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ken99 -> RE: Cold Transmission slip (2/21/2008 8:32:49 AM)
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Technical Service Bulletins or TSB's are issued by car manufacturers to dealerships to address problems that were unforeseen during the design, engineering and manufacturing of the car. The target audience are service managers and the mechanics (aka, technicians). Implementing the TSBs is an educational process and how dealerships incorporate these TSB's into their systems varies from very good to very poor. From my perspective, the dealerships that tend to have a stable work force with little turn over keep better track of TSB related issues than shops with high turn over rates. If the service manager at your dealership says they have no idea on how to solve the transmission slippage problem in your Santa Fe, simply point out to them that Hyundai has issues several TSBs discussing that exact problem. Once they know that you know more than they've led you to believe about possible solutions, almost always gets them to review the matter. If the dealer still claims they have no idea of how to address the problem, take the vehicle to another dealership.
Will they do the work for free just because a TSB has been issued? No, not likely. Demanding that the work be done for free simply because a TSB has been issue for a problem will not get you very far. You purchased a used Santa Fe, so you are not covered by the original 10 year/100K power train warranty. If the car is still under the 60K warranty, the answer is yes unless the TSB specifically states that the corrective procedures involved are not covered by a warranty. An example of this is the TSB explaining the procedure involved with setting the speed sensitive door lock mechanisms on the latest Sonata variant. The last line of that TSB specifically states the work is not a warranty covered procedure. If a problem is widespread and significant, the TSB's will sometimes indicate the corrective action is provided at no cost to the owner beyond normal warranty coverage. The Santa Fe transmission reprograming issues may or may not be one of those. I know dealers have some discretion in how they charge for TSB procedures not covered by warranties.
All TSBs are reviewed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the NHTSA maintains a searchable database listing them. The Hyundai service site has PDF copies of the actual TSBs you can download and read. If the situation described by a TSB is deemed a threat to public safety along with supportive evidence, the NHTSA will issue a vehicle recall mandating the repair. Recall services are free to the customer. NHTSA currently lists two defect and safety recalls for your Santa Fe. One concerns a replacement label on the car describing proper tire pressure values. The second concerns a problem with antilock brake systems on 4 wheel drive version with the 3.5 V6 engine and ABS option. If you Santa Fe has the 2.7 V6, this recall does not apply to you. Any Hyundai service manager can look up the VIN on your car to determine if these procedures are necessary or have been performed.
Good luck.
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