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Hyundai Accent Hatchbacks

1769 messages,  Last post on Sep 24, 2012 at 8:34 PM

You are in the Hyundai Accent Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Accent, Hatchback

Messages Page 111 of 177

#1099 of 1769 What the "other guys" don't want you to know by hudrahead

Jan 06, 2004 (9:52 am)

Newbuyer: Feel confident in your Accent purchase. We have had several in our business "fleet" that have gone well over 100K with virtually NO problems. Just normal wear and tear stuff, brake pads, tires etc. For their price range ALL Hyundais offer outstanding value and gee, what more could ask of a car costing under $11,000 ? The Toyota & Hyundai mfgs would just as soon you not know just how good these Korean offerings have become.
 
I personally had a Mustang also (1998) & it began a downward spiral after about 30K miles. Tranny problems, oil leaks, some electrical stuff. Dumped it 65K when looking at a new torque converter and water pump.
 
HUD

#1100 of 1769 hudrahead and question for anyone who can advise by newbuyer31

Jan 07, 2004 (8:50 pm)

Thanks Hudrahead for your review. I have a question just wondering if anyone else finds this to be the case or if I have a problem here.
I live on the East Coast and today alone with the windchill factor it was about 8 degrees. Even during "normal season temps" here this car has "NO HEATER". Since my Mustang is out of commission at the moment until I have it looked at I have to use the Hyundai as my main vehichle now. The heater is not broken but I get back from work about 20 miles away from here and the heat is just then becoming noticeable. Otherwise , nothing. It blows cold air? It never gets close to providing decent heat. Also, it seems when it does give you a hint of warmth it is onlt while driving, if you stop at a traffic light it blows cold air again even if it has begun to provide some heat. Is that the way it is with Hyundai's. Just curious to know? Thanks all for any advisements on this matter.

#1101 of 1769 newbuyer31...Heater by altair4

Jan 08, 2004 (7:57 am)

My Mother-in-law has an Accent and she reports that it has a good heater. With that said, I suggest you check the coolant level. Look at both the overflow bottle and in the radiator cap (when the coolant is cool, of course, to prevent burns). Make sure that it's full.
 
If your coolant level is good, I'd suspect a faulty thermostat, stuck in the "open" position.
 
Does your car have a coolant temperature gauge? What does it read during your commute? Always cold?

#1102 of 1769 newbuyer31 by lngtonge18

Jan 08, 2004 (8:43 am)

My 00 Accent had a good heater. It usually took a bit longer then my other cars to start putting out good heat, but I'm talking like 3 miles instead of 1. I suspect a thermostat stuck in the open position or a heater control cable not opening the heater valve fully. The only other possibility is a clogged heater core, but that would mean you should see a lot of gunk and rust in the cooling system. Good luck!

#1103 of 1769 all good info by hudrahead

Jan 08, 2004 (10:36 am)

newbuyer: A stuck tstat would be the most logical (and least expensive)place to start as that is pretty common. . A clogged heater core IS a possibility but "only" 65K miles on the car not very likely. Look the coolant, Is it clean or have any evidence of rust ? Since you probably don't know for sure if the system has ever been flushed it might be a good time to do so. It is possible to get a "air lock" in the heater core which prevents coolant from flowing through. A drain and flush not done properly can cause a air lock situation.
 
Another tip off that you may have a stuck thermostat is poor gas mileage. The computer may think the car is not warmed up and will cause it to run rich. If operating properly you should get plenty of heat.
 
HUD

#1104 of 1769 newbuyer thanks everyone will look into it by newbuyer31

Jan 08, 2004 (8:09 pm)

Thanks all for your advisements. I appreciate them very much. To tell the truth I only bought the car about two months ago if that just for driving in the snow because the Mustang is my #1.
I have driven the car all this week cause of the Mustang being out of commision and I still have not evre gooten any heat. The heater only "begins" to give a "trace" of warm air after I am already home. I only drove the car before this about 4 times really since I bought it, cause Iam always in the Mustang. My brother has taken it out sometimes and confirms the same problem as me. The temp gauge reads not on "dead cold' almost to halfway, after I am about halway into my to-from work commute almost exactly 10 miles. I get about 180 miles on a tank of regular gas. I have never owned a Hyundai before or any other small car with a baby engine so I have nothing to compare too. I buy only regular gas in this car and get 180 on a tank but it only costs $10 or $11 dollars. So to me that is outstanding considering my usual car gas bills even being premium. Does that sound too low mileage for a tank of reg. gas in this car?
What id the usual for you others on yours?
Also, as I said I bought it used real cheap it has 85K maybe it could be because of the high miles, these cars tend to have more problems? It is 98. I will take it back to the dealer now and have the t-stat checked out and tell them the problem. I will first check the fluids per your advisements to see what's going on here. I thought it might just be cause the cars are so cheap they just have nothing by way of options etc, so I thought ok, but did think in the back of my mind it should have a decent heater. I am towing out my Mustang in the am to have it checked out and hoping until I have the Hyundai checked out I can put it back on the road so I can actually get to work with heat and not be
shaking and freezing the whole way, that has sucked very much. Talk yo ya later and pleaase do let me know what you think, especially about the gas mileage if it does not sound right because maybe I hae another problem to look into.

#1105 of 1769 about that mileage thing by hudrahead

Jan 09, 2004 (8:27 am)

newbuyer: Miles to a tankfull based on "a tank full" is not very accurate. What you need to do is fill the tank, don't overfill, just fill to the auto pump cuts off, set your trip odometer and record how far you actually drove until you fill again. Over three or four fillups you then will be able to figure your actual MPG. I would think that even allowing for winter driving you should get at least in the high 20 mpg range. Much less than that could indicate a problem somewhere.
 
HUD

#1106 of 1769 Hyundai problem by newbuyer31

Jan 10, 2004 (10:55 pm)

Thanks for the tips. The coolant is fine, no rust or other particles. I got my Mustang fixed and have been driving it now, a minor problem with a hose. It is so cold here now I will leave the Hyundai sit for a while until I get a chance to take it to the dealer, probably is the t-stat then. I will find out soon. I will try the gas mileage tip too, problem is I just don't drive it enough I suppose to find out the actual mpg then. Since I drove this week I have not used a whole tank of gas it still looks as though 180 miles will be on this tank.

#1107 of 1769 ENGINE CHECK LTE by chckeb1

Jan 14, 2004 (9:36 am)

I have an Hyundai Accent GT 03, recently changed plugs at 15,500, along with air filter and lof, yesterday started the car for first time in 2 day lay over heard a popping sound from under the hood engine lite came on, I shut off car waited a min. or 2 and restarted got same noise, went to mechanic who did plugs he said it could be gas cap, I had already checked that could it be the plugs he said no car is under warranty bring it to dealer, he refused to check under the hood at all because its under warranty which is true but i believe that if a plug blew thats not under warranty and not only would i have paid this guy but now id be paying the dealership to check out what this guy should do anyway, work was done about 3 weeks ago, I called the dealer who told me sometimes the lite takes 3-4 days to go off and it was okay to drive the car as of last nite the lite was still on im not feeling and major bucking i have 4 cylinders can anyone tell me if i lost power to a plug wouldnt i feel some kind of a difference can this just be the o2 sensor, since having started the car for a total of 4 times yesterday i havent heard the noise again thanks for any help im a woman and we all know what a mechanic can do to woman lol !!!!!!!!

#1108 of 1769 chckeb1 by lngtonge18

Jan 14, 2004 (7:45 pm)

It sounds to me the mechanic caused the problem. The popping noise could be caused by a spark arcing out from a tear in the spark plug wires and this action will cause a misfire and thus turn on the check engine light. Spark plug wires are fragile and if they aren't pulled off the plugs properly, they can tear or crack, allowing a means for the spark to find an exit before getting to the plug. If the spark plug wire is damaged only slightly, it might not manifest itself again until you encounter wet weather (you will then feel a hesitation when accelerating). It's also possible the wires weren't seated completely over the plugs and now that the engine has warmed up numerous times, it may have allowed the rubber to seal and you won't encounter the problem again. Either way, you are covered under warranty so you have nothing to lose by taking it in and having the code pulled. Don't tell them you had someone else change the plugs. What they don't know won't hurt them. Good luck in getting the problem fixed!
 
I have to ask though...why did you have the plugs changed so early? They aren't scheduled to be changed until 30k. And in all honesty, they can run 60k with no problems.

Messages Page 111 of 177

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