I just purchased a 1998 Hyundia Accent, and I was wondering what kind of power
steering fluid does it take? Does it take 3 dot steering fluid?

I called up the local auto parts store (auto zone) and asked them what kind of
transmission fluid I would need for this car. It's an automatic transmission.
They told me that a 1998 Hyundia Accent automatic would take a special fluid
called SP-II, which they don't carry. I called up another auto parts store,
and they don't carry it either. Do any auto parts store, other than the
dealership, carry this fluid? If they don't carry the fluid, I doubt that
they carry a filter. I could order it through the dealership and get it
delivered in the mail, I guess. But that's a bit of a hassle.

 

Hyundai's are very picky about their auto transmission fluid. I
can't remember the exact name (check your owners manual) but the one
they are quoting you "sounds right". Generally it is only available
from the dealer. It is worth the extra $ or hassle becuase cheating
and using another type of fluid will yield rough shifts and new
problems.

Check your manual on the power steering fluid as well. I'm pretty
sure dot3 is fine however I don't want to mislead you.

Perhaps another owner of this year has the info handy.

 

The transmission fluid has been superseded by SPIII. The only places I
know for sure that you can get it are Hyundai and Kia dealers.

The power steering uses Dexron automatic transmission fluid.

 

"hyundaitech" howitsac@nospam.hotmail.com writes:

>The transmission fluid has been superseded by SPIII. The only places I
>know for sure that you can get it are Hyundai and Kia dealers.
>
>The power steering uses Dexron automatic transmission fluid.

Thanks for answering my post. I appreciate it much. I was wondering though,
does it matter what Dexron transmission fluid you use for power steering? I
hear there is Dexron II and Dexron III, but I guess it may not matter.

 

A car maintenance shop (oil doctor) put a wrong type of transmission
fluid in my Accent GL, 2001, 38,900 mile car. I realised this after I took
my car to the dealer which has warranty for my car and they charged me
$400 for refilling/service and etc. Now I am claiming reimbursement to oil
doctor for this. Now the following interesting thing has happened:

They used Dextron Merkon 3 compatible with lopa 7176. They used additive 3
with dextron merkon. After my complain they checked with the fluid
manufactuter and they provided all documents that state that Hyundai
checked their fluid in their own testing facilities and passed the test
marking that their fluid is compatible with hyundai fluid (SP III).

Now the problem is, car handbook says we are supposed to use Diamond SP
III for transmission fluid. But since Hyundai itself tested the other
fluid and said that is alright, the oil doctor is standing by Dextron
Merkon 3. At the same time the dealer is standing by SP III since its
written on handbook.

What is this going on? Who is right? I feel I am being misguided by some
Hyundai people, or rather Hyundai is not clear about their specifications.
My complain is: if Dextron Merkon 3 is compatible with SP III, then why
Hyundai is insisting on diamond SP III? Why then dealer charged me so
much money for this? I am totally confused.

I want to make a formal complain on this to Hyundai. Any thought to this
is greatly appreciated. Can you tell me what should I do?

Sudip

 

"Sudip Bhattacharjee" <ciesudip@WPI.EDU> wrote in message
news:Pine.LNX.4.44.0405040844540.14165-100000@ccc6.wpi.edu...
> A car maintenance shop (oil doctor) put a wrong type of transmission
> fluid in my Accent GL, 2001, 38,900 mile car. I realised this after I took
> my car to the dealer which has warranty for my car and they charged me
> $400 for refilling/service and etc. Now I am claiming reimbursement to oil
> doctor for this. Now the following interesting thing has happened:
>
> They used Dextron Merkon 3 compatible with lopa 7176. They used additive 3
> with dextron merkon. After my complain they checked with the fluid
> manufactuter and they provided all documents that state that Hyundai
> checked their fluid in their own testing facilities and passed the test
> marking that their fluid is compatible with hyundai fluid (SP III).
>
> Now the problem is, car handbook says we are supposed to use Diamond SP
> III for transmission fluid. But since Hyundai itself tested the other
> fluid and said that is alright, the oil doctor is standing by Dextron
> Merkon 3. At the same time the dealer is standing by SP III since its
> written on handbook.
>
> What is this going on? Who is right? I feel I am being misguided by some
> Hyundai people, or rather Hyundai is not clear about their specifications.
> My complain is: if Dextron Merkon 3 is compatible with SP III, then why
> Hyundai is insisting on diamond SP III? Why then dealer charged me so
> much money for this? I am totally confused.
>
> I want to make a formal complain on this to Hyundai. Any thought to this
> is greatly appreciated. Can you tell me what should I do?

I'd take both Oil Doctor and the Hyundai dealer to small claims court, in
that order. Make the Oil Doctor prove the product they used was up to
Hyundai's specifications. If they can document that fact, I'd then go after
the dealer.

Just my thoughts... and they're worth every penny you paid for them!

 

Thanks for your thoughts. I dont know if thats worth for it, I'll probably
spend more money for lawyers than I'll get. Any way, I think I have a
right to know who is actually correct or both are correct.

Any Hyundai specialist here who can advise me about correct fluid type?
Thanks.



On Tue, 4 May 2004, Joe Kaffe wrote:

>
> I'd take both Oil Doctor and the Hyundai dealer to small claims court, in
> that order. Make the Oil Doctor prove the product they used was up to
> Hyundai's specifications. If they can document that fact, I'd then go after
> the dealer.
>
> Just my thoughts... and they're worth every penny you paid for them!

 

On Tue, 4 May 2004 13:10:23 -0400, Sudip Bhattacharjee staggered into
the Black Sun and said:

Please don't top-post. Message rearranged for easier reading
comprehension.

> On Tue, 4 May 2004, Joe Kaffe wrote:
>> I'd take both Oil Doctor and the Hyundai dealer to small claims
>> court, in that order. Make the Oil Doctor prove the product they used
>> was up to Hyundai's specifications. If they can document that fact,
>> I'd then go after the dealer.
> Thanks for your thoughts. I dont know if thats worth for it, I'll
> probably spend more money for lawyers than I'll get.

Small Claims Court in the USA means that neither party is allowed to
have a lawyer present. It's just the plaintiff, the defendant, and the
judge. Court costs are usually minimal ($30-$40), cases are judged very
quickly (less than 30 minutes IME) and if one party doesn't show up, the
other party wins by default. There is a limit on the dollar amount of
damages you can claim, and this limit varies--check your district court
office for more info.

--
Matt G|There is no Darkness in eternity/But only Light too dim for us to see
Your very best intentions probably involve guns and knives and a large
concept leap. --MegaHAL, trained on random gibberish
Hire me! http://crow202.dyndns.org/~mhgraham/resume/

 

"Sudip Bhattacharjee" <ciesudip@WPI.EDU> wrote in message
news:Pine.LNX.4.44.0405040844540.14165-100000@ccc6.wpi.edu...
> A car maintenance shop (oil doctor) put a wrong type of transmission
> fluid in my Accent GL, 2001, 38,900 mile car. I realised this after I took
> my car to the dealer which has warranty for my car and they charged me
> $400 for refilling/service and etc. Now I am claiming reimbursement to oil
> doctor for this. Now the following interesting thing has happened:

The owners manual says to change the A/T fluid at 60,000 miles, not 38,900.

> They used Dextron Merkon 3 compatible with lopa 7176. They used additive 3
> with dextron merkon. After my complain they checked with the fluid
> manufactuter and they provided all documents that state that Hyundai
> checked their fluid in their own testing facilities and passed the test
> marking that their fluid is compatible with hyundai fluid (SP III).

Now you know why I only use the Hyundai brand A/T fluid from the Hyundai
dealer.

> Now the problem is, car handbook says we are supposed to use Diamond SP
> III for transmission fluid. But since Hyundai itself tested the other
> fluid and said that is alright, the oil doctor is standing by Dextron
> Merkon 3. At the same time the dealer is standing by SP III since its
> written on handbook.
>
> What is this going on? Who is right? I feel I am being misguided by some
> Hyundai people, or rather Hyundai is not clear about their specifications.
> My complain is: if Dextron Merkon 3 is compatible with SP III, then why
> Hyundai is insisting on diamond SP III? Why then dealer charged me so
> much money for this? I am totally confused.
>
> I want to make a formal complain on this to Hyundai. Any thought to this
> is greatly appreciated. Can you tell me what should I do?
>
> Sudip

Complain all you want.

There is a drain plug on the lower front of the A/T oil pan. You take this
plug out at 60,000 miles. You put it back in after the fluid has drained.
You then add 2 1/2 quarts of Hyundai brand A/T fluid to replace what you
drained out.

You've managed to make a big deal out of a simple procedure.

 

>
> Complain all you want.
>
> There is a drain plug on the lower front of the A/T oil pan. You take this
> plug out at 60,000 miles. You put it back in after the fluid has drained.
> You then add 2 1/2 quarts of Hyundai brand A/T fluid to replace what you
> drained out.

Not quite. Thats not a full flush of the system, and if thats all
you do,
expect your tranny to break down soon. The dealer must have done a
full replacement, and thats a lot more work and fluid.
>
> You've managed to make a big deal out of a simple procedure.


No, he's making a big deal out of the $400 dollar charge!

Sudip, you need to call Hyundai customer service and ask them. The
dealer is too busy to deal with stuff like this, and I don't blame
them. It was wrong to change the tranny fluid at 38,000, and WAY
wrong not to have it done at the dealer! Oil change places are good
for oil changing, and thats ALL. Good luck!


Xin