Hyundai Repair: 2003 Hyundai Elantra, hyundai elantra, transmission control module

Question
My Elantra is making a winding noise.  It is an automatic transmission.  It was only making the winding noise upon acceleration; however, it is now starting to do it at all speeds.  It also sounds like I have a belt squeaking.  My check engine light is coming on and off.  If I put my car in reverse, it seems to take a while before it will actually kick into gear.  It is also starting to do this with drive.  It is a lot worse going up hill - it is like the car is in neutral, but it is in drive.  If I turn the car off and restart it, it seems to help.

Answer
Hi, Jeremy.  You may have three or four separate problems here.

First, the noise could be any number of things.  Whining noises are frequently caused by a brake pad wear indicator, low or aerated power steering fluid, or an alternator under severe load.  If you're unable to distinguish between the specific sounds of these noises, you'll probably need to get the opinion of an experienced mechanic who'll be familiar with these things.  Without being able to hear the noise myself, it's difficult to help you pinpoint the noise.

In regard to the belt squeak, there's a simple way to test whether it's coming from the belts.  When the noise is occurring, simply spray a little WD-40 or similar lubricant on the belts.  If the noise changes, it is indeed coming from the belts.

The check engine lamp could be related to the transmission or it could be completely unrelated.  The only way to determine why the check engine lamp is coming on is to start with reading the engine and transmission trouble codes.  This will tell you the nature of the problems witnessed by the engine and transmission control module.  With this information, you can then begin checking the things that could cause the problem(s) witnessed.

Last, in regard to the transmission, you could have a low fluid level or an issue with the input speed sensor, but these are infrequent causes of the symptoms you describe.  More frequently, the problem is internal wear, and the transmission must be repaired or replaced to remedy the issue.