QuestionThis just began happening this week - When I close my electric driver-side door window on my 2002 Hyundai Sontata GLX, it closes, but not all the way - It stops just before closing, leaving a tiny crack, resulting in noisy whistling when going down the road. I've tried pressing on the outside and insude of the window when closing, but same result.
I'm not sure where to start - Can I remove the door panel and check for something? If so, what? In removing the door panel, what steps do I need to take?
I am trying to keep the costs down on this fix, so I would like to handle it myself. I am interested in understanding what caused this all of a sudden. I do hear a different sound when shutting the door, as though something may be loose inside the door panel.
AnswerHi, Ron. This is a common issue on 1999-2002 Sonatas. In fact, there is a technical service bulletin (TSB) describing the issue and how to repair it.
Basically, the upper plastic piece of the window regulator cracks and moves, preventing the regulator from returning to the full up position. Hyundai created a service kit to correct this problem. I've found it a poor value for people paying both parts and labor for the repairs, but if you're doing your own work, it may be a good value for you.
Go to www.hmaservice.com and register for a free account. Once set up, view TSB 02-80-001. It'll detail the procedure for repairing the regulator and list the part numbers for the repair kits and regulators. If you think you'll be able to perform the repair instead of replacement, call your local dealer and price the kit vs. the regulator to make up your mind which scenario will work better for you.
