I had my Elantra in for a service,they had it up on a hoist everything fine until they brought it down. Apparently the back shock absorbers seized up making the vehicle stiff in the rear suspension. They advised me that they rang Hyundai and were told that this sometimes happens. They have told me to drive it around for a couple of days to see if they will free up otherwise I have to buy new ones. Is this true as being a female I have to question it?

Lights can be triggered during the repair. Diagnostic equipment will be needed to record the codes and erase them, then you go for a drive and the lights probably won't come back...

Possible failure of the shock absorbers or failure of the suspension support springs . You need to jack up or hoist the car to have a good inspection that must give the explanation. Do not change any part UNLESS you are convinced of the fault. Check the suspected components individually.

Your shock absorber is weak, replace it and everything will work fine. Thank you for using Fixya.

The struts model (MacPherson Strut),are both in front and back of this car.
2000 - 2006 Hyundai Elantra Shock Absorber and Strut Assembly - Rear, Driver Side, KYB GR-2/EXCEL-G, Twin tube, Strut Assembly. $72
2000 - 2006 Hyundai Elantra Shock Absorber and Strut Assembly - Rear, Passenger Side, KYB GR-2/EXCEL-G, Twin tube, Strut Assembly $68
1996 - 2006 Hyundai Elantra Shock Absorber and Strut Assembly - Front, Driver Side, KYB GR-2/EXCEL-G, Twin tube, Strut Assembly $67
1996 - 2006 Hyundai Elantra Shock Absorber and Strut Assembly - Front, Passenger Side, KYB GR-2/EXCEL-G, Twin tube, Strut Assembly $63
Of course this is only the cartridge, you have to transfer the spring, and the top mount of the existing strut. You need a pair of coil spring compressor to do the job. The basic procedure to replace a strut is:
Remove the top nuts that secure the strut assembly to the frame mount inside the engine compartment. Do not remove the center nut.
Mark the lower strut mounting location on the hub for installation reference. The alignment will be close if the new strut is installed in the same position.
Remove the bolts that hold the strut assembly to the hub.
Remove the strut assembly from the vehicle.
Mark the top mount for installation reference. Using a side mounted spring compressor, compress the spring and remove the top nut and retaining washer. Pull strut assembly out from the bottom of spring.
Slide the new strut assembly up into the spring and reposition the top mount onto the spring in the same position that it was removed. Install the retaining washer and top nut.
Tighten the top nut to the manufacturer's specifications and carefully remove the spring compressor.
Place the strut assembly back into the vehicle.

Service Ride Control means one or some of your shocks or struts are worn and may need replacing. The price for new ones is not cheap,

Look to see if the spring is broke!
That can be a bad thing to have happen.

Answer
REMOVAL - SHOCK ASSEMBLY
NOTE: Access for the nuts attaching the rear shock assembly upper mount to the vehicle is through the inside of the trunk.

Roll back carpeting on top of the rear shock tower to access shock mounting nuts.
Remove plastic cover from the top of the shock assembly.
Remove 2 nuts attaching the shock assembly upper mount/spring seat to the shock tower.
Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a frame contact type hoist. (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCEDURE)
Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle.
Remove two fasteners holding the splash shield to the shock assembly upper mount.
Remove bolt attaching shock absorber to rear knuckle (Shock Absorber Attachment To Knuckle).
Remove the shock absorber from the rear knuckle first when removing the shock absorber from vehicle by pushing down on the rear suspension.
Move shock assembly downward and tilt top of shock outward, then remove shock assembly from vehicle through top of wheel opening

You need a special tool to compress the spring and these are available from the auto shop. Make sure you get a good quality one and be very careful it doesn't slip because there is a lot of stored energy when the spring is compressed.

i don't think you have to do any repairs from the top end. I will list most fromFord shop manual. Please rate as Fixya if this answers your questions. Please report back. Good luck.

Section 04-02: Suspension and Wheel Hubs, Rear 1994 Town Car, Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis. Workshop Manual
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Spring Rear
Removal

1. Position a hoist under the rear axle housing, and raise the vehicle. Refer to Section 00-02 . Place jackstands under frame side rails.

1. Remove rear stabilizer bar as outlined.

1. Disconnect the lower studs of the two shock absorbers from the mounting brackets on the rear axle assembly .

1. Unsnap the RH parking brake rear cable and conduit (2A635) from RH upper arm retainer before lowering the rear axle assembly .

1. Lower the hoist and axle housing until the rear springs are released.

1. Remove rear spring and rear spring center mounting insulators (5741) from vehicle.
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Shock Absorber Removal
Raise the vehicle on a hoist. 1. To assist in removing the upper attachment on shock absorbers using a plastic dust tube, place an open end wrench on the hex stamped into the dust tube's metal cap. For shock absorbers with a steel dust tube, simply grasp the tube to prevent stud rotation when loosening the retaining nut.

1. Remove the shock absorber retaining nut, washer, and insulator assembly from the stud on the upper side of the frame. Discard nut. Compress the shock absorber to clear the hole in the frame, and remove the inner insulator and washer from the upper retaining stud.
2. Remove the self-locking retaining nut, and disconnect the shock absorber lower stud from the mounting bracket on the rear axle tube.
3. Perform Shock Absorber Checks. Refer to Section 04-00 to determine shock absorbers performance.

Installation

1. Properly prime the new shock absorber . Refer to Section 04-00 , Shock Absorber Checks.

1. Place the inner washer and rear spring insulator (5536) on the upper retaining stud, and position the shock absorber so that the upper retaining stud enters the hole in the frame. While holding the shock absorber in this position, install a new rear spring insulator , washer and nut assembly on the upper side of the upper frame. Be sure to seat the rear spring insulator in the frame attaching hole. Tighten nut to 34-46 Nm (25-34 lb-ft).

1. Extend the shock absorber , and place the lower stud in the mounting bracket hole on the rear axle assembly housing. Install a new self-locking retaining nut. Tighten nut to 76.5-103.5 Nm (56-76 lb-ft).

1. Lower vehicle.

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Arm Lower
Removal
Refer to the illustration in Description and Operation. NOTE: To improve rear axle assembly noise and vibration concerns, the rear suspension should be fastened to the frame and rear axle assembly at the curb height position.
NOTE: If one rear suspension lower arm requires replacement, also replace the opposite rear suspension lower arm .
WARNING: TURN REAR SUSPENSION LEVELER COMPRESSOR SWITCH OFF (IF SO EQUIPPED).
NOTE: If both rear suspension arm and bushings and both rear suspension lower arms are to be removed at the same time, remove both rear springs as outlined under Rear Spring Removal. For air spring removal, refer to Section 04-05 .

1. Mark rear suspension shock absorber relative to protective sleeve with the vehicle in a static, level ground condition.

1. Remove rear stabilizer bar as outlined.

1. Raise the vehicle on a hoist, and place jackstands under the rear axle assembly . Refer to Section 00-02 .

1. Lower the hoist until the shock absorbers are fully extended to relieve rear spring pressure.

1. Support rear axle assembly under differential pinion nose as well as under rear axle assembly .

1. Remove and discard the lower arm pivot bolt and nut from the axle bracket. Then, disengage the rear suspension lower arm from the bracket.

1. Remove and discard the pivot bolt and nut from the frame bracket, and remove the rear suspension lower arm .

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Upper
Removal
SPECIAL SERVICE TOOL(S) REQUIRED Description Tool Number Suspension Bushing Service Set T79P-5638-A1, A2 and A5 Rear Axle Control Arm Bushing Tools T86P-5638-AH
WARNING: TURN OFF REAR SUSPENSION LEVELER COMPRESSOR SWITCH (IF SO EQUIPPED).

1. Raise the vehicle, and support the frame side rails with jackstands. Refer to Section 00-02 .
2. Support the rear axle assembly .
3. Lower the rear axle assembly , and support the rear axle assembly under differential pinion nose as well as under rear axle assembly .
4. Unsnap parking brake rear cable and conduit from upper arm retainer.
5. Remove and discard the nut and bolt retaining the rear suspension arm and bushing to the rear axle assembly housing. Disconnect the rear suspension arm and bushing from the housing.
6. Remove and discard the nut and bolt that secures the rear suspension arm and bushing to the frame bracket, and remove the rear suspension arm and bushing . If upper arm rear bushing is to be replaced, use Suspension Bushing Service Set T79P-5638-A and Rear Axle Control Arm Bushing Tools T86P-5638-AH and the following procedure:
7. Place the upper arm rear bushing remover tool in position, and pull bushing out. Using Suspension Bushing Service Set T79P-5638-A install bushing assembly into bushing ear of rear axle assembly.

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Stabilizer Bar
WARNING: TURN OFF REAR SUSPENSION LEVELER COMPRESSOR SWITCH (IF SO EQUIPPED).
Removal

1. Raise vehicle on hoist, and place jackstands under the frame side rails. Refer to Section 00-02 .

1. Lower the hoist and rear axle assembly housing until the shock absorbers are fully extended.

1. Disconnect rear stabilizer bars from rear stabilizer bar link and bushing (5C488) . Remove bolts and stabilizer bar bracket (5486) retaining rear stabilizer bar to rear axle assembly .

This is a dangerous job if you do not have the proper equipment for compressing the spring that is around the rear shock. I do not recomend performing this job without the proper equipment. Unloading the spring without it compressed can cuase injury.

If you have the proper equipment this is how you do it.

REMOVAL - SHOCK ASSEMBLY NOTE: Access for the nuts attaching the rear shock assembly upper mount to the vehicle is through the inside of the trunk.

1. Roll back carpeting on top of the rear shock tower to access shock mounting nuts.
2. Remove plastic cover from the top of the shock assembly.
3. Remove 2 nuts attaching the shock assembly upper mount/spring seat to the shock tower.
4. Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a frame contact type hoist.
5. Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle.
6. Remove two fasteners holding the splash shield to the shock assembly upper mount.
7. Remove bolt attaching shock absorber to rear knuckle
8. Remove the shock absorber from the rear knuckle first when removing the shock absorber from vehicle by pushing down on the rear suspension.
9. Move shock assembly downward and tilt top of shock outward, then remove shock assembly from vehicle through top of wheel opening.