Hyundai Elantra Maintenance and Repair

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Comments

  • bohnd1bohnd1 Member Posts: 1
    I have a '96 Elantra with ~97K on it. It was running bad, missing, hesitating, etc. Took it to a repair shop and they said the gas filler tube and the gas tank are rusting out and generally deteriorating and must be replaced, along with the fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator to the tune of more than $1000.00. The fuel lines were also full of the crud. Has anyone else seen this problem in an older Hyundai?
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Depending on where you live I wouldn't be surprised that a 10 year old car had some rust issues with the gas tank and filler tube. But I would caution you to inspect it yourself to see if what he says is true. Either that or take it to another mechanic, not all mechanics are honest, trustworthy and loyal boy scouts.

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

  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    Yeah, see if you're still under warranty. If not, you can get a pretty darn good radio for $100-150, and they are pretty simple to replace. You have to remove the whole dash fascia which seems intimidating, but once you've done it a time or two it's about five minutes to take off and 2 minutes to put back on.

    If you decide to go with an aftermarket radio, email me through my profile; I can point you to some good online resources (people who have done the same thing and put together guides with pictures and stuff).
  • sftball137sftball137 Member Posts: 1
    Did you notice your car running very hot prior to this happening? I'm asking because that is what my car is doing and it's the same year and model as your's. I just had the water pump replaced and that didn't seem to do anything. And I take it Hyundai won't do anything since it's over 60k in miles will they? Thanks
  • charlesqqcharlesqq Member Posts: 1
    My 2006 Elantra get only 19 mpg city and 23 on the highway. It has 3700 miles on it. My 2004 Elantra got 28 mpg city and 35 on the highway. Does anyone else have this problem?
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    That's pretty bad mileage, and you have another car to compare it to. Assuming you're driving them the same, there pretty clearly seems to be a problem with the 06. I would take it to the dealer and see if they can find anything. That's about the worst mileage I've ever heard of on a newer Elantra.
  • killaytkillayt Member Posts: 2
    we have a 2000 elantra and my husband hates it because the headlights keep going out. 7 times so far. it may be water tracks into them? how do we fix that? also the seals(?) around the driver and passenger windows keep coming down. he had one replaced for $209 at the dealer and in a few mmonths it was doing it again. any suggestions?
  • 5port5port Member Posts: 395
    There is a TSB on that generation Tiburon which uses the same alternator as the Elantra. The dealer would change the alternator which was blamed for voltage spikes. Its a little late for a warranty repair but the updated alternator was supposed to have fixed that.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    Also, be aware that the Sylvania Silver Star(?) headlights have a life of 100hrs, verses the regular having over 1000. I found this on the Sylvania web site.
  • killaytkillayt Member Posts: 2
    thanks for letting me know. please tell me what is a TSB?
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    Technical Service Bulletin

    These can be found on the Hyundai web site.
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    It's a Technical Service Bulletin. Something like a recall, but not mandatory (i.e., they only do it if it is a problem on that car). TSBs, for instance, might cover how to repair door harnesses with water damage that make the door functions (locks, windows, speakers) stop working; but they only do the work if a problem exists. (That is an example of an actual TSB).

    You can access this information on a Hyundai site called WebTech. I've written a guide on how to sign up and navigate through WebTech here.
  • tsgeiseltsgeisel Member Posts: 352
    I've got a GT with the leather-wrapped steering wheel, and in the process of getting in and out, I appear to have scraped the leather on it (I set the seat close to the wheel). Is there any way to repair or smooth this out?
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    I have no idea if this would work, but you may want to look at using some shoe polish (the waxy paste kind in the little can made by Kiwi). I would go with natural to avoid any color changes.
  • sal79sal79 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2000 Hyundai elantra GLS standard 5 speed 4cyl, it has worked fine for ever until recently over night with out warning the thing just would not start, the starter turns over and sound just fine like if was going to start, every thing electrical in the car works, even the cd player. Checked to see if fuel was goin to the motor and found out that none was, removed fuel pump and connected it to the batery and it works! fuel pump power cables had no power, but the fuel gage did? checked spark plugs and they had no spark, replaced the fuel pump relay and still no power to fuel pump. to it to a mech and he thought the PC on the car was bad, removed it and took to some shop in Houston to have it replace, but they checked it first and said that the PC was fine and did not need replacing, The only other thing mech said was that the car could have a bad alarm box? my car has no alarm do. please help.
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    Ummmm... you need to have the codes read off it. I bet it is the crank position sensor. Any decent mechanic would read the codes and work through Hyundai's troubleshooting chart before just changing out the computer. I suspect your mechanic is, well, let's just say he's not very well informed (too early in the week to start calling people idiots).
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    I will agree with what doohickie said, any halfway decent mechanic would do a diagnostic on the car prior to doing anything on it. The first thing I would have checked would be the fuses, beyond that take it to a good mechanic and get it hooked up to a diagnostic computer. It will cost you maybe $65 but it will lead you right to the trouble and save you money guessing.

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

  • aphaltcommandoaphaltcommando Member Posts: 32
    Or for less that that, get your own reader, and a FACTORY manual and do it right the FIRST time.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Unless you fix cars for a living getting a diagnostic tool is not cost effective.

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    All of a sudden my temperature gauge stopped working. All of a suddenly I looked at it and it was regerstering at its lowest point. The coolant level was (is) ok and the radiator and cap was hot to the touch so the coolant is circulating through. Now here is the strange part, at idle the gauge is now showing normal but as soon as I give it gas it drops right back to the lowest point. I am thinking it may just be a short, any one have any insight?

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

  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    Sounds like a short of somekind; you may want to check the schematics at WebTech.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Thats what I have been thinking, now its a crap shoot if its regerstering anything, I will see what I can do this week.

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

  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    If you have access to a volt/ohm meter, check the resistance of the sending unit to make sure it is consistant. It is easier to check than an open/shorted wire, and they can get flakey.

    The resistance should start out either high or low, and then move as the temp of the coolant changes. But the movement should be a steady change in resistance, and stay steady once the engine is warmed up.
  • catbabecatbabe Member Posts: 9
  • aphaltcommandoaphaltcommando Member Posts: 32
    Actually it is. I work on mine for fun, I'm Jaguar and BMW factory trained, and used to work unit shop for both dealers. Add to that the fact that I want to make SURE that it is done RIGHT the FIRST time, and not by someone who is working for the first day at the dealership, it is WELL worth it in peace of mind. Brie
  • catbabecatbabe Member Posts: 9
    I have to drive about 10-15 miles to a hyundai service place to have them check this out. Will it hurt the car or will it even make it to the place if I drive it with that showing? I bought the care used and have no papers on it. I just reached 60 thousand + miles on it. Any help is appreciated.
  • aphaltcommandoaphaltcommando Member Posts: 32
    Thanks Doohickie, I thought I was going to have to go down to the Dealer and buy the Factory Manuals, instead, thanks to your posting the hot link, I just registered with the tech line. Brie
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Will it hurt the car or will it even make it to the place if I drive it with that showing?

    That all depends on what is making the light turn on. most likely it won't hurt to drive it for a little while if the light is on. But in the mean time check the gas cap, if its not on tight the check engine light will go on. After tightening it it will stay on for a while (not sure why). Also have you done any work under the hood just before that happened? Sometimes reassembling certain things like the hose assembly from the air filter to the engine can cause it (if you put the piece with the sensor on backwards.

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

  • catbabecatbabe Member Posts: 9
    No, I haven't done anything but I will check the gas cap. Thanks so much for answering my post. This happened once before when I first got this car but after a day or so, the light just went off and never came back on until now. I also am thinking of getting an 2006 hyundia or maybe a newer one than mine. I have had some problems with this one but considering that is was a reposessed lease car, it probably was neglected before I bought it. The price on the 2006 hyundai's seem very good compared to other cars.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    Good rule of thumb on check engine lights. Is the engine running smoothly with no unusual noises? Is the oil level correct? No fluids running under the car? No odd odors?

    If everything seems okay, but the CEL is on, you are probably fine driving to the dealer. Just watch your gauges and pay attention to anything out of the norm.
  • catbabecatbabe Member Posts: 9
    No, I haven't done anything but I will check the gas cap. Thanks so much for answering my post. This happened once before when I first got this car but after a day or so, the light just went off and never came back on until now. I also am thinking of getting an 2006 hyundia or maybe a newer one than mine. I have had some problems with this one but considering that is was a reposessed lease car, it probably was neglected before I bought it. The price on the 2006 hyundai's seem very good compared to other cars.
  • tsgeiseltsgeisel Member Posts: 352
    The Check Engine light on most cars is usually related to the exhaust system. As mentioned, conservatively it can be the gas cap not being fully tightened, liberally, it could be the catalytic converter or something complicated in that general area.

    If it is the cataltyic converter, that specific part is warranteed specifically longer than any other part, at least in CA. You may want to talk to the dealer, should it come to it.
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    I got a CEL a while ago (actually a few), and the first time, the service writer said if the car is driving okay and the light isn't flashing, it's safe to drive the car. If it starts flashing call a tow truck immediately (Hyundai Roadside Assistance if you're under warranty).

    My CELs all registered as a slight leak in the evap system which is usually attributed to the fuel cap, until the last one, which had a different code and eventually was traced to a bad evap purge valve. Since the valve was fixed, I haven't gotten any more CELs (about 5,000 miles now; the longest I've gone without one).
  • catbabecatbabe Member Posts: 9
    I tightened the gas cap but that didn't help. So I called and I went to the Hyundai dealer service dept. today and the manager asked where I had the oil changed last. I just had it changed at a Dobbs station a week ago. That is when the light came on again, after the oil change,though.
    He said it could be from the oil filter [not a Hyundai filter]. Said he sees many Hyundai's like that from the wrong oil filter and suggested I have the oil and filter changed so I did. He said to call him if I have any more problem with it. So I drove home and the oil light was still on and still didn't go out. Is he lying to me about the oil filter or has anyone ever heard of that before?

    I don't want to keep spending more money if he is just going to keep trying things to keep me spending money. Why didn't he just do a diagnostic test on my car to find the problem?
    Car isn't under warranty, I bought is used last year. It just recently turned over 60,000 miles so I guess the warranty wouldn't apply now.
    Funny though, my car had been serviced at that Dealer before, he said the previous owner last had it serviced for the 20,000 mile service on it. Said the previous owner always had it serviced when it was time for it. Any thoughts on this?
    Thanks.

    catbabe
  • nj2pa2ncnj2pa2nc Member Posts: 811
    did you call him or bring the car back?Ask him why he did not do a diagnostic test or maybe he went the cheaper route. good luck
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    I have never heard of the oil filter causing a CEL unless it was blocking flow and causing a drop in oil pressure. They need to scan the codes and find out what is REALLY going on.

    Make note of a few things. Is the car running the same? Has the gas mileage changed? Starts the same? Temp the same? If there is no obvious change in the performance of the engine, it could be something as simple as a throttle position sensor or oxygen sensor that is just out of tolerance. Either of these could set the light without having a noticable effect on the performance of the vehicle.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    That is when the light came on again, after the oil change,though.

    Most oil places check the air filter. One time on mine the assembly attached to the top of the air filter housing came apart and they put the part that attaches directly to the housing on backwards. That alone caused my CEL to come on, apparently there is a sensor in there and being installed backwards will cause a CEL. So I would check to see if that piece is on correctly and if it is tight, also see if the housing for the air filter is on correctly too.

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

  • rcinmdrcinmd Member Posts: 139
    1st the driver's side mirror stopped responding to 'up and down' adjustments, and the dealer thought the motor itself was bad. Now, the passenger side is doing the same thing, no up and down adjustment, but side-to-side works. I am now thinking it may be the switch itself rather than the second motor going out. The car is a 2004 GT. Has anyone else experienced and solved non-adjusting mirrors?
  • catbabecatbabe Member Posts: 9
    I called the Hyundai Service and he said to bring my car back in and they would check it out again. I made an apt for tomorrow because I had to go somewhere today. I would have been afraid to drive it if not for what you guys said, so thanks.
    I stopped and got gas and drove to St. Louis MO. I live in IL.
    And the CEL light went out, yippee, I hope it stays out. I called and cancelled my apt for tomorrow. I will wait and see if the light stays off. Car seems to drive ok, has plenty power and not showing hot or anything so far. Service man did say my front breaks were bad. I do hear a slight whistle like noise seems to come from the front wheels, could be the breaks I guess. Wondering if I should stick with Hyundai Service for oil changes, if it really does make a difference. The Dobbs Service place is right down the street from me but the Honda place is in next town. Is it best to stick with a Hyundai Service?

    catbabe
  • nj2pa2ncnj2pa2nc Member Posts: 811
    we never used to bring our cars to the dealership for service-usually jiffy-lube or to a friend that had a auto-repair shop. When we bought our hyundai in 2002 we tried the dealership and found when there was something wrong that was covered under warranty or if there was a recall they would let us know. They do not over charge for oil changes IMO. we have owned 2 2002 elantras, 2003 elantra, 2003 sonata, 2004 accent and a 2005 elantra in our family.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I think you are right on the switch. The odds of two mirrors failing in exactly the same way at the same time is pretty remote (no pun intended). Hopefully the car is still under warranty.
  • rcinmdrcinmd Member Posts: 139
    No more warranty. 2 years old, 102K miles. Problem was not noticed in time
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Wow, that is a LOT of miles in two years!

    What kind of relationship do you have with your dealer and their service manager? If it's good, you could talk to them about the fact that the mirror switch wearing out (if that is what it is) isn't really dependent on all the miles you have driven, and see if they will be sympathetic and cut you some kind of a break. It's worth a try, especially if you have been a "loyal customer" and used the dealer a lot for service (102k is a LOT of oil changes!).
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    With those kind of miles if you have more than one driver, meaning the mirrors get moved a lot, I could see a switch wearing out.

    As a trivia note, in a lot of GM autos, and probably others, a power window failure on the passengers side can actually be tied back to the drivers side switch. It is an unusual circuit, but makes sense after you figure it out.
  • rcinmdrcinmd Member Posts: 139
    Actually a friend's car.
    Just one driver, and I bet the mirror was adjusted upon delivery, and not tried again till 60K miles, at which point I think that portion of the warranty which would cover the mirror had expired. Just recently discovered that the passenger side was now doing the same thing. At 60K, the passenger side was working properly.
    It has been serviced solely by the dealer, including all the scheduled maintenance. They did cut him a break when he had to have the master cylinder and one caliper replaced. Still some out-of-pocket expense though. Now hearing what might be a rear bearing going south. The original Michelins did last 64K though, and the current BFGs are doing well, with a little sign of feathering. That might be the source of the noise now being heard.
    All in all, not too bad considering the miles and costs to date. The leather on the driver's side is somewhat shiny now, but still completely intact with no deterioration otherwise. But I am willing to bet the next 100K might get a little more expensive.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    You can bet on that. You are probably looking at new brakes, new exhaust system, new struts/shocks, and two more timing belts at a minimum before 200k. And a couple sets of tires also. I don't recall if you said it's a stick but if so a new clutch would probably be needed by 200k too. Still cheaper than buying a new car though.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    What does your friend use the car for to rack up those kind of miles? Backy is right on the upcoming maintenance, but if he got 64K out of the original Michelins he's my hero. I'm betting he must do a TON of highway miles, and if that is the case there is no telling how long the clutch could last.

    He may be pleasantly surprised on the rear bearing replacement. My experience with the two Elantra's I have ownded is that the repair parts and labor are very reasonable, especially when compared to Honda/Toyota.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    I'm betting he must do a TON of highway miles, and if that is the case there is no telling how long the clutch could last.

    I have known some people downstate in the country that have put almost 200K on cars without changing the clutch.

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

  • rcinmdrcinmd Member Posts: 139
    yep, virtually all highway. commute into DC daily.
    I did bleed the clutch once, to firm it up a bit.
    It appears the BFGs are on their way to get probably 80K.
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    My wife got 70k out of her factory tires on her Taurus, but then again, many of thos miles were highway miles while she was finishing her degree.

    I figured I would have to get new tires, then new struts, because everything was starting to feel "loose". We just got her Falken Ziex ZE512 tires and the difference is amazing; the car feels tighter than I remember it feeling when it was new. I know those Falkens are popular replacements among Elantra drivers and based on my wife's experience I think that is what I'll replace the stock Michies with when the time comes.
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