- #14 of 51
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Re: Catalytic Converter skid plate installed backwards at factory [targettuning]
by flytedhy
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May 17, 2006 (4:20 pm)
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Replying to: fk322 (May 18, 2006 2:04 pm)
Yeah thats the solution....everyone who has a problem with the vehicle, just go trade it in and take a massive loss. That makes no sense. A Wal-mart special would provide better static-free sound than the Hyundai basic radio. Could Hyundai done better, yep, but they didn't. They don't design noise and static into radios, they design them out, and when they don't, it has everything to do with poor quality design and nothing to do with "premium sound". Almost everyone here understands that and they're complaining of noise on the radio and not "why doesn't my basic car radio sound like a $900 set-up. Having the skid plate and vents installed backwards is nit pic? There's a reason why the plate is there and why the vents are there, and why the should be installed correctly, the Cat creates tons of heat. Maybe you should re-install your plate backwards like mine was if its not such a big deal. My guess is that you won't because you know I'm right and Hyundai was wrong and its potentially unsafe. If you have any valid technical reasons to prove me wrong, please do so, otherwise you post only to blindly defend Hyundai on issues where they are undefendable.
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- #15 of 51
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Re: Catalytic Converter skid plate installed backwards at factory [flytedhy]
by targettuning
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May 18, 2006 (4:43 am)
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Replying to: flytedhy (May 17, 2006 4:20 pm)
Well, having owned 2 Santa Fe's...1 Tucson and 1 Elantra I can only say I did NOT experience a static filled experience with any of the factory radios. You are fixated on poor design and to that I say Hyundai did not manufacturer these radios. They derived the specifications for them to fit into the dash, designed the "look" of the knobs, face plate, and dial to match the theme of the interior. They specified whether the radio would have a 6 disc changer, cassette, AM band FM band then sub-contracted the whole works to Clarion or some other Korean audio manufacturer and told them to build them per specs. Should there be quality control at that plant? Absolutely! Does Hyundai themselves test each and every radio? nope, probably not or maybe only to see they play on a local station. Nothing new there, no manufacturer does tire testing either with the exception of how the whole vehicle drives with the specified tire. They contract out a set of specs to Bridgestone or whomever. So, when you have a defective tire should you run to Toyota? Nope they will tell you to see the closest dealer selling that brand. Anyhow back to radios if anything the "in glass" antenna on earlier Santa Fe's may contribute to less than spectacular reception BUT Hyundai quickly and without fanfare added a rubber antenna stick in 2004 indicating, at least to me, that they heard gripes about poor reception and quickly initiated a fix. Not many here complaining anyhow...one guy said he replaced the speakers/radio simply because a certain percentage of owners of any make vehicle will spend $$ to "upgrade" it is automatic for them. Regarding the cat. heat shield: if I am not mistaken you yourself said it wasn't a big deal..so is it, or not? Maybe only a big deal to bring up to point out how "poor" the build quality is. Anyhow if it such a big issue to you the solution is simple get it switched next oil change OR if it was so unsafe as you now say I would drive directly to the dealer and have it switched..did you do that or isn't it really such a big thing to you? All issues are defendable..the real issue is which side you are defending. I like Hyundai, you do not, so what? I will always defend them because they are good vehicles...perfect? Nope, but they will only get better.
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- #16 of 51
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Re: Catalytic Converter skid plate installed backwards at factory [flytedhy]
by targettuning
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May 18, 2006 (9:12 am)
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Replying to: flytedhy (May 17, 2006 4:20 pm)
Sorry, I got carried away with the radio non-issue and forgot to address your reply to my advice to "trade it in". Now that I have thought about it maybe the best thing to do would be to take it to the dealer, point out any problems you may have including your reversed heat shield to the service manager, retire to the waiting room, watch some T.V., have a coffee and wait a while until they come out to tell you your car is fixed. Then dig into your wallet...WAIT!! the car has "America's best warranty" so that part probably won't be necessary and that is that. In this you will be doing what tens of thousands of automobile owners do each and every day...getting their cars fixed with one possible exception, many do not enjoy "America's best warranty" so they WILL have to fish into their wallet...
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- #17 of 51
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Re: Catalytic Converter skid plate installed backwards at factory [targettuning]
by flytedhy
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May 19, 2006 (12:31 am)
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Replying to: targettuning (May 18, 2006 9:12 am)
Had you read all of my message, I said the Cat plate might not have been a problem IF there had not been air vents in it. There were air vents, I mentioned that. Hyundai does not make there own radios, never said they did, nor do any OEM's that I'm aware of. They do however have 100% control over what quality they chose, and Hyundai made a poor choice. A warranty is only as good as the company that backs it, and my experience is that Hyundai has decided to spend more on advertising "america best warranty" than they have on building a quality product or actually fixing all the defects. Its also better to not have to be at the dealer because your vehicle is not broke than to have it replaced 3 times for free. As mentioned earlier by another poster, Tucson sales are down and I would reason thats because many, like myself, bought into reasonable expectations for a 20K vehicle and have been disappointed by the quality, dealer experience, and overall deception Hyundai tries to sell about how these vehicles are competition for Honda and Toyota. A marketing strategy that owners quickly see is not true.
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- #18 of 51
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Re: Catalytic Converter skid plate installed backwards at factory [flytedhy]
by targettuning
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May 19, 2006 (5:01 am)
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Replying to: flytedhy (May 19, 2006 12:31 am)
Final word, from me anyhow, on the radio issue. Hyundai tells Clarion, or another mass electronics producer, build us 100,000 radios with these dimensions, those knobs etc. make it have a single play CD and AM and FM. Do all this for lets say the Korean equivilent of $60.00.. they haggle and end up at $55.00 per unit. Clarion builds these per the price per unit and spec. contract and subjects them to their quality controls.. ships them to Hyundai who installs them on the line. Each and every radio may, or may not, be run through a full range of tests when in the car. You buy the car and don't like the quality ( maybe you are an audio snob? maybe not), you complain to the dealer who may, or may not, agree with your acessment. If he agrees he swaps it out for a new radio.. if Hyundai gets word that 90% of the radios installed are faulty some changes in the contract with Clarion will happen. If 20 people complain maybe 10 radios will get swapped out for new ones and 5 of the remaining 10 will get changed out for an aftermarket unit..the remainder will just bitch to no avail. Oversimplification? you bet but that is probably what happens.
Correct, better not to be at the dealer at all...if you find the vehicle that fulfills this PLEASE let me know and I will abandon Hyundai in a hearbeat but you know, and I know there ain't no such animal. But,if like any mechanical thing it breaks it IS better getting it fixed for free AND many Hyundai owners do not have to endure "three" tries for a fix, which by the way is FREE!!
Finally, although Tucson sales may be down, I haven't independently confirmed this, it is most likely due to a trend that all SUV manufacturers are experiencing..high fuel prices..lower SUV sales... this is as plain as the, well, LCD readout on the gas pump..
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- #20 of 51
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Re: Catalytic Converter skid plate installed backwards at factory [targettuning]
by flytedhy
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May 19, 2006 (8:07 pm)
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Replying to: targettuning (May 19, 2006 5:01 am)
What you fail to understand is that Hyundai knows what sensitivity/selectivity and S/N ratio are on the radios they chose to install. I've repaired electronics for a long time, seen the insides and repaired about all makes and have the highest FCC repair license, highest Amateur radio license and am a certified electronics technician. There is no random choice of quality. They know what quality radio they have. They also know that the long coax run to the antenna weakens the signal. Hyundai chose a cheap radio and poor design, and you simply can't defend that.
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- #21 of 51
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What difference does the radio make?
by mikdee
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May 20, 2006 (5:09 am)
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Replying to: flytedhy (May 19, 2006 8:07 pm)
Coming from a previous 2002 Santa Fe LX 4WD V6, to a simliarly equipped Tucson, the O.E. radio is 100% better! the previous one had the weakest Bass I ever heard. So, the particular radio in the Tucson LX is quite an improvement, it is fine to me. Besides the only people that care that much about this item, will probably change it out anyway. I'm more concerned about the fact that the Santa Fe got better gas milage then my Tucson??? But, to those people who never owned a Santa Fe as I did (for 3yrs & 87K miles) before trading for a Tucson, they would never be able to know, or understand this. Another difference is the Tucson rides abit harder (not as smooth) as the Santa Fe, I guess you could call it "Sportier", and the luggage capacity is less, But I still love my Tucson, just can't figure out for the life of me, Why this lighter, more aerodynamic vehicle, then the Santa Fe gets worse gas milage???
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