Blog / Little Rock Hyundai Service

Is Your Car Having Transmission Problems in Little Rock? Here's How to Tell

The transmission is a very important part of any car. It works to transfer energy from the engine out to the wheels, allowing them to spin and letting the car move forward or back. When transmission problems arise, it's vital to get your vehicle's transmission checked and repaired at your local Little Rock dealer.  When transmission trouble starts, drivers might start to notice some changes in the way their car feels, sounds, and responds. Fortunately, a lot of the signs and symptoms of a broken transmission are quite easy to spot, and if you notice any of the problems listed below, be sure to call your local dealer as soon as possible.

Strange Sounds

One of the most common signs of transmission issues is the appearance of strange new sounds in and around your car. You might hear a kind of squealing noise whenever the car shifts gears, for example, or a clunking, grinding sort of sound. This is often caused by a lack of transmission fluid, and it may be resolved quite quickly and cheaply if you act fast.

Fluid Leaks

The transmission system makes use of a special kind of fluid. This fluid acts as a lubricant, helping the different parts and bearings move around without wearing down or grinding against each other. If the transmission gets damaged somehow, the fluid might start leaking out. It's quite easy to spot this, as you'll notice a pool of red or pink liquid in the area where you usually park your car.

Unpleasant Smells

Cars can often emit strange sounds when parts are wearing down, fluids are leaking, or systems aren't quite working the way they should. If you notice a burning smell when shifting gears, it's possible that your car's transmission fluid is overheating or some of its components are grinding together due to a lack of lubrication.

Shifting Problems

The transmission is supposed to make it easy to shift between the gears. If you're finding it hard to shift from one to the other, you may have a transmission problem. This is usually very easy to spot in cars with manual transmission, and you may even find that your car randomly pops or slips out of gear in the worst cases. This can be very dangerous, as you won't have full control over your car, so it's one of the most urgent signs that transmission repair is needed.

Shaking or Vibrating

If you have an automatic transmission, you may find that your car seems to shake or vibrate excessively when the gears change. You can usually feel the vibrations in the steering wheel itself, and this is another clear and serious sign that the transmission needs to be looked at by a professional as soon as possible.

Check Engine Light

The "Check Engine" light can show up for dozens of different reasons. It's usually associated with the engine, but it could also indicate transmission troubles too. Either way, this warning light should not be ignored.
 If you don't get a faulty transmission repaired, the problems will only get worse over time and the risks of more serious issues will arise. Get the peace of mind and safety you need by having your transmission fixed by professionals. Contact Crain Hyundai of Little Rock today to schedule transmission services and checks.
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Does Your Hyundai Have a Faulty Ignition Coil?

As a motorist, it's important that you keep your vehicle in good working order and address any issues to keep everyone safe and avoid damage to your car. That's why, if you notice any indications that your car may have a faulty ignition coil, you should get yourself down to your local Hyundai dealer at the first opportunity. That way, they'll be able to accurately diagnose the problem and perform any necessary repairs to get you safely back on the road. What Is an Ignition Coil? Ignition coils are a key component found in the engine of virtually all gasoline-powered cars. They take the electricity provided by the car's battery into the powerful bursts that the spark plugs to ignite your fuel and oxygen. This releases the energy from the gasoline and uses it to power your engine, allowing you to get where you need to go. How Do Ignition Coil Faults Develop? As with all parts of your car, ignition coils can only work well for so long. Although ignition coils are designed to last around 100,000 miles or potentially even longer, they can develop faults before this. These faults could be caused by anything from a faulty spark plug to moisture or even excessive heat and vibrations from the engine. What Are the Signs That I Have a Faulty Ignition Coil? There are a number of signs that can point to there being an issue with one of your ignition coils. The most obvious is your check engine light showing, but there are other changes to your driving experience that can also point to the same problem. If your engine starts to misfire or backfire, your car begins to stall more often, or your performance and acceleration decline, the issue may be with one of your ignition coils. What Should I Do if I Suspect My Ignition Coil Is Faulty? If you suspect that your ignition coil, or any other part of your engine, has developed a fault, it's important that you don't ignore the problem. Not only can doing so lead to more problems with your engine in the future, but it can also present a safety risk in some cases. We would also recommend against trying to address the issue yourself as this can come with a risk of injury and improperly performed repairs could make your car less safe or lead to further damage. It's far better to turn to a professional for assistance. How Can My Hyundai Dealer Help? When you choose to have your servicing and repairs carried out by a trustworthy and reliable dealership, you can be sure that the work will be performed by Hyundai experts to the highest standards. We will assess the state of your engine, accurately identify any problems, and perform the repairs necessary to have you driving safely and comfortably again in no time. Whether your Hyundai is showing signs of engine trouble or you just want the assurance that comes with a professional service, contact Crain Hyundai of Little Rock to book an appointment with us.

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How Often Should You Replace Your Hyundai's Spark Plugs?

Plugs are one of the most important parts of your vehicle. They are responsible for igniting the fuel and air mixture that powers your car, so regular maintenance at a Hyundai dealer is essential for good performance and fuel economy. That's how you eliminate guesswork from the spark plugs equation. How Long Do Spark Plugs Last? Generally, plugs last between 30,000 and 90,000 miles but can be replaced sooner if there's a misfire or other performance issue. This huge difference between the minimum and maximum plug life is due to differences in driving conditions, engine configuration, and other variables. We recommend getting preventive maintenance at an authorized Hyundai service center for the best results. Mechanics in these car clinics are familiar with your vehicle and its configuration, so they are in the best position to judge whether or not it's time for a plug replacement. The last thing you want is a car that keeps stalling on you. What Happens If You Don't Replace Plugs at a Hyundai Dealer? You might experience several symptoms if you don't replace your plugs at an authorized dealership. These include: Poor engine performance Decreased fuel efficiency Difficulty starting the car Poor performance can be attributed to the old plugs not firing correctly or having unequal gaps that cause misfiring in the cylinders. A decrease in fuel economy is driven by inefficient combustion due to bad plugs. And difficulty starting the car is caused by a weak voltage that has trouble igniting the fuel and air mixture in the cylinders. Do All Plugs Need To Be Replaced at the Same Time? Plugs don't need to be replaced at the same time. If one spark plug performs worse than the others, it can be replaced first, and the other can be checked for performance later. However, it's best to get all of them replaced together. This will save time and help avoid any confusion or misdiagnosis resulting from a combination of old and new plugs. Spark Plug Gapping Gapping your plugs is also important. Plugs should be gapped to the exact specification to fire properly. If they are not gapped correctly, they will cause misfiring and other performance problems. The gapping issue happens when you get generic plugs instead of asking a Hyundai expert to provide you with the right ones. Generic plugs come pre-gapped but may not be the correct size for your engine. Now that we can all agree that plug replacement is an important part of owning a Hyundai, call Crain Hyundai of Little Rock to schedule an appointment. We will promptly replace your plugs with the right parts so you can drive at peak performance all the time.

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What Should You Do If Your Hyundai Gets Dented?

No driver wants to see a dent in their car. Dents can be caused by a variety of things, but the result is always a blemish on your car. If you have any dents, your Hyundai dealer has the expertise and technology to easily repair them for you. Some drivers prefer a DIY approach and want to fix the problem themselves. These are the two options for repairing car dents. DIY Approach If you enjoy DIY, you may want to try removing the dent yourself. There are several different methods you can use depending on the type of dent and its location. These are some of the ways you can remove a dent at home using common household items. Plunger A plunger can not only clear a blockage, but it can also help in removing dents. Use a clean plunger and fit it around the dent you want to remove. Once the plunger is securely attached, pour water over the head of the plunger and the dented area. Push the plunger in and out as you would when you're clearing a blockage. This method can be helpful on small dents, as the dented area must fit inside the rubber head of the plunger. It can take some time, but you should see the dent pop out again. Hairdryer This method uses a hairdryer, aluminum foil, and a piece of dry ice the size of the dent. To start, heat the dented area with the hairdryer. Once the dented area is warm to the touch, spread the aluminum foil over the dent. Put on work gloves, and rub the block of dry ice over the aluminum foil. The rapid change in temperature between hot and cold should cause the dent to pop out very quickly. You can also use a can of cold compressed air as an alternative to dry ice. Visit Your Dealer Removing a dent yourself can be satisfying but requires time and effort you may not have available. The above methods and all other DIY solutions will only work on minor dents. Depending on the location of the dent, DIY may not work at all. As your dealer, we have a state-of-the-art repair facility and Hyundai-trained technicians available to fix the problem. We have the technology to swiftly remove dents of any size from your car and return it to like-new condition. Dents sometimes involve damaged paint, and we can match your car's color in our paint shop. Our technicians are also experts at repairs and can remove a dent for you very quickly. Call our service department today at Crain Hyundai of Little Rock. Our technicians can remove any dent or damage.