Hyundai Repair: 2005 hyundai santa fe engine whine, hyundai santa fe, engine whine

Question
I OWN A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WHICH HAS AN ENGINE WHINE AT SPEEDS OF BETWEEN 38-39 MPH AND THEN AGAIN AT 50 AND 58-59 MPH. IT IS A 3.5 ENGINE V-6. HYUNDAI HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMITTION AND HAS ADDED VISCOSITY DRESSING. I STILL HAVE THE WHINE. THE CAR HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT. THEY NOW SAY IT IS FINAL DRIVE GEAR NOISE AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. IS THERE ANY FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM OR DO I JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT? THANKS, BRUCE RENO

Answer
Having not heard the noise, it's difficult for me to offer any significant opinion as to whether it's normal.  Some vehicles do exhibit some final drive whine that is normal.  If you do not think it's normal for your car, take a trip by the dealer and ask to test drive a 2006 3.5L Santa Fe or two.  Even better, ask the service manager in advance if it's okay if you do this.  That'll help avoid any nonsense from the sales department.  Considering all the work the dealer has done thus far, it certainly seems they're interested in making you happy.  I think they'd welcome you test drive a new vehicle or two for comparison purposes.  If they make the same noise, you'll need to pretty much consider it's normal.  If not, then they need to at least consider the possibility that it's not.  Just be aware that each transmission is slightly different and may have a little more or a little less gear whine than another.  

If you become convinced that your noise is abnormal and the dealer continues to insist it's normal, ask to make an appointment for the factory representative to drive the vehicle.  He's Hyundai's official liaison to the dealer and has the final say in such matters.  

Additionally, Hyundai has a TSB (03-40-002) which describes the installation of a damper to the shifter cable.  This TSB applies only to Santa Fes produced prior to 12/21/02, but the concept can be used on any vehicle.  The idea is that it reduces the amount of noise transmittance along the shifter cable.  It's possible your vehicle already has a damper installed on the shift cable.  The TSB says vehicles produced after 12/21/02 have the damper, but mentions only the 2.4 and 2.7 engines.  Check your shift cable to see if it has a damper on it.  If not, request to see if you can have one installed per the procedure in this TSB.  If it'll help them do the work, you may wish to concede in writing that the installation of the damper does not imply they're concluding there's a problem with the vehicle.  

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