Hyundai IX35 Problems

You should be able to use the aux by just turning the ignition to “on”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It's probably the Hyundai radio playing up. It could be the antenna. Have a radio specialist check it for you.

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.

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.

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.

It should handle it without any trouble at all. Just remember that the tare weight doesn’t include the things you will carry in the camper, so it will weigh more when you’re towing. Also remember that the towing rating of 1600 kg is for a trailer with brakes, in the case of a trailer without brakes the rating drops to 500 kg.