QuestionI ended up calling a Firestone in Hayward and asked if I can get a description if I provide them with a their part number. I was told that the part number is for a Kendall (?) transmission fluid and that if the manufacturer specifies a specific kind, they add additives in it to meet the manufacturer's requirement.
Is that good enough or should I take it to another Hyundai dealer and have it re-flushed? However, will I be able to dispute the charges from Firestone?
Thank you again for the never-ending assistance and accommodations.
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Would you by any chance have any recommendations on how should I ask the Firestone rep on what kind of transmission fluid they used on the car? I'm just afraid that they might tell me the right one but actually did used a wrong one. Will the dealer be able to tell if Firestone used the wrong transmission fluid? Should I take the car back to Firestone and let them re-flushed and put the correct type of transmission fluid? I just hate to see the money I paid for to flush the transmission fluid go to waste as it costs me $100.
Thank you in advance to whoever respond to this question.
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Hi. This is my son's car and I just took it to the dealer this weekend for an oil change. It has 25K miles in it. I also told the service rep that the oxygen sensor light is lighting up on the dash panel and the car jolts/kicks quite often when you're driving it and would like for them to check it. It took them 3 hours for the oil change and told me that flushing the transmission fluid might take care of the problem with the oxygen sensor lighting up. They showed me how dirty the transmission fluid is. I decided to take it to Firestone the following day, as the dealer can't do it the same day and I was just visiting my son for the weekend in San Diego.
I asked the Firestone service rep to flush the transmission fluid and change the spark plugs, as my brother-in-law thinks that it may get rid of the problem as well. However, the jolting/kicking didn't go away and was still doing it until today. I asked the Fireston service rep and they told me that if the Oxygen Sensor lights up again, I should take it back to a Hyundai dealer, as there might be something wrong with the transmission and it should be covered under warranty since there's only 25k miles in it.
Before taking it back to the dealer, would you have any recommendation on how I should approach this? Since my 18-year old son would be the one taking this back to the dealer and I will follow-up with a phone call to the dealer, I want to be able to know what to say and what to watch out for to make sure that we're not being pushed around.
Thank you in advance for any assistance you can offer.
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Flushing the transmission will not solve a check engine lamp. The dealer should read what codes are present and diagnose those trouble codes. I would also expect the problem to be covered under your 5/60 warranty except in highly unusual circumstances.
The dealer should be able to do a proper diagnosis and actually tell you what's necessary to resolve the check engine lamp unless the condition causing the check engine lamp is no longer present.
I'm unimpressed that this dealer recommended a transmission flush but did not determine the cause of the lamp. I'd consider taking the car to another dealer and not returning to that one. If you have any problems with actually getting the car repaired, call Hyundai customer assistance. The case will likely get referred back to the dealer in question, but the Hyundai representative will likely be pressuring them for a resolution.
Also check with Firestone to see what transmission fluid they put in your car. If it was anything other than SPIII fluid, you'll need to reflush it and put the proper (SPIII) fluid in. Using the incorrect fluid can cause transmission damage.
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First, check your receipt to see if it specifies which fluid was used. If you don't understand their description of the transmission fluid, reply with the description (and price per quart) and I'll try to tell you what it is.
Second, you could try being deceptive. Have a friend call up (or stop in), and say that he's trying to drain and refill his transmission, but doesn't have his owner's manual and needs to know what type of fluid to use.
Third, ask them what they used. Most places that use the wrong fluid don't know any better. Chances are they'll tell you what they actually used.
AnswerI don't know of any available Kendall transmission fluid that meets Hyundai's specification. It'd be my interpretation that no matter what they add, it doesn't meet the specific recommendation of SPIII fluid only. It'd be doubtful that the dealer would accept this.
I'd recommend having it reflushed at a dealer to make sure you have the proper fluid in the transmission.
Furthermore, I'd request a full refund from Firestone. The onus is on them to prove that the Kendall fluid they installed is SPIII. I doubt they can do that. I also doubt they'll give you a refund. At the very least, not without a fight.
