Hyundai Genesis 3.8 Sound.flv

This is a video of a test drive of my 2010 Hyundai Genesis 3.8, highlighting an unusual engine noise that a few other Hyundai Genesis 3.8 owners have noted and highlighted in various internet forums. The sound is a rumbling vibrating note that comes on only under acceleration load and peaks just before shift points. The burbling rumble gives way just before the shift point to a sound that is just a bit short of an engine knock. This sound is most audible in the recording between 3:50 and 4:00 on several brief uphill runs. It is quite a bit more noticeable in the car than it sounds on the recording, but if you turn your sound up, you should hear it clearly. Any comments or diagnostic suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Hyundai
• Genesis
• 3.8
• Sedan
• Engine
• Noise

[JimInNashville]

Thanks for the comments, everyone. Some quick responses:

1. Hyundai dealer mechanics seem completely perplexed by this. I've been to two dealers and test driven several other 3.8's. All of them have a very low key variant of this noise. My car makes a very noticeable sound, while the others are a much softer "gravelly" sound at the same RPMs. The mechanics declare it to be "normal", when to me it sounds decidedly non-normal.

2. 91 octane makes no difference. None.

[pepperbass]

Yes,. I have a 2011 Hyundai Genesis 3.8, and I am having the same issue (if not the very same, eerily similar). Best able to recreate it under load at about 1600 RPM, holding pace on a hill is the perfect way. Sound is like a grind / vibration from the dash area, almost like the sound when you play a song too loud and the bass drum hits and makes the plastic in a cheap car rattle. One dealer tried so far, could not sort it out. Back to original dealer this week.

[JimInNashville]

@pepperbass

Thanks for your input! The problem is, this could be something loose under the hood or in the exhaust system, OR it could be something seriously wrong in the engine internals. My 2010 has 8000 miles on it. Please keep me informed about your experiences with dealerships and diagnosis. I've been to Hyundai dealerships 4 different times about this, and am now considering bringing in an independent third party.

[JimInNashville]

@pepperbass

Thanks very much for your input, and please keep us informed about your experiences tracking this down.

I've been to two dealers for a total of 4 visits trying to track down this issue.

[carmaster366]

Keep in mind that your car is a high Performance Sedan really something you have to get use too about the sound .

[ismeticus]

You can also listen to my car noise if you wish, it's uploaded.

[ismeticus]

Mine also knocks more loudly in rear drive. Especially if you hold the break pedal and rev it to 1,500 rpm. Clunks like crazy.

By now I have replaced the timing belt and tensioner, also crank pulley, since mechanics were suggesting they were bad. but no improvement! Have done a compression test, compression was great (12.5 psi on all of the cylinders), oil pressure was also great. I don't know where to look at! Or maybe just ignore it. But it is so annoying.

[ismeticus]

Hi, Jim! Did you figure out what it was? I have a 2005 hyundai sonata, and it produces similar noise under load especially after cold start. After some driving it quites down a bit. And the colder the weather the louder the knock. The car had 57K miles when I bought it (didn't notice the knock), now I have 62K and everything is still running great. Doesn't seem to be a serious problem, otherwise the engine would have been toast by now. I visited numerous mechanics and nobody knows what it is.

[IIRubsyII]

@JimInNashville Hi Jim!

One of my friends drives a 94' Ford Mondeo estate, and he has that very same cloncking rumbling type of engine sound as you do. I am not sure of what it is, but I think the sound is linked to the cylinders. But then again, Im not sure.

- Peter

[robins1818]

Sounds good.

[pinky11pinky]

Two problems ! Could be a belt tensioner causing vibration another noise could be engine lubrication.

[Supramna92557]

It's Adam West!!!!

[dumapies]

It has to be something with the transmission.

[wookilkim]

I went LA city hyundai and they had a lots of complain about 2010 v6 model with same issue but that's how the engine is....