Support for suspension issues

[doug725]

I'm actaully too emabarssed to drive anyone around in my car - that's one reason it's sitting in the garage.

 

[doug725]

Supposedly they checked everything over the first time I brought it in so I'd have to think nothin gwas stuck in there

 

[doug725]

OK - here's the promised update on the big drive with the Hyundai reps. I must say the gentlemen from Hyundai were overall very helpful, concerned and thorough. It was a very wet, rainy day in the 40's. PSI showed 30 on their gauge 33 on mine. Only one of the gentlemen drove with me (passenger seat). Guess what? The car drove like a dream and exhibited absolutely none of it's usual behavior -no jittery ride, no bucking! Curious huh? So what was different? The differences between yesterday and all the other times I have driven this car on these same roads were: outside temperature (much wamer yesterday than it has been), rain, passenger present and possibly slightly lower PSI). BTW the gentlemen had no insight, but still offered to ride with me again. I drove it this morning by myself - it's around 32 degrees and dry. Same tire pressure as yesterday. Guess what? It was up it to it's usual tricks. So what does this mean? So far the ride is better with all or one of these factors present: rain, passenger, warmer outside temp. I'm stumped and now more torn than ever. Anyone else notice anything like this? Any thoughts?

 

[doug725]

The other interesting thing I forgot to mention is that the day when I did my extensive test driving of the Genny demo (kept for 5 hours) it was very wet, rainy and relatively warm 0 much like yesterday!

 

[ImInPA]

Curious to say the least. I could see temperature impacting the shocks/springs for the first few miles driven. But, after a few miles, things get pretty warm with the friction and movement. Perhaps a valve inside the shocks? Perhaps there is a problem with the Amplitude Sensing mechanism on the shocks? I would not think 10 degrees could make the kind of difference that you have described though, unless temperature is somhow impacting the Amplitude Sensing mechanism on the Sachs shocks. Maybe you got a set of bad shocks. Of course, most car companies will not replace them unless there is some sign of failure e.g oil leaking, etc.

As I have read and re-read the reviews that mention suspension issues, I am not seeing any that describe anything close to what you are experiencing. Even Consumer Reports rates the suspension "mid-pack." I would expect a thorough trouncing from them if there were any potential safety issues.

I sure hope you can get your issues resolved...Fingers are crossed for you.

 

[BigElm]

This is funny.... kinda. It's like taking your child to the doctor when they are sick and bummed at home but don't have a problem and being alert when they're at the doctor's office.

Hope you get this resolved....

 

[doug725]

yes I'm laughing inside - really! I give up!

 

[Mark_888]

OK - here's the promised update on the big drive with the Hyundai reps. I must say the gentlemen from Hyundai were overall very helpful, concerned and thorough. It was a very wet, rainy day in the 40's. PSI showed 30 on their gauge 33 on mine. Only one of the gentlemen drove with me (passenger seat). Guess what? The car drove like a dream and exhibited absolutely none of it's usual behavior -no jittery ride, no bucking! Curious huh? So what was different? The differences between yesterday and all the other times I have driven this car on these same roads were: outside temperature (much wamer yesterday than it has been), rain, passenger present and possibly slightly lower PSI). BTW the gentlemen had no insight, but still offered to ride with me again. I drove it this morning by myself - it's around 32 degrees and dry. Same tire pressure as yesterday. Guess what? It was up it to it's usual tricks. So what does this mean? So far the ride is better with all or one of these factors present: rain, passenger, warmer outside temp. I'm stumped and now more torn than ever. Anyone else notice anything like this? Any thoughts?

The Hyundai test track and design facility where the Genesis suspension was tuned for the US market are in Southern California, so they probably never tested with any cold weather. The temps in my city were in the mid 60's today and the ride did seem a little better than normal.

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

yes I'm laughing inside - really! I give up!

If I understand the sequence correctly, you first experienced the problem in 20 something weather/snow. After the blow out a couple days later (without hitting the bad stretch on I88 yet) the car was basically shut down at either your home or the dealer's lot. So if that's right:
1. Home or dealer? I ask because right about the time you resorted to rentals is when the deep freeze set in for a week or so but the car was parked. It also sat during the thaw/warm up, and wasn't test driven until after several days of 40-60 degree days. This morning it was around freezing again and the problem came back. Just trying to get the sequence straight for those with more mechanical minds than mine, especially if there's a weather tie in.
2. If at home, was it garaged during the sub-zero crap? If at the dealer, I'm sure it was outside for that and the warmup too.
3. Fwiw, my car was actually fun to drive in the warmer weather, and the ride seemed smoother too. Not sure if it's a mechanical difference or if my mood was imroved.
4. Now we're back to cold with snow on the way. Good luck!

Written in sincerity. You praised the response from Pugi and Hyundai, you deserve some props for sticking with this so far.

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

And excuse any typos or misspellings in the above. I'm typing on my phone.

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[ttsig]

OK, as a person who has experienced the poor ride only a handful of times in what is getting very close to 13,000 miles, I will say that each time I have experienced the issue the temperature was <40F. In the worst case breakdown it was just above freezing with a few snowflakes falling. It could have been just coincidence, but we don't really get a lot of very cold days here in SC so maybe that's why I haven't seen the problem more often.

I was talking to a friend of mine who is a BMW 3 series owner (I think 328i Sedan) and he told me to try my car out on a stretch of concrete highway that makes his BMW bounce and jump like crazy. I happened to be near the area this weekend, when temps were near 70F, and drove the 3 mile stretch both directions. My Genesis handled that stretch like a dream.

It seems far fetched that the temperature could have such an impact, but I guess nothing is impossible.

 

[bishop666]

Re: Support for suspension issues &amp; weather?

Like Dr. Strangelove's right hand, uncontrollably gripping at his throat, I could not stop my fingers from flying across the keyboard to say that the suspension characteristics that Doug has described and which prompted my disposal of the very same vehicle (4.6) in the not too distant past had nothing to do with a drop in ambient temperature. I am located in South Florida and would venture to guess that the average temperature during my period of ownership was in the 70's. Furthermore, there were a few rainy days interspersed with brightly sunlit days ... the porpoising persisted regardless.
It seems obvious that the problem is directly related to the interaction between road characteristics (and there are no perfect roads) and the suspension and that weather, phase of the moon, what side of the bed you awakened upon or the arrival of your wife's menstrual cycle, have nothing to do with it and that any amount of mystical analysis will ultimately prove fruitless.

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

Thank you, your emminence. But:
Doug said that the stretch of road that caused the original problem did NOT replicate itself during warmer weather. Hence the weather related questions.
Whatever.

 

[doug725]

I actually think it has more to do with rain vs. no rain - it also is better in snow. Regardless, I drove a new route to Schaumburg after work Rt. 47 north then to 72. Sort of country two lane highways - various surfaces. I can tell you that the ride was abysmal, horrible, awful - pick your adjective. The worst I've had in any car ever. Bouncy, jittery, nervous - every bump is felt and constant nervous pitching with the SLIGHEST road imperfection. Coming home on 355 again it was literally like riding a go cart down the highway. Unbelievable. It was dry road about 35-40 degress tonight. The car has got to go. I can't even stand to look at it at anymore. I'd like to live in it actually it's so nice inside, but I can't stand to drive it ANYWHERE.

 

[OneShot]

Since your car doesn't seem to act up with someone else in the car, could it be a weight issue? Maybe you could add a couple hundred pounds to the passenger side and try it again.

 

[njohnson]

If you have 3 variables, wet, weather, and weight the only way to get to the root of the problem is to eliminate them one by one.

Try driving with a passenger on a cold day with no rain.

Try driving without a passenger on a cold day with rain. etc.

You should be able to pinpoint the single problem. My guess would be the weight, I just don't see how rain could affect the suspension.

 

[Nabber]

Since your car doesn't seem to act up with someone else in the car, could it be a weight issue? Maybe you could add a couple hundred pounds to the passenger side and try it again.

That's interesting. I am 6'5" and 320# or so. I haven't experienced any suspension problems like others have (although I think they could soften things a bit). Makes me wonder if weight is "a" factor.

 

[Mark_888]

That's interesting. I am 6'5" and 320# or so. I haven't experienced any suspension problems like others have (although I think they could soften things a bit). Makes me wonder if weight is "a" factor.

Weight may be a factor, but also it just depends on how each person describes the problem. Some may describe it as a serious issue, while others may describe the exact same vehicle as "I think they could soften things a bit."

The actual road surface also makes a big difference, since on certain roads, even at low speeds, the suspension doesn't stop shaking, as if the frequency of the road undulations is somehow working to excite a resonance in the suspension.

With regard to weight, one should make sure that the gas tank level is taken into consideration, since a full tank of gas is fairly heavy.

 

[ImInPA]

...I was talking to a friend of mine who is a BMW 3 series owner (I think 328i Sedan) and he told me to try my car out on a stretch of concrete highway that makes his BMW bounce and jump like crazy. I happened to be near the area this weekend, when temps were near 70F, and drove the 3 mile stretch both directions. My Genesis handled that stretch like a dream.

I mentioned something similar to this in another post. In this situation, there is a stretch of road that makes a bmw 3 series bounce and jump like carzy, but, the Genesis handles it just fine. Almost every car I have ever owned has exhibited some horrible traits on certain stretches of road. There is no rhyme or reason to it. It is simply a combination of wheelbase length, springs and shocks. I think for every vehicle on the road, there is some stretch of highway that will unsettle it. This is only a problem if it just happens to be on the roads that you regularly drive. Of course, a test drive should include the "daily commute" roads. I had a subaru legacy GT that actually shook harshly over a stretch of road near my house that my current Passat TDI seems to smooth out just fine, as if it was two different roads.

My sincerest hopes that those experiencing this issue with their Genesis get resolution. I am not optimistic that a solution exists because of the variables that come into play in producing the symptoms. Imagine if Hyundai adjusted the suspension for these specific roads...it is likely that other roads would have issues. I am leery of this being a temperature related issue because shocks heat up pretty good after a few miles of traveling (friction and constant movement) and the elasticity of steel springs does not change very much in the 15 +/- degree temp variance. If there is anything that I would suspect is that something in the Sachs ASD might be affected by temperature, but I find this to be unlikely too.

I do think that this forum and this topic has served a very noble purpose in alerting all of us who are considering a Genesis to take the extra time and test drive one over our common routes as well as a wide variety of roads.

 

[doug725]

Thanks everyone. I do have to say, however, I don't think it's a matter of the fact that every car will act up on certain roads or ride preference. MY car has a poor ride on all roads and acts VERY poorly on certain roads. There is no other car I have driven EVER that has exhibitied the uniformly poor road manners of my Genesis. Sure, some cars exhibit a bit of harshness at points or on a stretch, but nothing at all comparable to awful ride of my Genesis. I certainly have never driven a car that is influenced by every road imperfection - no matter how minor - or bucks or feels constantly nervous and jittery over every bump to the point my legs ache. Unfortunately, that's what some of us have experienced and it can't be chalked up to preference or the road - the car should be able to handle the roads at least as good as the Maxima, Accord, RAV4, Acura TL, Lincoln MKS, Lexus ES, GS, Infiniti G, M, Sonata, Sante Fe to name just a few a the cars I have driven on these SAME roads in the last month alone. That's just the facts. Anyways, thanks again for all your feedback - I hope to trade in the Genesis this weekend. Good luck and enjoy! I hope to revisit the Genny in the future.