Why Are Gears Tight From Park to Reverse?

I’ll try my best to help you out with a initial suggestion of places to look but you can help me give you better information if you can answer one of these questions:

• Is the transmission shifting hard, slamming into each gear?
• Is the transmission shifting going from hard to soft and back again?
• Is the transmission juddering and stumbling, as well as tight?
• Can you let me know how you define “tight”? To me it means something like your transmission is slamming from gear to gear. Is this right?

Please let me know the answer or answers you come up with so I can be more exact in my response.

As a first cut, though, I’d suggest look at the transmission fluid level and check it. You will find the procedure outlined here: http://www.transmissionrepaircostguide.com/change-transmission-fluid/. It sounds as if your transmission fluid level could be low.

Low transmission fluid levels can cause your transmission transmission to work harder at increasing the pressure of the fluid passing over the gears. It takes extra time for the pressure to build and because the transmission fluid is low, it causes the gears to slam.

How does this happen in a close system like an automatic transmission? If you look at the transmission closely, you will see that is really isn’t totally closed. There are seals on the input and output shafts that can become brittle with age and begin to leak. Such leaks are hard-to-find and require another visit to a technician with a lift where you Hyundai can be put up in the air. If, however, you have access to a hydraulic jack that will lift the front end, you can look for this leakage yourself. You will have to look closely along the case as these shafts are mostly enclosed and the fluid will be blown off the transmission as you travel. Don’t ever try to use the tire jack to lift your vehicle as it isn’t stable for more than just changing a tire.

Look along the transmission pan, as well, for signs of leakage.

This is my first thought on your problem. There are several possibilities so if you can give me a bit more to go on it will be helpful. I’ll answer you right here.