At TP Auto Repair, we’ve compiled all the top questions Hyundai owners ask about their vehicles – from routine service intervals to common repair issues and electrical diagnostics. Whether you drive an Elantra, Sonata, Tucson, or Santa Fe, our Hyundai FAQs offer trusted, mechanic-approved insights.
Get detailed explanations about warning lights, transmission care, oil changes, and more – all written to help you keep your Hyundai safe, efficient, and road-ready.
Is 9005 or 9006 the Low Beam? What Drivers Need to Know In most vehicles that use these bulb types, 9006 is the low-beam bulb and 9005 is the high-beam bulb, but this can vary by make and model, so you should always confirm with your owner’s manual or a trusted parts catalog. Understanding 9005 …
How Long Do Hyundai Water Pumps Last? Most Hyundai water pumps typically last between 60,000 and 120,000 miles, often aligning with the timing belt or timing chain service interval, but exact lifespan depends on model, engine type, driving conditions, and maintenance history. Understanding how long these components usually last, the signs of failure, and the …
What a Cylinder 4 Misfire Means on a Hyundai Santa Fe A cylinder 4 misfire on a Hyundai Santa Fe means that the engine’s fourth cylinder is not burning its air‑fuel mixture properly, causing rough running, loss of power, and often a check-engine light with codes like P0304. This issue can stem from ignition, fuel …
What Kind of Battery Goes in a 2018 Hyundai Tucson? A 2018 Hyundai Tucson typically uses a 12‑volt lead‑acid Group 47 (H5) or Group 48 (H6) battery, depending on engine and trim, with at least 600 cold‑cranking amps (CCA). However, exact specifications can vary by market and equipment, so owners should confirm the correct group …
What Happens When a Crankshaft Sensor Fails? When a crankshaft position sensor fails, the engine may misfire, run roughly, lose power, become hard to start, or not start at all; in many cases, the check‑engine light comes on and the car can suddenly stall while driving. This seemingly small electronic component is critical to modern …
Can I Replace My Fuel Pump Myself? Yes, many vehicle owners can replace a fuel pump themselves, but it is a moderately to highly complex job that demands mechanical skill, strict safety precautions around gasoline and electrical systems, proper tools, and access to reliable repair information. Whether you should do it yourself depends on your …
What Brand Oil Filter Does Hyundai Use? Hyundai’s primary oil filter brand is its own OEM (original equipment) line, manufactured mainly by Korean suppliers such as MANN+HUMMEL Korea and Hyundai Mobis, and often branded simply as “Hyundai Genuine Parts.” In some markets, related brands like Mobis, MANN‑Filter, and Mahle also supply filters that meet Hyundai’s …
What Kind of Headlight Bulb Does a Hyundai Accent Use? The most common low-beam headlight bulb type for recent Hyundai Accent models (roughly 2012–2022) is the H11 halogen bulb, while many earlier models (around 2000–2011) typically use 9003/HB2/H4 dual‑filament bulbs—but the exact bulb type depends on the model year, trim, and market, so owners should …
What Kind of Headlights Are in a Hyundai Sonata? Hyundai Sonata headlights vary by model year and trim, ranging from basic halogen reflector units on older and entry-level trims to projector-style halogens, HID (xenon) lamps, and modern LED reflector or projector systems on newer and higher trims; recent models (especially 2020 and newer) primarily use …
What Refrigerant Does a 2015 Hyundai Elantra Use? The 2015 Hyundai Elantra uses R-134a refrigerant in its factory A/C system in all standard North American configurations. This means that if you are servicing or recharging the air-conditioning system on a stock 2015 Elantra, you should use R-134a unless the vehicle has been professionally converted to …
How Much Is a Battery for a 2011 Hyundai? A replacement battery for a 2011 Hyundai typically costs between $120 and $300 (USD) for the part alone, with total installed costs usually ranging from $180 to $450 depending on the model, battery type, and where you buy and install it. Prices vary most between basic …
How to Replace the Headlight on a 2015 Hyundai Sonata To replace a headlight on a 2015 Hyundai Sonata, you typically access the bulb from behind the headlight assembly under the hood, disconnect the wiring connector, remove the dust cap and retaining clip, swap in a new bulb (without touching the glass), and reassemble everything …
What Size Windshield Wipers for a 2012 Hyundai Sonata? The 2012 Hyundai Sonata typically uses a 24-inch wiper blade on the driver’s side and an 18-inch blade on the passenger’s side; the rear wiper size depends on whether you have a sedan (no rear wiper) or a hybrid/variant with a rear window wiper, which is …
Does Hyundai Require Synthetic Oil? Hyundai does not universally require full synthetic oil for every model, but many newer Hyundai vehicles either recommend or effectively require synthetic or synthetic‑blend oils to meet modern engine and warranty specifications. Whether your specific Hyundai must use synthetic oil depends on the model, engine, model year, and the oil …
What Type of Coolant Does My Hyundai Santa Fe Take? Your Hyundai Santa Fe generally requires a **HOAT or Phosphated Organic Acid Technology (POAT) ethylene-glycol–based coolant**, usually in a **Hyundai-approved long‑life premixed coolant**, typically identified as **Hyundai Long Life Coolant / Hyundai Super Long Life Coolant** in a **phosphated OAT (P-OAT), silicate-free, borate-free formula**. The …
How to Tell If Your Home or Car Air Filter Is Bad You can usually tell an air filter is bad if it looks dark and clogged, reduces airflow, causes musty or dusty smells, or coincides with higher energy bills or engine issues—signs that it’s no longer trapping pollutants effectively and should be cleaned or …
What Size Wiper Blades for a Hyundai Santa Fe? Most recent Hyundai Santa Fe models use a 26-inch wiper blade on the driver’s side and a 16- to 18-inch blade on the passenger side, but the exact sizes depend on the model year and, in some cases, trim. Because Hyundai has changed specifications over time, …
Can you still drive with a bad catalytic converter? Yes—often for a short time—but it’s not recommended. If the converter is merely aging and triggering a check engine light without obvious performance issues, the car may remain driveable briefly. If it’s clogged, overheating, missing (after theft), or you have misfires, you should not drive except …
How Expensive Is It to Replace a Mirror? Replacing a mirror typically costs anywhere from about $50 for a small, basic mirror you install yourself to over $1,000 for a large, custom-cut, professionally installed piece with advanced features. The final price depends heavily on size, type of mirror, framing, installation complexity, and whether you need …
How Much Hyundai Charges for Brake Pad Replacement in 2025 Hyundai typically charges about $250–$400 per axle for brake pad replacement at a dealership in the U.S. in 2025, with some models and regions reaching $450 or more when rotors and additional services are included. That range varies based on your model, location, whether rotors …
How Much a 2012 Hyundai Elantra Is Worth Today A 2012 Hyundai Elantra is typically worth between $3,000 and $9,000 USD in today’s used-car market, with most real-world transactions falling around $4,500–$7,500 depending on mileage, trim, condition, and location. The exact value can only be pinned down by looking at a specific car’s history, features, …
Does Hyundai Use Special Coolant? Hyundai does not use a secret or proprietary “Hyundai‑only” coolant, but most modern Hyundai models are designed to use a specific type of long‑life, phosphate organic acid technology (PHOAT) ethylene glycol coolant that meets Hyundai’s internal standards and is typically blue or green; using the wrong type can reduce corrosion …
The Most Common Problem With the Hyundai Santa Fe The most commonly reported problem with the Hyundai Santa Fe, across multiple model years, is engine-related failure—especially excessive engine knocking, stalling, or seizure, often linked to bearing wear and oil circulation issues in certain 2.0L and 2.4L Theta II gasoline engines. These problems have led to …
Are the Brake Light and Tail Light the Same Bulb? In many cars, the brake light and tail light do share the same bulb but use different filaments or brightness levels; however, in a growing number of modern vehicles, they are separate bulbs or LED modules. Whether they are the same in your car depends …
What Size Wiper Blades for a Hyundai Tucson? Most recent Hyundai Tucson models (2016–2025) use a 26-inch wiper blade on the driver’s side and a 16-inch blade on the passenger side, but exact sizes vary by model year and sometimes by market, so owners should always confirm with the manual, the windshield wiper size chart …
How Much Does It Cost to Replace an Alternator on a Hyundai? Replacing an alternator on a Hyundai typically costs between $450 and $1,000 in the United States, with most common models falling in the $550–$800 range for parts and labor at a repair shop. The exact price depends on the model, year, engine size, …
What Kind of Transmission Fluid a Hyundai Sonata Takes A Hyundai Sonata generally requires Hyundai‑approved automatic transmission fluid (ATF), most commonly SP‑IV (or SP4‑M/SP4‑RR variants) for modern 6‑, 8‑, and some 10‑speed automatics, while older models may use SP‑III or other specific ATF types. The exact fluid depends on model year, engine, and transmission, and …
Why Your Hyundai Sonata Is Clicking but Not Starting If your Hyundai Sonata clicks but won’t start, the most common causes are a weak or dead battery, loose or corroded battery connections, or a failing starter motor or starter relay. Less often, the issue can involve the alternator, engine/ground wiring, or, on newer models, an …
What Brand of Spark Plugs Does Hyundai Use? Hyundai primarily equips its vehicles with spark plugs from NGK and Denso, with some models also using Champion plugs; the exact brand and part number depend on the specific engine, model year, and market. Choosing the correct plug type is important for performance, fuel economy, warranty compliance, …
Spark Plug Gap for a 3.7L V6: What Drivers Need to Know For most modern 3.7L V6 engines from major manufacturers (Ford, Jeep/Dodge/Chrysler), the typical spark plug gap specification falls between 0.040 and 0.050 inches (1.0–1.3 mm), with many factory specs clustering around 0.040–0.044 inches. However, the exact gap is engine- and model-specific, so the …