I have a 98 Sonata 4cyl Automatic. I got the car for free, but the catch was that the original transmission was in the trunk, the Torque converter was missing, and with all the cables, bolts, and brackets in a ziplock bag. Since I was not the one that took it out, I am having a tough time putting it back in. I got a rebuilt TC that is supposed to fit...

I just got a matching transmission from a junkyard, and am attemping to install it. The Chilton manual doesnt give great steps, such as "Remove Torque Converter" then "Remove Bell Housing."

Here is where I am: I bolted the torque converter to the flex plate, and now have the tranny jacked up, and lined up with the center line of the input shaft. It will not slide on the last half inch to where it is flush with the block. I have tried wiggling the tranny and pivoting it while having a buddy spin the crank and TC, hoping that if the splines arent matching up, this will fix it. But no Avail.

Anyone got any ideas, or know a good guide for it? I have done this before, several times, on other cars, just not on a Sonata. Does anyone know the torque converter code so that I can make sure that the one I purchased is the correct one?

Thank you in advance for any help. This Hyundai forum seems much better than the other ones I have posted on.

 

Anytime I installed a torque converter, I fitted it into the trans shaft first, then fitted the trans to the engine, then bolted the trans to the flywheel. It might not be applicable to your Sonata, but did you try to fit the torque converter to the trans to make sure the splines line up?

 

A quick check of hmaservice.com gives me very little information on remove/installation of the trans, but it DOES give one very important bit of info

"1.
Attach the torque converter on the transaxle side and mount the transaxle assembly onto the engine.
If the torque converter is mounted first to the engine, the oil seal on the transaxle side may be damaged. Therefore, be sure to first assemble the torque converter to the transaxle."

 

The Sonata's Torque converter is attached to the flywheel, then you bolt the TC and Flywheel combo to the Flexplate by spinning the crank so that the bolt hole on the flexplate is accessible under the engine. Correct?

And no, I didnt put the TC on the tranny input shaft before trying to bolt it in. Darn you and your good advice. From eyeballing it, everything looks like it should fit, but my eyes can deceive me. I'll take it all off and make sure it fits the way it should. Man, Why didnt I think of that...

Thanks again for the help. Anything is appreciated

 

Guess thats how I gotta do it. Hope I didnt damage anything... I'll try that when I got off work. And thanks for actually doing research for me. I couldnt find anything on the google machine.

 

Hope it works, I never had a Sonata apart, so I'm not much use. HMA service ain't much better.

 

The Chilton manuals dont tell much either, which is why I had hoped here would be good. I also have a 3000GT, and there are tons of write ups for it, but I guess the Sonata isnt much of a DIYer car, so there arent many, if any, write ups for it.

Thanks for the help. I'll try it tonight or tomorrow and post up with how it went. If it doesnt work out, Anyone in Ohio need Sonata parts?

 

I finally got the thing together. The torque converter they gave me was the wrong one, but I took it back and got the right one. Everything matched, except the flywheel was recessed on the second TC. Odd, and very frustrating, but now I can drop the tranny in under an hour. Experience FTW.

I got everything back together (Even though the car is still on jack stands), and got it started. Ran really rough for 5 minutes, but then it smoothed out. Maybe had something to do with the 4 year old gas in the tank...

Im gonna get the A-arms back together and get it on the ground tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to post up that I got a working, rolling, shifting, driving Sonata. But I have one question remaining...

The bracket that holds the shifter linkage taut is gone. Apparently the transmission shop lost that along with the TC. Any ideas where I could get one, aside from a junkyard? I am going to make a bracket for now to get it rolling, but would like it to be done right. Thanks again for the help! (Especially Jsinton)