Transmission Jerk?

ROBIN32470

MEMBER
2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
125,000 MILES

Hello, I have a 01 Hyundai Santa Fe V6 4WD with about 125,000 miles on it everything had been running great until last night we were driving it on the highway going about 65-70 and I felt a jerk (whiplash jerk) defintely scared me to death, went about 6 more miles but something just didn't seem right so I pulled over and my husband checked under the hood & everything seemed fine. When I started to speed up again he realized my car was in 3rd gear, even sitting on the side of the road it was in 3rd gear, we started to get off of an exit ramp and it wouldn't go into lower gears automatically so my husband shifted the car to 2nd gear but it was a very hard jerk again, it could not be shifted into 1st gear and would not go into 4th gear after speeding back up again. It would just stay in 3rd. We arrived at our destination and we were there for approx 5 hours, then we had to drive back home. Well in our drive home nothing was wrong at all, it all worked just fine. Does anyone have any clue what might be wrong? I was reading another post in this site from a long time ago and it sounded like they were maybe having the same problem and someone responded that the car was in 3rd gear fail safe and that he needed to buy some kind of sensor that goes on top of the transmission. If anyone can help me out I'd greatly appreciate it.

1 Reply

IMPALASS

MECHANIC
3,112 POSTS

Hello

First - you are in "limp-home" mode. On your model If the TCM detects a sensor or solenoid related condition, the TCM sets the transaxle in 3rd gear fail-safe to protect the transaxle and to provide a "limp-home" mode for the customer. If we are talking about the same relay, it shuts this relay off to prevent damage to the transmission.

This guide twill tell you more

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/reduced-power-limp-mode

this guide can help you fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

You need to find out if any DTCs were set for the car or transmission. At quick glance I don't think you need a special scanner for this. Please go to Auto Zone or O'Reilly's and for free they can pull the codes to the car. Most important. Once they check your codes, if they find something and you don't get it fixed and need to get back with us, please make sure you tell us exactly what the code was, number and all. Example, if the code was E0568 O2 Sensor bad. Then make sure you give us all of that. While there for free also they can bring their tester out and check your battery, alternator and starter.

If you don't figure it out once the codes are pulled then please get back with us but make sure you provide all the data for the codes per the instructions above.

Also, you may have a minor recall on the transmission. I have attached the info on Limp Home mode and below that the Recall.

SOURCE: Hyundai Tech Net Times Volume 13 Issue 3 2003

TITLE: Third Gear Fail-Safe

APPLIES TO: The following models are equipped with a new generation transaxle (oil pan on side): 1999-2003 Sonata, 2001-03 Elantra, Santa Fe, XG, 2003 Tiburon.

SERVICE TIP:

The following models are equipped with a new generation transaxle (oil pan on side): 1999-2003 Sonata, 2001-03 Elantra, Santa Fe, XG, 2003 Tiburon. With this transaxle, the TCM continuously monitors all the sensors and solenoids on the transaxle when the vehicle is in operation. If the TCM detects a sensor or solenoid related condition, the TCM sets the transaxle in 3rd gear fail-safe to protect the transaxle and to provide a "limp-home" mode for the customer.

The TCM normally supplies 12 volts to the A/T control relay, which energizes the solenoids. If the TCM detects a condition that may prevent the correct operation of the transaxle, it turns off the current to the A/T relay, which cuts power to the solenoids. This causes the underdrive and overdrive clutches to be applied, providing 3rd gear fail-safe. The TCM then sets a DTC.

Recall Info

Group
01 - RECALL BULLETINS

Number
02-01-011

Date
11-2002

Model
Santa Fe 2001-2002

Subject
CAMPAIGN 915 - 2001-02 SANTA FE CORRODED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE OIL COOLER TUBE