Hyundai Repair: 2002 Hyundai Accent Transmission, hyundai motor america, hyundai accent

Question
My daughter has a noise that the dealer is stating is located in the transmission (auto).  It has 40k on it now and had 30k when she purchased it last year.  The dealer is stating that the transmission fluid should have been replaced within that time frame and won't repair under warranty unless doumentation shows a flush was performed.  We don't have an owners manual to verify this.  The trans fluid is checked at the 3000 oil change and thats documented.  When should the fluid be changed per the manufacturer?  

Answer
I believe-- almost 100% certain-- the recommended maintenance interval for transmission fluid for the 2002 Accent is 105,000 miles for normal usage.  I believe every 15000 miles you're required to inspect the fluid and service if necessary.  Ask the dealer what condition the fluid is in.  The official Hyundai transmission diagnostic worksheet requires the technician to check and report the fluid level and condition.  Ask the dealer to show you documentation (i.e. owner's manual or other official document from Hyundai).  If they insist that the car needs to follow the severe usage schedule, ask them why they believe this is the case and ask them to show you where it says that the reasons they gave require you to follow the severe usage schedule.

Go to www.hyundaiusa.com (Hyundai Motor America's official site), select "owners" and "service/maintenance."  You should be able to register here and see the maintenance requirements (as well as a "digital owner's manual").  I've heard some stories of the maintenance requirements there not matching the actual requirements, but I believe that was probably a one-time incident where some foreign requirements were loaded instead of the US requirements.  Your best source would be a printed version of the 2002 Accent owner's manual.

If you cannot get any satisfaction from the dealership service department, call Hyundai customer assistance and ask them to give you the maintenance requirements for servicing the transmission.  Also express to them your dissatisfaction with the fact that they seem to be failing to provide warranty service because you've not done something you're not required to do.

I grabbed an Owner's Manual out of a 2004 Accent currently in the shop and the recommendations are exactly as I said above.  For severe usage*, it recommends 30k intervals.

*Severe usage for transmission fluid replacement is:
1. "Repeated short distance driving,"
2. "Driving in [sic] dusty, rough roads,"
3. "Driving in sandy areas,"
4. "More than 50% driving in heavy city traffic during hot weather above 32C (92F),"
5. "Driving in mountainous areas," or
6. "Driving as a patrol car, taxi, or other commercial use."

The 2002 Accent used the same transmission as the 2004, so I'd expect the recommendations to be the same.  I'll follow up if I see a 2002 Accent owner's manual somewhere.