... its just straight up Clunk clunk clunk.... Like I'm forcing my shift knob into 2nd. It's not a fun sound. And only way to not hear the sound is for me to drop my rpm below 2,000 for me to shift into 2nd smoothly. I hate this part the most!
3) 3rd Gears only comes up sometimes. Not a real big issue but does make the metal clunk sound when I drive it aggressively.
4) Shift Knob vibrates.... a lot... not all the times. But even when the car is a standstill in neutral or with 1st with the clutch full engaged.


Good enough reason to bring it to the dealer to see if it's good under warranty?

[nastyalien]

i was really considering getting a genesis coupe 2.0T but then i saw all these problems! My question is do you guys try to rev match when downshifting? like, do you blip the throttle a little to ease the strain on the synchros? i drive my friends 500hp evo mr with the 6 speed(notorious for problems!) and we have not had problems like this and its been 40k miles. i am sorry if i come off as being arrogant but do you guys shift properly or do you lets say let the revs drop to idle and then try to shift into fifth while doing 60mph. This is a very discouraging thread considering i love the looks and specs of this car. sad sad sad hyundai. the worst thing is where i read that one guy was denied service because the dealer said he was abusing the car???!!! like seriously wtf are these issues getting resolved or are you guys just getting the same crappy tranny replaced?

[TeamK]

Originally Posted by nastyalien

i was really considering getting a genesis coupe 2.0T but then i saw all these problems! My question is do you guys try to rev match when downshifting? like, do you blip the throttle a little to ease the strain on the synchros? i drive my friends 500hp evo mr with the 6 speed(notorious for problems!) and we have not had problems like this and its been 40k miles. i am sorry if i come off as being arrogant but do you guys shift properly or do you lets say let the revs drop to idle and then try to shift into fifth while doing 60mph. This is a very discouraging thread considering i love the looks and specs of this car. sad sad sad hyundai. the worst thing is where i read that one guy was denied service because the dealer said he was abusing the car???!!! like seriously wtf are these issues getting resolved or are you guys just getting the same crappy tranny replaced?

Yeah I was curious about that too..Are people Rev matching? and also..You can't (well shouldn't down gear to 1st gear) 1st gear is only to start the car, if moving at all, should always be in 2nd gear. I have had 0 problems so far, but have not had the car for very long. But happy things are going good..at least for now...
- I am in no way saying that people w/ these problems can't drive stick, but it's possible that a few people might.

[brad fischer]

I finally talked to decent guy at HMC customer relations. He is confirming that HMC wants to change the o.e. 75w 85 gear oil for Hyundai ATF, for customers that complain about cold shifting problems. It is not a TSB yet but something they are aware of and have tested it on other cars including Genesis Coupes. They say it works better than the 75w 80 Pentosin that HMA uses in its TSB, because of our colder climate. I mentioned in previous post that a service tech in Owen Sound found out that they recomend Hyundai SP-lll ATF, not a newer ATF that they use in the Genesis sedan. I asked HMC to verify exactly what ATF they recomend, as there are at least 5 types of ATF recomended for the various Genesis models.

Before I get this done I want to know exactly what ATF HMC recomends, and I will make sure my dealer has that exact ATF. If HMC recomends a flush and refill I will make sure my dealer follows that procedure. I am being fussy about the details here, but I want the job done right the first time and want to protect my warrenty, I may need it in the future for more serious transmission problems. HMC also said Pentosin 75w 80 is still an option for people that only drive in the summer. NO MENTION OF NASCAR OIL YET.!!!
Seriously, you guys in Canada that have had your oil changed can you find out exactly what it was, Pentosin, Hyundai ATF, SmoothShift, SP-lll, Mystery Oil, NASCAR Oil,etc........................................... ...p.s. I was told the thicker gear oil has a sticky film that prevents the syncos mateing in the cold, as if the oil cant get out of the way fast enough.
Just trying to post every thing I have been told by Hyundai representatives