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Originally Posted by sportswidow05
As much as I wanted it back from the dealer, I am afraid now. Let me give you some details and see what you think.
I have a 2002 Hyundai Sonata, 6 cyl, 4 dr sedan with approx 40,000 miles on it. I take very good care of it, regularly change the oil and other things that need to be done. Last week, it started hesitating when I started it and then on Wednesday it didn't start at all. That was a week ago. It has been at the dealer ever since. They said when they got it that there was no compression in the engine, leading them to think the crank case and timing belt (please forgive me, I know nothing about cars). It was supposed to be completed this past Wednesday and it was not. Yesterday the person handling my account was not in, and no one ever called me back. So today I spoke with the service writer handling my car. She told me that yesterday they got the car started, without replacing anything! She said they are investigating it further and will call me back later. What is going on with my car? She did lie to me? If she didn't, and they don't find out why my car did this, what do I do? Should I try to get rid of it? What if the trade-in amount is less than what is left on my car loan? Will my car be reliable?
Sorry for all the questions, I just don't know what to do now.
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First off.... relax. You have a good car there, and all cars have something go wrong eventually. My ex drives a 2002 Sonata just like yours, and it had a problem that sounded like yours, and ended up stranding her too. Hers ended up being a simple battery and alternator. Not to say that is the problem with your car, that's just what was wrong with hers.
The dealers are really under pressure to give people some sort of info on their car, even before they know what the problem is. But, they shouldn't have given you any info until they knew it to be fact. Now the car started without replacing anything... Let them finish their job first before doing anything. If it ends up getting fixed, just drive it and don't worry about it. If they give it back to you without doing anything with it, watch it closely, and if it goofs up again, take it to another dealer. At this point it appears as though your dealer isn't too hot on customer relations, but there competency in the shop remains to be seen.
As far as trading it...I knew when I bought the ex her Sonata, that the trade in for Hyundai cars has never been very good. And depending on what sort of financing and down payment that went into your deal, it is quite possible you could owe more than what it's worth. At 40,000 miles though, considering they warranty it for 100,000 miles, I would concentrate on getting the problem fixed and getting a lot more miles out of it before I started thinking about getting rid of it. Right now it sounds more like a crappy service dept than an unreliable car.
I'd be interested in hearing from you once you get it back from the dealer, and what they said about the car and/or what they fixed or didn't.
I know 4 or 5 people who all drive the 2002 Sonata....it was a major change in design from the 2001, and it is just a great looking car. Nobody I know has had any major problems with it, and I still see them all the time around SE Texas. The ex still swears by hers, and so does a buddy of mine who drives his daily.
Let us hear what the dealer says about the car when the finish with it, ok?