Hyundai IX35 2014 Problems

If you're selling or trading-in the car, then a quality, tested second-hand engine from a wrecked iX35 is probably your best bet. This will be the cheaper option and even though you could spend a lot of money having the current engine reconditioned or a brand-new engine fitted, you'll find that won't affect the resale value as much as the extra outlay.

That said, it all depends on what's wrong with the current engine. If it's completely trashed, then a replacement is the go. But if your engine has simply stopped working for a potentially simple reason, then it might be worthwhile fixing it and maybe saving even more money. Either way, making your car a proper running vehicle again will definitely justify the cost as it's virtually worthless in a non-running state.

As for other brands of engines, the only viable choice is the same engine that make and model came with from the factory. Trying to fit anything else is a whole new car of very expensive worms.

If a timing belt breaks, one of two things are likely. Either the broken belt will allow the valves and pistons of the engine to collide, instantly turning the engine to scrap. (This is what happens in what's known as an interference engine design.)

The other alternative is that the belt snaps, but no intrinsic metallic parts collide (this is the case in a non-interference engine). If that's the case, the car won't run, but if a new belt is fitted and the engine retimed, it should work perfectly afterwards.

But even in an interference engine, if the tensioner gets slack but doesn't actually allow the timing belt to jump ship or break, then there's a chance that you've avoided a catastrophic failure. The bottom line is that if your engine suffered a problem with the timing belt, but works properly after being fixed, then all should be good in the long run.

If the radio has been an issue from the beginning why didn’t they have something done about it when it was new. Waiting five years would seem to suggest it’s not really a problem. Who knows what caused the seat tab to break, and while you would like to think it shouldn’t break, $70 doesn’t seem like a lot of money to fix it. If you’re not happy with the dealer contact Hyundai’s customer service (1800 186 306) and register your complaint directly with the company.

The radio reception in Hyundai cars has been a regular compliant over the years, and there's never been a satisfactory solution. Being a relatively new car I would persist with Hyundai and request a replacement head unit as a gesture of good will. I think Hyundai would be crazy to refuse you and risk damaging its reputation.

Intermittent problems like yours are always hard to diagnose and fix because they rarely occur when the mechanic is present to observe them. It seems as though yours has gone into limp home mode after the computer detected a fault. The only course of action is persistence until the source of the problem shows up in a diagnostic check, or when the mechanic is there to witness it.

The trade-in price guide is $15,200 to $17,400, but with the low odometer yours should be at the top end of the range.

The CX-5 and Tucson are both highly rated medium SUVs, and I’m sure both would be good choices for your needs. Both are refined and cabin noise doesn’t appear to be a problem with either of them. If I were to choose I would go for the CX-5.

We've been warning for a long time that some dealerships are using this sort of thing as a major profit centre, when much of it is unnecessary and you can get it for less at a specialist company.

No, we haven't had any more reports of this issue, but it sounds serious. Hyundai has fixed your car before, so I would return it as you are doing and press on them the danger of the situation you found yourself in when it happened. Lemon laws where you could get a replacement car don't exist in Australia, and the consumer laws we do have are pathetic and few people have the fortitude it takes to pursue it to the end.