Question 1

I would like to know what type of diesel I should run in my Hyundai ix35?

Accepted Answer

Premium diesel fuel seems to be one of those things that marketing departments, rather than engineering departments, have invented. It enables the fuel companies to charge you more for a product that is allegedly better, but nobody really knows why Premium diesel is an advantage. At best, Premium diesel will have a few extra additives to help keep the engine clean inside, so maybe running a tank of Premium every now and then isn’t a bad idea. It won’t hurt. But don’t be fooled into thinking that your car will perform better in any meaningful way by switching exclusively to the more expensive Premium brew. This is, of course, the opposite of Premium unleaded petrol which, depending on the car, can be a difference between happy motoring and expansive engine damage.

Question 2

Does the Hyundai iX35 engine have any issues?

Accepted Answer

Hyundai’s Theta 2 family of engines does, indeed, have a pretty chequered track record for reliability. But it’s important to note that the majority of vehicles affected have been US-market cars with engines built in a different factory to the cars supplied to Hyundai Australia. For the record, the North American cars in question experienced debris from the engine machining process blocking the oil passages inside the engine, leading to bearing failure. In some cases, the engine failure resulted in a roadside fire. Even though our iX35s were built in South Korea rather than North America, there’s still a chance the same problem could crop up here given that engineering materials and techniques tend to be standardised across all factories in the name of efficiency. As you point out, your car is now out of warranty, but I wouldn’t leave it at that. I’d be talking to Hyundai’s customer service department with a view to at least getting some assistance in having the car fixed if, indeed, it was a manufacturing fault that caused the engine failure. I’d also be pointing out that 80,000km is not a realistic life expectancy for a modern engine. To get anywhere with this approach, you’ll need to be able to show that the car has been serviced by the book and (probably) that the failure was due to a loss of oil pressure that led to bearing failure.

Question 3

Hyundai i35 - Did this model ever exist?

Accepted Answer

The answer is no, but Hyundai's naming policy was very confusing during the 2010s. The original i30 of 2007 introduced the alphanumerical naming policy and signified a different approach to vehicle engineering, with a European focus with higher-quality engineering rather than a low price to take on class leaders like on the Volkswagen Golf. Thus 'i' something became a sort of premium nomenclature, and of course is still used to denote this on models like the i30 and Europe's i10 and i20 small cars There was also the German-engineered i40 midsized sedan and wagon until 2018. But here's where Hyundai muddied its own waters. In 2010 the larger, American-market Sonata was rebadged i45 for Australia and New Zealand – even though an 'x' and a '5' rather than a '0' meant crossover or SUV, as illustrated by the very popular second-generation Tucson being renamed ix35 in Australia and some other markets from 2009 to 2015 – though this naming policy was abandoned for the third-generation Tucson from 2015. While strikingly styled, there was nothing European about the i45, and it too returned to being badged Sonata from 2015. So... i10, 120, i30, i40 and i45 for Australia, but no i35. Thank you.

Question 4

What are the towing specs of a 2013 Hyundai iX35?

Accepted Answer

Finding critical safety information like this online can be fraught with danger. There are simply too many self-appointed geniuses out there who have little to no idea of what they’re talking about. Other times, you’ll be unwittingly reading about a vehicle specification from overseas that isn’t relevant to us, even though the badge is the same. And getting a bum steer on something like towing limits has awful potential consequences. Stick with websites like CarsGuide that you can trust. On that basis, the Hyundai iX35 in question has a towing capacity of 750kg for an unbraked trailer and a 1600kg limit for a braked load. The tow-ball down-load limit is 140kg, the Gross Vehicle Mass is 2170kg and the Gross Combination Mass (the vehicle, trailer and all its occupants and luggage) is 3770kg. And just to cover all the bases, the factory roof-rack has a 100kg limit. Checked against your choice of camper-trailer, you’ll find that the electrically-braked Road Trotter camper has a tare mass of 1090kg and can be loaded to a combined trailer-and-luggage weight of 1500kg. Its tow-ball download figure of 90kg is within the Hyundai’s capacity as well.

Question 5

What engine replacement will work in my 2015 Hyundai iX35?

Accepted Answer

Anything can be made to work if you throw enough money at it, but the short answer, Bassel, is no. For the 2014 model year, Hyundai upgraded the petrol engines in the iX35, and the two-litre unit in your car received a direct-injection fuel system. While the basic engine architecture might be the same and the engine would probably physically bolt in, it’s almost certain that the computer in your car would be incapable of controlling the direct fuel-injection function. Your car is also probably missing components such as wiring, a high-pressure fuel pump and sensors required to make the newer engine operate. You could also run afoul of the authorities because the earlier engine you want to use had a (slightly) higher tailpipe emissions rating. Our regulators take a fairly dim view of a vehicle being modified and going backwards on emissions.

Question 6

Hyundai ix35 2013: What does it mean for the system to be shutting down?

Accepted Answer

Cars generally have a set of protocols that shuts down the entertainment and other systems to avoid the car’s battery going flat. If, for example, you were listening to the radio without the engine running, eventually, the car would switch the radio off to maintain the charge in the battery. It’s quite likely that the message you’re seeing is something to do with this process. Why doesn’t it send the message every time? Perhaps it only does so after short runs where the battery isn’t fully recharged after starting the car. Maybe your battery is starting to feel its age. See if you can find a pattern to the message appearing; short runs, cold weather, wet weather, air-conditioning on or off, etc.

Question 7

Hyundai iX35 2015: Why is it beeping?

Accepted Answer

The first thing to do here is to make sure the sensors are clean and free of spider webs, dust or anything else that they might confuse with a parking obstacle. If that doesn’t stop them false-alarming, I’d be letting a Hyundai specialist take a look, as it doesn’t sound like something that can be fixed in the driveway at home. Perhaps you’ll need to replace one or more of the actual sensor units. But there’s one other possibility that, although it’s a bit of a long shot, might explain what’s going on. Does the problem occur when you’re in traffic and another car ranges up behind at the lights? If so, is the car behind you likely to be one with active cruise-control. If it is, you might find that the radar signal for the other car’s cruise control is actually triggering your parking sensors. I’ve heard of it happening.

Question 8

What small SUV do you recommend?

Accepted Answer

It sounds like you have a bit of a thing for French cars right now, Carmel. In fact, you could argue that the French brands are experiencing a bit of a resurgence in Australia, particularly as each brand gets its quality act closer to the mark and the factory warranties have never been better than right now. All three of the cars you’ve nominated have their strong points, and it will really come down to your personal preferences when it comes to which one is right for you. And let me guess; it was the Peugeot 2008’s odd dashboard/steering wheel relationship that put you off. That’s particularly true for shorter folk who have trouble looking over the wheel at the instruments. But then, such quirkiness has always been part of the charm of French cars, no? In any case, it would also be wise to sample the Japanese and South Korean contenders at this end of the market, too, as there are some interesting offerings there as well. The Toyota C-HR would be one, the Honda HR-V another. Don’t forget, either, the Hyundai Kona, Nissan Juke and the Mazda CX-3. All have their strengths and weaknesses, but all are worth short-listing. As for the MX-5, it’s true that Mazda has stuck to the original formula for the new latest little convertible. And, yes, that dictates a small, low car that is huge fun to drive but isn’t for everybody physically.

Question 9

Hyundai ix35 2011: Where do I take my car to fix electrical glitches?

Accepted Answer

With that list of problems, I’d be looking at having the body computer checked, at either a Hyundai dealership or a known automotive electronics specialist. Modern cars have computers to control not just the engine and driveline’s behaviour, but also the functions you’ve mentioned.  Central locking and sunroof problems are classic examples of a body computer that is not playing the game. You might find a specialist can reboot the computer to fix these flaws, but you may also be looking at a complete computer replacement.  But before you do any of that, try this little hack: Lock the vehicle and when you press the button to unlock it, hold the unlock button down for at least 30 seconds. Believe it or not, this can sometimes re-set the body computer and will fix all your problems. It’s a bit of a long-shot, but definitely worth a try.

Question 10

Hyundai ix35 2010: Steering wheel peeling

Accepted Answer

It’s not unusual for the steering wheel to wear, and your car is now nine years old, so I doubt you would get any help from Hyundai. Go to an auto retail shop, such as Autobarn, Repco, Supercheap, Auto Pro, or one of the many others, and ask for their assistance in treating the wheel.

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