Where to find info on a 2004 Hyundai Sonata

frau kaleun · 07-19-11, 02:30 PM

Bear with me, oh fellow Subsimmers, cuz I am not a car person.

My mother left me her 2004 Hyundai Sonata when she died, the car is in great shape - only about 10k miles on it and it's virtually spotless as far as looks having been kept in a garage and (obviously) not driven very much or very far. This is, quite literally, the car you've heard about that was only taken out by a little old lady when she went to church on Sundays.

I still need to get it checked out mechanically but in order to do that I need to drive it to the shop. The tags on it are good til the end of next month and the title should be transferred in plenty of time (I hope) for me to get that switched over so there's no lapse in the registration, but the insurance on it lapsed a few months ago so I need to make sure it's covered.

But when I started to take care of that online one of the first questions asked was about anti-lock brakes and I have no clue about that so that's where I stopped the process. There may be other questions of that nature that I won't have a ready answer for either.

I want to get this thing added to my policy so I can pick it up this weekend and get it checked out next week, also because it needs to be driven having sat idle for almost eight months now. And also because there is no doubt work that needs to be done on my current POS vehicle that I don't want to pay for since I won't be driving it that much longer. I have a bunch of the documentation for the Sonata but I can't find anything in there about AL brakes yes or no. My sister found more info at mom's house but I won't be able to look at it until I get out there, at which point I won't be able to get the insurance sorted out in order to bring it home that day.

I looked here

http://www.edmunds.com/hyundai/sonata/2004/

and I didn't see anything that said it has AL brakes, OTOH I really don't know enough not to have missed it if it's there. If it doesn't say it specifically, does that mean it doesn't have them? Would answering one way or the other and getting it wrong (temporarily) make that much of a difference with the insurance? If this site isn't answering the question, where else would I find the answer if it's something I should do my best to answer correctly?

If anybody has or has had one of these critters and just knows the answer, that would be awesome. As would any additional info regarding quirks of the car or other potential issues to look out for.

It's either the GLS or LX model, I can't remember which offhand but I know it was one of those cuz I compared with some of paperwork I have.

Any and all help/info much appreciated!

Betonov · 07-19-11, 02:54 PM

If I'm not mistaken anti-lock brakes are another term for ABS breaks. They don't lock at sudden stops.

Find a nice empty stretch of road, pick up some speed and slam the brakes. If you dont hear a squeel you got ABS

danasan · 07-19-11, 03:16 PM

Hi FK,

it seems to be a question of which generation the car is. There was a shift in 2004...

Have a look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai...2.80.932010.29

scroll down to 2004

From generation 5 on, the anti lock breaks are standard in the U.S.

Edit: To be honest. If it was mine, with only 10k miles on it, I would not sell it - it could serve me well for a couple of years.

Edit II: On the other hand, here is a review http://cars.about.com/cs/newcarprofi...unda_Sonat.htm which states it was not standard. So it really depends on the generation.

It is easy to find out while driving in a parking lot...

Falkirion · 07-19-11, 05:55 PM

Do what Benetov suggested. Pick up some speed on an empty road and slam the brakes on to find out if you've got ABS in the thing or not. The brake pedal will vibrate a bit but thats normal so don't freak out when it happens.

Sounds like a good deal you've got there, 10k miles done on an 04' is a pretty good car to be selling if you do decide to sell that is. I'd keep it as the low mileage is a good thing.

frau kaleun · 07-19-11, 06:22 PM

The problem with that suggestion is that I only want the answer to fill in the form required to get the car insured, and until the car is insured I can't take it out on the road somewhere to test the brakes as that would be illegal here.

I have considered the possibility of trading the car in on something else eventually, but that will depend on how it goes with settling the rest of the estate, primarily the sale of the house. If there is enough money to take care of several other things first and still be able to consider a nice trade-in, it's something I will think about as I've never in my life had a car that *I* picked out for myself, by myself. But paying off any outstanding debts and then looking for a condo or at least a bigger apartment will definitely come first.

OTOH I'm not much of a car person, so it's not like I have a burning desire to drive some particular make/model of vehicle, and the ones I would *really* want in that instance would be out of my price range anyway as well as extremely impractical.

Plus I've never even driven the Sonata, it's possible I will do so and then really like it. There is no doubt that it will be a vast improvement on what I've been used to... the car I'm driving now is 22 years old and I've been driving it for almost all of that. Apparently the engine in this thing is one of the last of Chevy's "Wolverine" models because it simply WILL NOT DIE. Since it's paid for and insuring it is so cheap I finally just resolved to drive it until it fell apart and/or repairs and maintenance became more expensive per year than making payments on something else. Now I won't have to do that... I'll just need to find a nice cliff somewhere to push it off of.

kiwi_2005 · 07-19-11, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

the car I'm driving now is 22 years old ... I'll just need to find a nice cliff somewhere to push it off of.

If you keep your car for another 3yrs it will be classed as a classic. A collector might be interested in it one day. Don't push it off the cliff!

CaptainMattJ. · 07-19-11, 03:04 PM

it looks like it does have anti lock brakes. Like betonov said, you can always test it, and if you hear the squeal, then you dont have anti lock. but it does seem like a 2004 sonata GLS has Anti lock.

frau kaleun · 07-19-11, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainMattJ.

it looks like it does have anti lock brakes. Like betonov said, you can always test it, and if you hear the squeal, then you dont have anti lock. but it does seem like a 2004 sonata GLS has Anti lock.

Where are you seeing that? Somewhere on the Edmunds site? The closest I could figure was "traction control" which looks like optional but not standard. Altho knowing my mom, if it was available she got it. My male relatives seem to think the car was "loaded" with everything available.

07-19-11, 02:30 PM	#1
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	Where to find info on a 2004 Hyundai Sonata Bear with me, oh fellow Subsimmers, cuz I am not a car person. My mother left me her 2004 Hyundai Sonata when she died, the car is in great shape - only about 10k miles on it and it's virtually spotless as far as looks having been kept in a garage and (obviously) not driven very much or very far. This is, quite literally, the car you've heard about that was only taken out by a little old lady when she went to church on Sundays. I still need to get it checked out mechanically but in order to do that I need to drive it to the shop. The tags on it are good til the end of next month and the title should be transferred in plenty of time (I hope) for me to get that switched over so there's no lapse in the registration, but the insurance on it lapsed a few months ago so I need to make sure it's covered. But when I started to take care of that online one of the first questions asked was about anti-lock brakes and I have no clue about that so that's where I stopped the process. There may be other questions of that nature that I won't have a ready answer for either. I want to get this thing added to my policy so I can pick it up this weekend and get it checked out next week, also because it needs to be driven having sat idle for almost eight months now. And also because there is no doubt work that needs to be done on my current POS vehicle that I don't want to pay for since I won't be driving it that much longer. I have a bunch of the documentation for the Sonata but I can't find anything in there about AL brakes yes or no. My sister found more info at mom's house but I won't be able to look at it until I get out there, at which point I won't be able to get the insurance sorted out in order to bring it home that day. I looked here http://www.edmunds.com/hyundai/sonata/2004/ and I didn't see anything that said it has AL brakes, OTOH I really don't know enough not to have missed it if it's there. If it doesn't say it specifically, does that mean it doesn't have them? Would answering one way or the other and getting it wrong (temporarily) make that much of a difference with the insurance? If this site isn't answering the question, where else would I find the answer if it's something I should do my best to answer correctly? If anybody has or has had one of these critters and just knows the answer, that would be awesome. As would any additional info regarding quirks of the car or other potential issues to look out for. It's either the GLS or LX model, I can't remember which offhand but I know it was one of those cuz I compared with some of paperwork I have. Any and all help/info much appreciated!

07-19-11, 03:16 PM	#3
danasan Elite Spam Hunter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Flensburg / Germany Posts: 1,141 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	Hi FK, it seems to be a question of which generation the car is. There was a shift in 2004... Have a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai...2.80.932010.29 scroll down to 2004 From generation 5 on, the anti lock breaks are standard in the U.S. Edit: To be honest. If it was mine, with only 10k miles on it, I would not sell it - it could serve me well for a couple of years. Edit II: On the other hand, here is a review http://cars.about.com/cs/newcarprofi...unda_Sonat.htm which states it was not standard. So it really depends on the generation. It is easy to find out while driving in a parking lot... __________________ "I invite you to go inside this submergible hole in the water where you can nicely hide from destroyers." Last edited by danasan; 07-19-11 at 03:49 PM.

07-19-11, 03:04 PM	#7
CaptainMattJ. The Old Man Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sin City Posts: 1,364 Downloads: 55 Uploads: 0	it looks like it does have anti lock brakes. Like betonov said, you can always test it, and if you hear the squeal, then you dont have anti lock. but it does seem like a 2004 sonata GLS has Anti lock. __________________ A popular Government without popular information nor the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives - James Madison

07-19-11, 02:54 PM	#2
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	If I'm not mistaken anti-lock brakes are another term for ABS breaks. They don't lock at sudden stops. Find a nice empty stretch of road, pick up some speed and slam the brakes. If you dont hear a squeel you got ABS

07-19-11, 05:55 PM	#4
Falkirion Ace of the Deep Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Melbourne, AUS Posts: 1,043 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	Do what Benetov suggested. Pick up some speed on an empty road and slam the brakes on to find out if you've got ABS in the thing or not. The brake pedal will vibrate a bit but thats normal so don't freak out when it happens. Sounds like a good deal you've got there, 10k miles done on an 04' is a pretty good car to be selling if you do decide to sell that is. I'd keep it as the low mileage is a good thing.

07-19-11, 06:22 PM	#5
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	The problem with that suggestion is that I only want the answer to fill in the form required to get the car insured, and until the car is insured I can't take it out on the road somewhere to test the brakes as that would be illegal here. I have considered the possibility of trading the car in on something else eventually, but that will depend on how it goes with settling the rest of the estate, primarily the sale of the house. If there is enough money to take care of several other things first and still be able to consider a nice trade-in, it's something I will think about as I've never in my life had a car that I picked out for myself, by myself. But paying off any outstanding debts and then looking for a condo or at least a bigger apartment will definitely come first. OTOH I'm not much of a car person, so it's not like I have a burning desire to drive some particular make/model of vehicle, and the ones I would really want in that instance would be out of my price range anyway as well as extremely impractical. Plus I've never even driven the Sonata, it's possible I will do so and then really like it. There is no doubt that it will be a vast improvement on what I've been used to... the car I'm driving now is 22 years old and I've been driving it for almost all of that. Apparently the engine in this thing is one of the last of Chevy's "Wolverine" models because it simply WILL NOT DIE. Since it's paid for and insuring it is so cheap I finally just resolved to drive it until it fell apart and/or repairs and maintenance became more expensive per year than making payments on something else. Now I won't have to do that... I'll just need to find a nice cliff somewhere to push it off of.