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Comments
I am in the market for a new car, since the lease on my 2008 Honda Accord EX-L (4 cyl, no nav) will be ending soon. I test drove the Sonata Limited and was very impressed. It's the top contender so far, but now I am trying to decide whether going for the navigation system is worth it or not. I can't seem to find a manual for the nav system anywhere, so I was hoping some of you who own the car equipped with it could answer some questions for me. Since I will be leasing again, I cannot make permanent modifications to the vehicle after the sale, so aftermarket options would be very limited.
How sophisticated is the voice control? Are you easily understood? I am also very interested in what other aspects of the car can be controlled by voice. I've read some audio functions can be controlled by voice but I've seen no details of exactly what you can do. Can you tell the system to tune to a particular radio station, for example?
Are the audio controls easy to use while driving?
Does the routing make sense? My garmin sometimes sends me on bizarre routes that actually take longer than the route I'd normally use. Is the POI database large? Does it let you avoid certain types of routes like toll roads? How well does XM traffic work?
Can a passenger use the system while the car is in motion?
One of the things that appealed to me was the addition of the backup camera. How well does that work? Is it video only or (like on some cars) is there an audible signal as well as you get closer to an object?
How well does bluetooth audio streaming work? Can you see the number of the person calling on the nav screen if your phone is paired?
I would really appreciate any help that you can give me. While I normally wouldn't buy the nav system because I have a portable one, the extra features available might make it worth the cost for me.
If anyone has a link to the nav/audio system manual in PDF form I would also really appreciate it. On the Hyundai site it seems you already have to own the car tpo be able to download it. Seems silly to me, because this info would answer a lot of questions for prospective buyers like me.
J
How sophisticated is the voice control?
About the same, for Nav, as my previous Garmin 850.
Are you easily understood?
About the same once you've "trained" it. Also varies depending on background noise level.
I am also very interested in what other aspects of the car can be controlled by voice. I've read some audio functions can be controlled by voice but I've seen no details of exactly what you can do.
Voice can control to some extent: FM/AM radio - XM radio - CD - MP3 - USB MP3 - USB Image - iPod - the Nav system - Phone (when paired)
Can you tell the system to tune to a particular radio station, for example?
Yes - both AM and FM (Ex. "FM frequency 99.1" should tune to FM 99.1)
Are the audio controls easy to use while driving?
Yes. Channel pre-sets up/down, vol up/down/, and mode change can be done on the steering wheel.
Does the routing make sense?
Mostly. I've had a Garmin and a Mio and all three have minor routing quirks. I'm not sure any Nav system is "quirk free".
Is the POI database large?
Even after I updated the maps on the Garmin it still wasn't 100% in my local area, and neither is the Sonata Nav. I'm not sure the number of POi's, but if it helps, the Nav System is by https://www.mapnsoft.com/default.asp
Does it let you avoid certain types of routes like toll roads?
Yes.
How well does XM traffic work?
If you are in an area that it covers, it will give an audible and video display of a traffic problem/delay. The XM site shows the coverage areas in the US.
Can a passenger use the system while the car is in motion?
Yes. So can the driver, so be careful.
One of the things that appealed to me was the addition of the backup camera. How well does that work?
Full color video with what they term a "Parking Guide system". Ask your dealer to demonstrate.
Is it video only or (like on some cars) is there an audible signal as well as you get closer to an object?
Video only
How well does bluetooth audio streaming work?
Some folks say it is great while others report it being problematic. Mostly the problem may be with the device your are "pairing". I've got a iPod Touch that connects very well with the Hyundai cable and have no reason to use the Bluetooth aspect so can't help you with this.
Can you see the number of the person calling on the nav screen if your phone is paired?
The incoming call will cause the "phone" screen to be displayed, if I recall. Don't recall it showing up on the Nav screen. You can "answer" the call by pressing the "call" button on the steering wheel. You can then go back to the Nav screen if you need it and continue with your phone call.
I would really appreciate any help that you can give me. While I normally wouldn't buy the nav system because I have a portable one, the extra features available might make it worth the cost for me.
If anyone has a link to the nav/audio system manual in PDF form I would also really appreciate it. On the Hyundai site it seems you already have to own the car tpo be able to download it. Seems silly to me, because this info would answer a lot of questions for prospective buyers like me.
I would recommend you go to your Sonata dealer and ask to look at one of the Nav System Manuals. That should answer many of your questions. I haven't found it in pdf either.
Hope that helps.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100831/bs_nm/us_hyundai_sonata
I do have a slight concern. With the manual, I got standard steel tire rims and hubcaps. When the snow falls, I intended to buy snow tires and put them on the steel rims and purchase alloy rims for the sumer tires. The problem is I can't find 16"/6.5 alloy rims available anywhere including the Hyundai dealer! I would prefer an after-market rims but that size is rare or never made.
According to the article the problem arises around 650 miles of driving or less.
Just sit tight!
Apparently you missed the following text in the article:
"There have been no injuries or accidents reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or Hyundai regarding the steering issue, government and company officials said."
If that's true, then it would add additional credence that mommyt's story continues to be difficult to believe. Additionally, mommyt indicated that the wheel jerked to the side and could not be moved back. Not exactly the same as a decoupling issue, where the wheel would presumably move freely but have no effect on the actual steering.
Thanks..
It feels like as if the car is all over the place. The car cannot go straight at all. What could be the problem? Any feedback would be highly appreciated. I am constantly adjusting the steering so that the car goes straight. The steering wanders. Is this normal?
FYI........
Regarding those steering shaft couplings. Everybody uses them, all brands. From reading the information released by various sources, and the tightly identified span of vehicles affected, I would wager that on some day, on a specific line at the factory, there was an assembly torque wrench that was malfunctioning. These couplings have very specific torque settings, and while they do have some overhead for excess tightening, you can sure strip one out. And if they are not fully torqued down, they can allow play between the two shafts. Been there, done that.
On the dark side, you don't want one of those things to come off. They hold the various shafts between the steering wheel and rack together. On the bright side, they really have to be screwed up (broken) for that to happen. More common is that they are loose and allow excess play in the coupling. Either way, if Hyundai can identify what time period and "lot" of vehicles went down that line, they are being very responsible and correct in checking those cars. Easy to correct, and not expensive at all.
Without knowing just how much your car pulls to one side or the other it is a good idea to get it checked out like you're doing.
My dealer has no info on it yet.
In other reports, there were a grand total of 2 documented failures. While ANY loss of steering is unacceptable, this puts the chances of your car having a complete steering loss right up there with being struck by lightening. Twice. On successive Thursdays.
I really hope this fixes it. I would have to agree with the above that Hyundai really did want to make you happy. Not sure I would ever see a GM or Ford dealer picking up a tank of gas AND a car payment!
:shades:
I think you should read it again. I said that the wheel jerked to the left and it took all of my strenght to get it over and keep it over to the right because it kept jerking to the left. I was actually lifting myself off of the seat, but I did get it back over.
I did not say that it could not be moved back! Did you not see the video? You can see my husband move the wheel both to the left and right.
I have been telling the truth and stood my ground throughout all of the badgering.
You just can not admit that you were wrong...not only about the steering failure, but 100% wrong about me.
I understand that it was a hard pill to swallow, since I did aproach it like a darn maniac...LOL!
Nevertheless, there are a lot of people unwilling to accept the truth. :P
The important issue here is to fix it fast so no one gets hurt. That is what I would like to see come out of it.
There have been numerous reports, but they are focusing the investigation on two of them. I don't know if one of them is mine, or not. I am just happy that our government does care.
I know that it is hard for you, but try to look beyond what Hyundai stated, and look into the NHTSA complaints. There are more than two.
Shame on you for saying that you don't think its worth mentioning! How would you like it if something bad happened to you and someone said that your safety wasn't worth mentioning? Be careful with what you say. What goes around comes around.
I have also been struggling with this same exact noise (among others). In my case, 90% of the noise is coming from the "crash pads" as Hyundai calls them. These are the side pieces of the lower dash that extend down on either side of the cubby where the aux ports and power ports are. I noticed that when I press on mine they creak loudly.
I believe someone else here on the forum, also having the creaking noise, suggested running a business card with some WD-40 on it through the seams where those pieces meet the main dash. I tried that, however it did not work. While trying this, I noted that the tolerances in the seams were very different. I could easily fit a business card in the seam on the passenger side, but couldn't get it into the seam on the driver's side.
I experimented yesterday with wedging a shim of sorts in the seams where the pieces meet the main dash. So far this has virtually eliminated the creaking when accelerating or stopping (they also no longer creak when I press on them.) I have one shim on each side. I started by inserting one of those "rewards" keychain cards in the seam on each side just to see if it did anything. Once I discovered that worked, I removed those and cut identical sized ones out of a spare, black plastic DVD case. I am running those for a few days to make sure they also work. So far they do. Once I am comfortable they help eliminate the noise, I will trim them so they do not stick out of the dash and leave them in permanently.
With that noise gone, I can move on to my two other major rattles. The rear parcel shelf rattles, and my front passenger seat has started to rattle when no one is sitting in it. The seatback actually visibly vibrates while driving down the road, and the vibration now has a constant ticking noise associated with it. If I press on the seatback with my right elbow while driving, the noise stops.
Incidentally, Hyundai's "felt tape" fix for the rattling glove box also stopped working for me. It started to creak/rattle again as well. I had to put some high density foam pads inside the glove box door where the upper inside corners of the glove box door meet the rubber bumpers molded into the dash side of the glove box. There is simply too much play in that glove box door design.
Quite frankly I am tired of chasing down all of these noises in a brand new car. Only 4,800 miles on the car. We shouldn't have any issues like this. I am on the verge of cutting my losses with this thing and trading it just for my own sanity.
I think it's very hard for the manufacturers to duplicate these conditions for thousands of miles of testing. Especially on a complete redo because they are trying to hide the thing at the same time. When you add in the fact that these are put together on a fairly fast moving assembly line it doesn't suprise that problems like this crop up. Nothing at all agains Hyundai as it occurs with any manufacturer. At the end of the first year and even during they will have thousands of reports from dealer fixes to address all those creaks and groans and start automatically putting fixes in at production and minutely adjusting the molds so that parts don't rub as much.
I guess it's just something that you put up with with a new model and just hope that your particular car is not one of the worst. It's ok to get two or three problems like this fixed but when you have more and they just keep coming they can turn you off to your new car which is a shame.
I am for that very reason postponing my purchase of Sonata.
I like the look of the Sonata..though that name carries alot of baggage because of their earlier efforts. Good luck.
In other words, it sounded like we are putting down anyone who has made a purchase of a 2011 Sonata and nothing could be further from the truth. I'm just saying these kind of problems should be expected and people shouldn't deny them, call people crazy because they have them or think they made a completely wrong decision because of them.
I wholeheartedly agree that one should expect a minor repair of some kind in the first year of ownership and feel lucky if not, but I still firmly believe that you have a better chance of squeaks and ill fitting parts in the first year of major redesign. As far as the owner reviews to the right I have my own theories but thats a whole other discussion. Let's just say I view all of the customer reviews with a grain of salt as they are usually posted by very new owners. I haven't had a new car that I purchased that I haven't absolutely loved at least for the first couple months of ownership.
Thanks for the info. After checking my car, I do think that the crash pads are a major contributor to the problem. Yes, mine too creak when I press on them -- snap, crackle, pop. I did try some heavy paper shims that I made by cutting up an old greeting card. I experimented with perhaps half a dozen shims on each side in different seams, but unfortunately I didn't quell the noise. I decided against trying to wedge in thicker shims -- I did not want to force the seams to visibly open up. But at least I have a clue now that I can show to the Hyundai service rep. I also have the passenger seat rattle, but so far no other rattles. Then again, my car has less than half the miles that you have on yours.