Hyundai Elantra 2001-2006

19798100102103109

Comments

  • jimbeaumijimbeaumi Member Posts: 620
    I haven't been on here in quite a while, but Betsy is doing very well. She turned 5 back in July, and has about 67,000 miles. I am still very, very happy with this great little machine. I am still burning original light bulbs (except for one headlight two years ago), still stopping with original rear brakes after the fronts were replaced, and will be replacing the battery sometime soon. And I have a very competent and fair mechanic here in Portland, Maine to take good care of her. We have now been here an entire year!

    My only concern is the rusting window molding on the driver's side rear door. I know a few of you here have had it corrected. Would someone please re-inform me about the best method for removing the rust or the molding? Did warranty cover it?

    Earlier, jvenezia asked about good Hyundai service departments. I found outstanding service at the dealership where I bought my car, Fox Hyundai in Grand Rapids, MI. The place was always clean, and the service writers had actually lifted a hood before (I haven't been so sure about the nearby Hyundai dealership just outside of Portland). I would recommend Fox to anyone in Grand Rapids.

    I am once again tempted to take the new car plunge, this time with a base Sonata (which already has EVERYTHING) so that I can continue driving a stick shift. It is so beautiful. But then again, how will I see my Betsy cross the 200K mark?

    :)
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    If you mean the little molding that is between the big window and little window on the rear door, I did have a rust spot on that on my '01 Elantra awhile back, and it was repaired under warranty. But that was when the car was still under the bumper-to-bumper warranty. The way the molding is designed, it looks like it would pop off without too much effort, so it might be easy to replace it yourself.
  • jveneziajvenezia Member Posts: 85
    Hey, thanks for the news about Fox Hyundai in Grand Rapids. There's a good chance that I'll get my next car there...probably a Santa Fe. I should be moving to the GR or Holland area in a year or so. Sure looking forward to it after my exile in the Thumb area (Cass City) for twelve years.
  • jimbeaumijimbeaumi Member Posts: 620
    I have a bumper to bumper that I purchased for the full 10 years. Perhaps I'll go directly to regional for an answer before going 'round and 'round with the service department who did not understand the extended warranty covered my gas tank replacement. My window molding is evenly rusted top to bottom. I've been neglecting it.

    JV -- good luck with Fox; I really like them. As for GR/Holland, it is its own little world of exile.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    Good to see you are still around. Way northwest, but still around!

    Jim
  • jimbeaumijimbeaumi Member Posts: 620
    Does anyone here know what battery "group size" is in the Elantra? I don't see anything under the hood or in the owner's manual that would tell me. Thanks -- it's gotta be time soon to replace a 5 year old battery.
  • exotropeexotrope Member Posts: 9
    My thoughts regarding E10 Ethanol blend in most gasolines
    in USA now.....

    I asked one Hyundai service manager that tells me I should
    not use E10 gas, it will cause pinging and knocking.
    I ask another Hyundai service manager that tells me...yes
    use E10, its good for the engine and will help reduce carbon
    deposits and prevent pinging and knocking!
    I ask another Hyundai service manager and he tells me E10
    is great for the engine!

    This is crazy! There seems to be so much misinformation
    regarding E10 Ethanol blend!

    How can you avoid using E10 if virtually all gasoline is
    now selling E10? It makes no sense!

    So, what is the truth here? Will E10 prove to be harmful
    to the Elantra engine over the years and 150,000 miles??
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    Hey Jim,

    The Elantra uses a group 24F battery. Mine was replaced under warranty with an Interstate battery.

    MTP-24F - Mega-Tron Plus - 85 Months - 800 CCA

    SPECIFICATIONS
    Weight: 47.10 pounds
    Length: 11 inches
    Width: 6.88 inches
    Height: 8.75 inches
    Cranking Amps: 1000
    Cold Cranking Amps: 800
    Voltage: 12
    Termination: A


    Jim
  • jveneziajvenezia Member Posts: 85
    According to the many sources I have read, all modern vehicle engines made for the North American market are perfectly capable of using E10 fuel. Ethanol is naturally corrosive, so higher concentrations (such as E85 that flex-fuel vehicles can use) require different fuel lines, tanks, injectors, and so on; but a 10% concentration is mild enough to not cause harm. As for the service manager saying it's not good for your engine, he needs to get on the ball and learn important information like this. It makes me wonder what other misinformation he's (or she's) passing off to the customer.
  • jveneziajvenezia Member Posts: 85
    47 pounds?? Sounds more like a battery for a diesel locomotive.
  • jessie02jessie02 Member Posts: 1
    Hello everyone, I have just recently purchased a 1995 hyundai elantra and the radio doesn't work and is flashing error for a code. I was wondering if anyone could help me out with this. I have absolutly no idea where to go and look for these.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    It is a high-end battery. The one's you can get from Wally World don't have as much lead in them. Note the warranty on that battery.
  • w9cww9cw Member Posts: 888
    I live in central Illinois, and in this "corn country," I've been buying gasoline with a 10% ethanol mix for over 20 years. Yes, it's been here that long in the midwest. Only a very, very few stations offer gasoline without 10% ethanol.

    I've used it all of this time without any damage to any engine, and I have two cars with over 160K on the clock, and they're still going strong.

    I would suggest the one service manager who claimed it would damage your engine do his homework. Obviously, he is terribly misinformed.

    BTW . . . the Indy car circuit (IRL) which has burned 100% methanol, and CART before it, for years is switching to 100% ethanol fuel for 2007.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    E10 shouldn't pose a problem, but E85 can really screw things up if the engine and fuel system are not set up for flex-fuel.
  • jveneziajvenezia Member Posts: 85
    Yeah, I guess that's not bad. Diehard Golds are nearly 40 pounds for a car like ours. It kind of makes me wonder how that amount of weight in the left front corner affects tire wear and handling. I know that tuners move the battery further back (sometimes in the trunk) for better weight distribution.
  • spmrebelspmrebel Member Posts: 130
    This is a securtiy code used for the radio in case it is stolen from the car which makes the entire radio unusable until you enter the code. I had bought a used 95 Elantra in 1997 with the same problem and I called Hyundai at the time. All they needed was the serial number of the radio and they gave me the code over the phone. However, they may not do this today. In worst case scnario you may have to take the car into a dealer so they can get you a code. My 94 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4 has a similiar code and Mitsubishi never gave the code out over the phone. It cost me $50 to get the code for the Mitsubishi so Hyundai hopefully wouldn't charge as much.

    happy motoring
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    and our local dealer said the number of Check Engine Light type service has gone up. My Elantra is in the shop right now getting a new sensor put in. I don't know if it is a result of E10 not, although I tend to think not since it is a sensor on the intake (MAF).

    If I have any complaint with the car it's the CELs I've gotten. I had several attributed to loose fuel cap, then one they fixed by putting in a new purge control valve (under warranty). Since that was replaced, no more "loose fuel cap" CELs. Coincidence? Who knows.

    The latest one is being blamed on the MAF sensor and a new MAF is being put on as I write this. My theory is that to get the ULEV rating, Hyundai had to tighten up on all their engine parameters such that at least some cars are on the hairy edge of what the computer thinks is okay. I'm hoping that whatever CELs I'm getting all get covered under warranty, but we'll see.

    Driveability has never been an issue, though. The car hasn't stranded me, and even though the CELs for the purge valve and the MAF sensor were both P0172, running rich, my mileage has always been consistent and slowly improving, so I tend to believe it is a sensor thing and the car isn't really running rich. We'll see.
  • jimbeaumijimbeaumi Member Posts: 620
    jflemmons: Replaced under the Hyundai powertrain warranty? Intriguing, but I may wish to avoid waiting for it to die. The Interstates seem to be rated consistently low in Consumer Reports; of course this is the brand my trusted mechanic sells.
  • jveneziajvenezia Member Posts: 85
    I just replaced a dead Interstate on a Ford Tempo that served me well for four years. I was pretty happy with it.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    Replaced under some warranty, not sure as the car was less than two years old at the time. It seems it was free replacement for 24 months, then pro-rated out to 60. The battery has Hyundai all over it, but in small print says Interstate. My mechie says they have had much better luck with them than the OEMs.

    BTW, found out yesterday that my trusted Hyundai tech was hit on his motorcycle by a red light runner and may loose some of his fingers. Witness accounts state the lady that ran the light wasn't even close. He had a green light, hesitated, and saw her blowing through at the last second and tried to avoid. I am going over for tranny service on Saturday and will find out how he is doing.

    Red light runners here in the Austin area have become epidemic. I have lost count of how many fatalities have occured this year by these idiots. In most cases what I see are not the "it was just pink" violators, but the "screw you, I ain't stopping" jackasses that think they are the center of the universe. Some of the courts here are starting to hand down major sentencing on these where accidents occur.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    The Interstates seem to be rated consistently low in Consumer Reports; of course this is the brand my trusted mechanic sells.

    Interesting Interstate is one of the best out there; reason # 23,651 why I don't trust CR.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • jimbeaumijimbeaumi Member Posts: 620
    Battery ended up dying on me about a day before I was going to stop in for a replacement, and just before their shop closed. Two employees stopped for a battery at CarQuest (did not have my size at the shop) and brought it to where I work and intstalled it -- a house call! Portland Motor Sales here in Maine are THE BEST group of guys! :)

    Snakeweasel -- I'll trust CR as I have for years because I know people who have worked for the organization, and I haven't yet read how you test batteries to determine that Interstate is "one of the best".
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    I'll trust CR as I have for years because I know people who have worked for the organization

    So have I and thats another reason I won't trust CR (among some others), some of the things he told me are down right worrisome.

    I haven't yet read how you test batteries to determine that Interstate is "one of the best".

    I have never "tested" batteries, but those that have support that claim.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • nodulenodule Member Posts: 118
    Hi Backy,

    Please forgive me for asking you this question again, but I
    dont seem to remember your response completely.....
    Im about to replace my OEM Michelin tires on my 2005 GLS.
    Im deciding between the Kumho Solus KH16 or Cooper Lifliner
    SLE. I know you said that the Cooper were even more smoother
    and quieter than the OEM Michilens, but are the Kumhos even
    better than the Coopers??
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    As I don't have either tire, I can't give you a good answer. I had Kumho Ecsta HP4 716s on a '01 GLS, and they were smoother and quieter than the OEM Michelins. I liked them a lot--great value. The made-by-Cooper tires (not the Lifeliner SLEs) I have now on my '04 GT are smoother and quieter than the OEM tires also, but since the two cars have different suspensions (GT is stiffer), it's a little hard to compare the two of them directly. I am pleased with the performance of both of them, especially since they cost a fraction of the Michelins (Kumhos were less than the Coopers).
  • nj2pa2ncnj2pa2nc Member Posts: 811
    I recently bought my 05 elantra to a nearby hyundai dealer for service- my first time there. While I was paying for the service the advisor asked me to bring in the survey, if I get one, along with the envelope. I was not to complete it. I was to bring it to them when I needed gas and they would pay for a fill-up in exchange for this survey. anyone else have this happen. This is a first for me. are those surveys that important
  • tsgeiseltsgeisel Member Posts: 352
    Yes, those surveys very much can be that important. Anything other than a 10 in each category can mean the difference between a large performance bonus and nothing.

    There was much discussion of this in the Stories from the Sales Frontline forum, and I don't doubt it's any different for the service department.
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    To me, that's B.S. that a dealer would "buy" your survey. I just got one in the mail for recent warranty work; the job isn't quite done as they are waiting for a part to come in. I think I might bring the survey with me when I take the car in to see if my dealer wants to offer any goodies for it. Might as well play the game I guess!
  • nj2pa2ncnj2pa2nc Member Posts: 811
    I have received many surveys over the years for the dealer I dealt with while I lived in PA. They would not offer any goodies as they thought that their service was excellent enough they did not have to bribe. they did give excellent service. I also thought this dealer did to and I told them I was going to give them all excellants but I would give them the survey to get a full tank of gas.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    Actually, if you hang out in any of the Smart Shopper discussions, you'll learn pretty soon that what tsgeisel says is right on target.

    The surveys that the manufacturers perform after sales and after service are, in fact, hidden though it may be, pass-fail. Anything less than a "perfect" is considered failure by the manufacturers and negative financial implications ensue.

    Visit the Customer Satisfaction Surveys discussion for more information.

    And yeah, the whole concept bites - the consumer, the dealer, everyone involved. :mad:
  • 2001elantra2001elantra Member Posts: 1
    My grand daughter just purchased a 2001 elantra with 76,000
    miles and the timing belt has never been changed. How many miles have some of you gone without changing the timing belt? Has anyone changed their own?
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    How many miles have some of you gone without changing the timing belt?

    I went 120K on my 2000 wagon, but I wouldn't recommend it. At 76K you should change it to be on the safe side.

    Has anyone changed their own?

    I would have a qualified mechanic do it.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • tsgeiseltsgeisel Member Posts: 352
    Speaking of which...

    Is that an interference engine? Or, more to my point, is the engine family that the 2005 falls into an interference engine?
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    Yes to both. Snap or slip the belt and buy the valves, or worse. :surprise:
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    Yeah... that belt needs to be changed ASAP. If anyone wants to replace a timing belt themselves, one guy did it himself and took a lot of pictures. He includes a lot of helpful tips too!
  • nodulenodule Member Posts: 118
    There seems to be a general consensus from another Elantra
    website that you should ALWAYS use the Hyundai Elantra OEM
    oil filter because it has a anti drain back valve. Well,
    most quality oil filters have this valve! My independent shop
    that I has been going to the last 10 years uses either Wix
    or Hastings oil filters, which are just has superior as
    the OEM oil filter. So why all the fuse??
    These kids on this site, Elantraxd.com, have a tendency to
    exaggerate a bit and make it sound so dramatic that if you a
    use a non-OEM oil filter, you car will self destuct!

    I do understand that Hyundai does have a TSB out regarding
    "certain" non OEM filters, MAY cause your Elantra to
    POSSIBLY ping or knock.

    These kids read this and than exaggerate.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    For people who don't want to put too much effort into oil changes, e.g. making sure that 3rd-party filters are OEM-spec, using the OEM filters is just easier. And it removes the risk that a non-OEM spec filter slips into an oil change along the line, there's a problem with the engine, and Hyundai denies the warranty claim. That risk is exaggerated too, but I favor the "easy" route in this case as I have many more, and more important, things to worry about.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I was just told by a sales rep at my local Hyundai dealer that the 2007 Elantras won't show up until January due to the recent strike in Korea. He also said the '06s are getting in short supply and rebates will disappear. Better get a '06 while you can!

    P.S. It was clear that I was not in the market for a car in the near future (just stopped in to get some parts), so the sales rep had no reason to give me inaccurate info to push me to buy something today vs. waiting for the '07 Elantra.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    Got the oil changed in the '05 GT last week and noticed the little sticker in the window didn't say Castrol GTX, but Mobil. Called and asked and sure enough, with the price of oil going up they changed from Castrol GTX 10w30 to Mobil 10W30.

    I told my service guy that unless they put Castrol in my car they would not be seeing for its 60 day oil changes any longer.
  • jimbeaumijimbeaumi Member Posts: 620
    Another great mile marker: 70K relatively trouble-free miles! And it looks like I'll have the opportunity to see this car to 200K miles since Hyundai has already dropped the 5-speed Sonata for 2007.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Congrats on 70k!

    Although Hyundai's web site still shows the '07 Sonata GLS MT available, why would you need one when you could get the roomy '07 Elantra for less money?
  • nj2pa2ncnj2pa2nc Member Posts: 811
    the dealer we go to uses mobil oil and we have no problem with it We also own a 05 GT that has almost 40,000 miles.
  • w9cww9cw Member Posts: 888
    My local new "superstore" dealer has over 20 2006 Elantras in stock at the moment. Plus, he has a bunch of Sonatas too.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    My local dealer has quite a few '06 Elantras in stock now also. But it's Labor Day, and there will be no more Elantras until January it seems. I noticed HMA dropped the loyalty rebate on the '06 Elantra for September--just a $1000 general rebate now.
  • gogophers1gogophers1 Member Posts: 218
    Hyundai actually dropped the $500 loyalty for Elantra at the end of July. It's interesting that Tiburon inventories (at least judging by dealers up here in Minnesota) are very low but Hyundai bumped both the factory and loyalty incentives by $500 for this month. I think high gas prices have really brought down selling days for the Elantra line specifically.

    I wouldn't put too much stock in that saleperson's line about them running out of Elantras though. I was just up at a dealer in Brooklyn Park (a Mpls. suburb) last week and they had over 30 Elantras in stock. The salesman there said Hyundai had built out the '06s but was still shipping remaining inventory. He also stated they were now building the '07s but hadn't shipped any yet (and wouldn't until the '06s were completely cleared from the holding lots).

    I often wonder where these guys get their info and what portion of it is accurate and how much is competely fabricated. Most seemed little more informed than the average buyer.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I take what the dealers tell me with a grain of salt, but in this case the sales rep had just come out of a meeting where they were briefed on the 2007 Elantra situation, and he seemed perturbed by the change in plans (because just a few days before, they had been told September for the '07 Elantra).

    I wonder how many Days Sales 30 Elantras represents for Morrie's Hyundai, and how many 2006s they'll get from here on out? It's still four months to January.
  • gogophers1gogophers1 Member Posts: 218
    Well, I hope you got some bad info. Regardless, now I'm officially in a panic.

    I've been waiting for the incentives to ratchet up on the '06s and swoop in to replace my '02 GLS. Perhaps I waited too long. The more cars I've test-driven lately, the more I realize why I bought my Elantra to begin with. And I think the '07s look nasty (not in the good way). I'm not trying to pick any fights here - aesthetics are a personal thing.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    All I can say is, I don't think you should wait too long to get that '06 Elantra. Who knows how many will be around at the end of the year? Recall last year, the supply of '05s dried up before the '06s arrived, and the incentives were pared down from historic levels. I remember the halcyon days of early 2004, when I got my GT, the total incentives including loyalty and a $500 auto show rebate were $3000, and that was before the dealer's discount. I wonder if we'll ever see Elantra incentives at that level again.

    Which one are you going to get? My favorite is the GLS hatchback with the grey (sport cloth interior), e.g. silver.
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    Recall last year, the supply of '05s dried up before the '06s arrived, and the incentives were pared down from historic levels.

    True. I got caught up in that. I bought in early October, right after the rebates were reduced. To find a hatch Elantra, I had to drive to a dealer 40 miles from my home (three other dealers are much closer).

    If you want a plain-jane whatever-color Elantra, you might wait a little more, but if you want a hatch, NOW is the time; they won't be around much longer, especially since there is no 07 hatch.

    Which one are you going to get? My favorite is the GLS hatchback with the grey (sport cloth interior), e.g. silver.

    Yeah, I love my interior; very sporty. Every hatch that comes with gray interior comes with this:

    image
  • w9cww9cw Member Posts: 888
    I posted this on another Elantra thread, but though I would do so here as well, since the activity seems greater . . .

    I have a technical question on my 2006 Elantra GLS that our local dealer's Service Department can't answer. What is the formulation of the engine coolant/anti-freeze installed at the factory in the 2006 Elantra?

    The owner's manual states to simply use an ethylene glycol-based coolant, however, there are three (3) types of ethylene glycol coolant currently on the market:

    1). IAT (Inorganic Acid Technology) coolant. This is the old, standard coolant available for years, and is typically green in color. NOTE: My 2006 Elantra's coolant is green.

    2). HOAT (Hybrid Organic Acid Technology) coolant. This is a newer form of coolant that is a low-nitrate, phosphate-free, and low pH formulation which includes greater protection for alloys, including aluminum. Commonly available types include: Mercedes-Benz coolant, and Valvoline Zerex G-05 formulation, and can be various colors, but the most typical is yellow or amber. BTW . . . Valvoline manufactures M-B coolant - M-B and Valvoline G-05 are one and the same! I've personally used this type for years in my other cars, and is excellent coolant. No more "white oxide" around your thermostat housing with this stuff - I've never experienced a cooling system-related failure using this formulation for the last 15 years.

    3). OAT (Organic Acid Technology) coolant. This is the newest formulation of coolant that is nitrate and phosphate-free, and low pH, and also has improved corrosion protection for metal alloys. Commonly available types include: GM DexCool, and Honda coolant, and also can be various colors, including red and gold. Valvoline also has an OAT-type coolant, and their website implies this coolant type should be used by all Asian vehicles, including Hyundai.

    Since the latter OAT-type coolant is NOT compatible with the other two types, I would sincerely appreciate to know what type is used by the factory.

    No one seems to know, and this is actually a critical question for owners who perform much of their own preventive maintenance. Interestingly, the Service Manager at the local dealer says: "We just go to NAPA and buy their standard coolant for use in all Hyundais." Frankly, I don't think he realizes there are 3 different types of coolants used today.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.