Hyundai . . . we’ve got a problem!
Five or six weeks ago, the right rear door on our 2016 Hyundai Tucson stopped 
working. Just like that! It simply wouldn’t open. The locked/unlocked indicator on the inside worked, but the door wouldn’t open.
There hadn’t even been a hint of a problem when it suddenly chose not to open.
So I did what most everyone does in such situations — I turned to Google. And I discovered that, sheesh, Hyundai has a problem with vehicles whose doors suddenly decide not to open.
If you own a Hyundai, you should know that this type of thing isn’t rare. If you don’t believe me, just go to Google and type in “Hyundai door won’t open.” Be forewarned, though, because the response volume just might leave you agog.
Anyway . . . having established via Google that this predicament was out of my league as a mechanic, I went to see Doug Morley at Advance Auto Service on the Trans-Canada Highway in Kamloops. We’ve been taking our vehicles there for more than 20 years, so it was only natural that I would pay him a visit.
Doug did some digging and discovered that there exists a Technical Service Bulletin dated May 25 that covers a warranty extension involving door latch replacement for certain Hyundai vehicles.
“Certain Elantra and Tucson vehicles may experience an internal or external door handle being inoperative or requiring repeated attempts to open the door,” the bulletin reads. “If this condition occurs, replace the affected door latch.
“The warranty coverage for the door latch has been extended to 10 years (unlimited mileage) from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs first, and is valid for original and subsequent owners.”
Unfortunately, the warranty extension is applicable only in the U.S. That’s right . . . it doesn’t include Canada.
Doug promptly checked with Kamloops Hyundai and was told that the local dealership wouldn’t help because the warranty extension doesn’t cover vehicles in Canada. He then called Kelowna Hyundai and was told they would gladly replace the defective piece in “good faith.”
A day or two later, Dorothy, my good wife, decided to visit Kamloops Hyundai. She always would rather deal with someone face-to-face, rather than by phone or email. So away she went. After hearing her out, the woman behind the counter phoned someone, presumably a higher-up in the dealership, then hung up and told Dorothy that they couldn’t help us.
For my next trick, I visited the Hyundai Canada website, found its email form and sent them a note explaining our predicament and asking when the U.S. warranty extension might be available in Canada.
I waited a week and when I hadn’t received a reply, I sent another email to Hyundai Canada, pointing out that I hadn’t received a response to my first email.
This time I did get a response.
“We regret to learn all the experience that you encountered with your 2016 Tucson and the Kamloops Hyundai dealership,” the email read. “We can certainly understand the frustration this has caused. Please be advised as the manufacturer we are here to honour the warranty and will repair or replace most components exhibiting a defect in material or workmanship within the parameters of the warranty.
“We understand that you are inquiring about the difference in recalls and warranties between the United States and Canada. Hyundai Auto Canada and Hyundai Motor America are two separate companies. They are owned and operated independently, with each operating in their own nation’s economy and market.
“We do not show any recalls for this VIN, and the warranty has elapsed based on time. Therefore, Hyundai Auto Canada is not in a position to provide any assistance in this matter.”
In other words, go pound sand.
So . . . despite the fact that having a rear door that won’t open would seem to be a safety issue — what if you open the door, put your child in a seat back there, get hit on the left rear door by another vehicle, then discover that the door won’t open? — only a dealership about two hours away was willing to repair a component that obviously was defective.
While we truly appreciate the graciousness offered our way by Kelowna Hyundai, our Tucson was back in the shop at Advance Auto Service one morning last week.
Doug Morley and his crew have always been there for us, so we chose to pay them to repair the door, and that’s exactly what happened.
While we will continue to take business their way — yes, we will be back in two or three weeks to get winter tires put on — you can bet our next vehicle won’t be a Hyundai.
Giants won’t have their head coach at their bench when the WHL season opens:
But, said COVID-19, “not so fast, my friends.” . . . Even before the league got to opening night it had to shut down the Melville Millionaires until further notice due to a positive test somewhere within the organization. . . . “The decision for postponement did not come easy, but we all feel that this is the best decision to make at this time to mitigate the potential risks,” read an SJHL news release signed by Bill Chow, the commissioner. “The SJHL will work with the Melville Millionaires and teams affected by the postponement in rescheduling and will announce when that information is available. Any health matter is private in nature, the SJHL and the Melville Millionaires will have no further comments at this time.” . . . The Millionaires had played eight exhibition games in 14 days through Sept. 19. They were to have opened the regular season in Weyburn against the Red Wings on Friday night and then played in Weyburn on Saturday. . . . The SJHL’s original schedule had Melville playing three games through Sept. 29 and six more from Oct. 1 through Oct. 9. That included four games in five days from Oct. 1 through Oct. 5.
opening night, which is scheduled for Oct. 12. . . . If you do the math, that would leave about 15 players on the 32 rosters who won’t be fully vaccinated when the regular season begins. . . . Of course, you know that we are going to be hearing about those 15. . . . 
Sea Dogs will be the host team. The CHL made the announcement on Wednesday, with the tournament to run from June 3-12. One other team — the Quebec Remparts — had been in the running. . . . The Sea Dogs are in their 16th season in the QMJHL; this is the first time they will play host to the tournament. . . . Because of the pandemic, the four-team tournament hasn’t been held since 2019. It was to have been held in Kelowna in 2020 and in an OHL city — either Oshawa or Sault Ste. Marie — in 2021. Because of the uncertainty, the OHL never got around to selecting a host city for 2021.
Tuesday, F Zac Rinaldo’s name was nowhere to be found even though they had signed him as a free agent to a two-way contract last month — US$750,000 in the NHL, $275,000 in the AHL. . . . John Davidson, the Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations, explained that Rinaldo “is not vaccinated and because of that — and that’s his decision — the plan is to start him in the American Hockey League and he will not be coming to our training camp.” . . . And wouldn’t you love to know what the other players in the Cleveland Monsters’ camp think about that? . . . Rinaldo, 31, was pointless in five games with the Calgary Flames last season. . . . Davidson also said: “When you read the amount of players, the percentage that have been vaccinated, it’s a big, big number. There’s very few who aren’t, and that’s their own personal choice. I’m not going to sit here and tell them what to do, even though I’d like to see the whole world get vaccinated. My daughter’s a doctor. She believes in this, and I believe in her because she’s a whole lot smarter than I am. I’d like to see the whole world get vaccinated. We have a responsibility as the leaders of the organization. We want our people vaccinated. We want them wearing masks as much as possible.” . . . Earlier this month, the Blue Jackets dumped assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre after he chose not to get vaccinated. . . . It’s interesting, too, that the Blue Jackets’ training camp is presented by Ohio Health, which bills itself as “a family of not-for-profit, faith-based hospitals & healthcare organizations.” . . . 
per cent of the Seattle Kraken’s players are fully vaccinated “even though general manager Ron Francis said he wasn’t authorized to comment.” . . . In an interesting piece, Baker writes: “Given our city’s dark history with pandemics and hockey, it’s a relief to see Kraken players aren’t testing the resolve of both the team and most of the local community. With the 1919 Stanley Cup final in Seattle still the lone major sports championship ever canceled by a pandemic that also killed some players and maybe coaches as well, it’s good to see the league and Players’ Association getting tough about vaccine compliance.” . . . Baker’s piece, which is well worth a read, is 
WHL exhibition schedule on Friday night and admittance was $5 “or free with food donation.” The Broncos also had a vaccine clinic on site. Anyone getting a vaccination was given free entry to the game. Well done!
Vancouver Giants. Don Sweeney, the Bruins’ general manager, told reporters at a prospects tournament in Buffalo on Sunday that “in all likelihood” Lysell will play in Vancouver.
before they meet the Kelowna Rockets. Johnson, who is from Spokane, will be the second player to have been honoured in this fashion, after F Ray Whitney (14). Johnson won a WHL title with the Chiefs (2008), a World Junior championship with Team USA (2010), an AHL crown with the Norfolk Admirals (2012) and a pair of Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning (2020,2021). He now is with the Chicago Blackhawks.
season. . . . Linesman Travis Toomey, who worked NHL and AHL games last season, has been promoted to a full-time NHL position. Toomey played four seasons (2007-11) in the WHL, the first three with the Saskatoon Blades and the fourth with the Seattle Thunderbirds. He then spent four seasons at the U of Alberta with the Golden Bears. . . . Cody Beach, a referee now, will split his time between the AHL and NHL. Beach, 29, played in the WHL for three seasons (2009-12), spending one-plus with each of the Calgary Hitmen and Moose Jaw Warriors.
having tested positive for COVID-19. He will be away from the team for at least 10 days, at which time the situation will be re-evaluated. . . . The Alouettes are coming off a bye week, during which time Jones travelled to his home in Surrey, B.C., and then went to Toronto where he has a daughter in university. . . . Jones was found to be positive on Sunday. Everyone with the team was tested on Monday, but no more positives were found. . . . Montreal is to play the visiting B.C. Lions on Saturday. . . . While Jones is away, assistant coach André Bolduc will be the acting head coach.
TAKING NOTE 