Transmission Replacement at 9000mi

Discussion in 'Hyundai Kona Electric' started by Colin K., Nov 4, 2019.

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  1. Colin K.

    Colin K. New Member

    Morning,

    Reaching out to see if anyone else has heard of a transmission replacement at low mileage?

    My Kona EV started making a high-pitched whine on decel, and after a week of this I took it in (seeking to verify it wasn't normal break in, and to confirm I'm not crazy). It has been in the shop for the past 10 days. Hyundai engineering team finally came out Friday to verify what the dealer diagnosed as transmission failure. They have stated that if the transmission replacement does not resolve the issue, then they will need to replace the entire power generation system. The problem is that a new transmission is 3 weeks out, plus service time. Fun stuff!

    Also, has anyone else had their vehicle in for service and provided an EV loaner? I'm in a Hyundai Elantra as a loaner, and on top of the sizeable car loan I'm paying to watch my car sit for 4 weeks, I now have to pay CA fuel prices for my daily 160mi commute. I asked Hyundai about an EV loaner or gas reimbursement...but no go.

    Look forward to thoughts and responses.

    Best,
    Colin
     
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  3. Cain

    Cain New Member

    Mine hasn't failed, but it does make a faint jet turbine kind of sound on heavy acceleration/decel. It's not unpleasant or intrusive in anyway. I brought it up on the first service, mainly so I had a paper record of the complaint in case it fails at a later date and got a response of "normal for this type of engine".

    Can anyone else hear their engines under acceleration?
     
  4. ehatch

    ehatch Active Member

    From what I've seen.You're the first for a transmission for the Kona E's acceleration , deceleration , regeneration squeals , clunks, hiss, [you] high pitched whine.

    I am awaiting my low gear unit to be replaced,and hoping it resolves the squeal. Hyundai should be checking to see which VINS have been experiencing these issues.Do a proactive repair.

    it really sucks to be given an ICE when you drive an EV. Or reimburse for the gas for warranty repairs.
     
    electriceddy likes this.
  5. Colin K.

    Colin K. New Member

    Thanks for the feedback and thoughts. I am still sitting on my hands, waiting for an update. Customer service has been helpful, but not fully proactive.

    As I am in SoCal, and very close to Hyundai Motors America, they sent the engineering team out to have a look. The engineers swapped the direction of one of the mounting brackets to see if that resolve any issues. As suspected, it did not. I will keep you all posted of any developments.
     
  6. Kona doesn't really have a transmission, its a single reduction gear assembly. Its likely the same concern and replacement.
     
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  8. SkookumPete

    SkookumPete Well-Known Member

    transmission 4. The system of interdependent parts in a motor vehicle, by which power is transferred from the engine to the wheels

    Chambers Dictionary
     
  9. TheLight75

    TheLight75 Active Member

    Not to be difficult, but the Kona doesn’t have an engine, just a motor. From an engineering perspective, the word “engine” denotes some kind of internal combustion process to create the motion. So, neither does it have a transmission. :rolleyes:

     
  10. Ok, to clarify the Kona does not have a conventional multigear transmission, its a single reduction gear assembly or "Gear Drive Unit Assembly"(part no: 44500-18WA0 ) as Hyundai officially calls the part. If you wish, you can address the semantics with Hyundai directly.
     
    robxb likes this.
  11. WMA

    WMA New Member

    The lower gear drive replacement to fix the noise issue did not work for other owners. I suspect it's the actual electric motor causing the noise. Other owners also have this noise issue around the 9000 mile range. I'm only at 3000 mile and it's starting to be quite noticeable driving with the windows down. When it gets to the 9000 mile mark it's so loud that it can be heard with the windows up and the music on. I think they will have to replace the motors on most of the EV's in the future.
     
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  13. ericy

    ericy Well-Known Member

    If that's the case, they will need to get parts out a lot faster.

    Are there Euro forums for Kona? Are they seeing similar issues?

    Sent from my SM-G930V using Inside EVs mobile app
     
  14. ehatch

    ehatch Active Member

    I just met a two month old Kona EV the other day,and it does NOT have that stupid hiss, squeak some of us have been saddled with! I didn't get a chance to ask for his production date,hopefully bump into him again.
     
  15. Short for "heat engine", can be external combustion as well.
     
  16. From the Mariam Webster Dictionary:

    Engine
    1:
    a machine for converting any of various forms of energy into mechanical force and motion.

    So by this definition an electric motor is an engine because it converts electrical energy into mechanical force. Other types of non combustion engines are a wind turbine or a water wheel, converting pneumatic or hydraulic energy into mechanical force.
     
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  17. Colin K.

    Colin K. New Member

    A quick update on the process and resolution. The car was finally repaired (4 weeks in total). Below is a quick summary of the resolution. Will keep you updated, but Hyundai came through and reimbursed me for two months of car payments.

    Capture.JPG Capture.JPG Capture.JPG
     
    robxb, GordonWow, ehatch and 3 others like this.
  18. WMA

    WMA New Member

    Could you clarify what was the actual fix to the problem?
    It looks like they tried to replace the lower gear drive first and it didn't fix the problem so they ended up replacing the electric motor which had internal damage.
    Is that correct?
     
  19. Thanks for that, first actual paperwork I have seen posted listing the motor, gearbox and (mounting bolts?) as replacement. :)
    Please re-post this into this thread:

    https://insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/repair-issues-and-fixes.7097/
     
  20. hobbit

    hobbit Well-Known Member

    Maybe if that "resolver calibration" thing I posted about had been
    acknowledged by the dealer and/or Hyundai, it could help prevent
    this sort of thing from developing in the first place?? Seems
    farfetched, but if electrical torque winds up mismatched to the
    position, perhaps the resulting forces over time could start to
    "shake things loose". Even if we can't feel/hear anything at first.

    HK *really* needs to get off its arse and interact with the owner
    community about this.

    _H*
     
  21. EnerG

    EnerG Active Member

  22. WMA

    WMA New Member

    I was walking on the street and a kona drove by and I could clearly hear the hiss. I think everyone will probably need a motor replacement when you get to 9000miles or 20000km.
     

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