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Hyundai Elantra Maintenance and Repair

3416 messages,  Last post on May 12, 2013 at 11:01 AM

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Messages Page 334 of 342

#3330 of 3416 Re: '01 Elantra UPDATE -- Something fishy going on? [jlflemmons] by newsview

Jun 26, 2010 (4:20 pm)

Replying to: jlflemmons (Jun 14, 2010 10:52 am)
The answer I was awaiting from Hyundai Corporate about the use of 5/20 oil in my car posed more contradictions than clarifications. By phone their Customer Affairs staff insisted that 5/20 was in the list for the 2001 Elantra, but by email their recommendation mirrored my owner's manual, which starts at 5/30 depending on climate (with recommended viscosities in the 10-30-10-50 range).
 
It is summer here and I am in the same climate that the Hyundai Corporate offices are located in, so even 5/30 would not be appropriate per the season/area. The temperature cutoff for 5/30 in my owner's manual is 95F and it will meet or exceed those temps by the end of the summer. I am uncertain how much lower the temp cutoff is for 5/20 because that viscosity isn't even in the list.
 
Just to be on the safe side, I went to another dealer with my own oil to have them drain out the 5/20 and replace it with what I am accustomed to using (10-40, which is in the "recommended range" according to my owner's manual).
 
Well, get this:
 
The service advisor checked my oil and said it was too clean to drain out. That's when I explained that I didn't want the 5/20 in my engine. He said that I should keep the 5/20 and that 10-30/10-40 was for cold climates. This is NOT what my owner's manual says at all, and he acknowledges that the owner's manual confuses customers. Finally, he stated that if I insisted on the 10-40 he would have to write it up to exclude them from responsibility for any damage to my engine. Mind you, a nine-year-old car engine with low miles and all dealer service.
 
The summer weather here will be at or above 95 by August and I explained, again, that I sometimes travel to an adjacent state where it is 120F in the shade.
 
No matter.
 
Meanwhile, Hyundai Corporate is ignoring me. Their initial email was very generic, specifying 5/30 and above depending on climate, with a concluding paragraph that said that the dealer would "know best". The entire tone of the email called into question who answers to whom!
 
Hyundai Corporate, too, ignored the fact that I already told them in my initial inquiry, having spoke to three people including a supervisor, that I am in a climate that exceeds 90F in the summer and vacation sometimes in an area that gets even hotter. So I wrote back stating that I am aware that what the dealer using is in conflict with what is printed in my owner's manual and even in conflict with what they formerly used in my engine (10-30 "bulk oil"). After that, I received an auto response confirming that Hyundai Corporate received my reply, but there has been no follow up and it has been nearly two weeks.
 
I believe Hyundai is hiding something because I can't get a straight answer as to why there is a contradiction. So I did the next best thing: I started doing my own homework, which led to an automotive website out of Denver. There it states that 1998-2004 Hyundais, among other makes/models, are prone to OIL SLUDGE.
 
My miles are still very low and I am still under the 10 yr powertrain warranty.
 
One of the symptoms of oil sludge buildup is lost mileage, and it so happened that I asked about that very problem at the dealer recently.
 
Now I don't know IF my engine is showing signs of sludge or not. I DO suspect that the thinner-than-recommended oil would make *more sense* if the engine is prone to sludge and they have somehow concluded that thinner oil would help slow the problem down. If it is anything like clogged arteries, a "stopgap solution" is a blood thinner. If there is sludge in the engine, I imagine that thinner oil would also be a temporary stopgap to keep it flowing just long enough so that my engine survives the last year of my powertrain warranty.
 
Apparently a seized engine is the end result of sludge buildup.
 
The best theory I can come up with as to why they are using the wrong oil at the wrong time of year is that they anticipate a problem, and the thinner oil is the bandage rather than the actual fix.
 
A less alarming explanation is that I don't have sludge but the dealer doesn't carry the appropriate weight oil for all cars they made and neither Hyundai Corporate nor the dealers are going to admit that they are using a "one size fits all" oil for all cars that come into their service bays regardless of whether or not the engine was built for that viscosity. They would have reason to keep that admission under wraps because it would mean they are prematurely wearing the engines of older cars that are getting 5/20 oil, regardless of climate or model year — instead of what these older Hyundais were designed to run on.
 
Hmm… I guess it is time to see an independent mechanic who can tell me if my engine appears to be accumulating sludge.

#3331 of 3416 Re: '01 Elantra UPDATE -- Something fishy going on? [newsview] by jlflemmons

Jun 26, 2010 (4:41 pm)

Replying to: newsview (Jun 26, 2010 4:20 pm)
This is the first time I have ever heard of sludging in a Hyundai engine. I run 10W30 Castrol GTX in every Hyundai I have owned and have never had an issue. Our summers range from mid 70's at night to low 100's during the day. Our winters will rarely go below 30, and then never in the teens.
 
Section 8, page 10, 2010 Elantra Touring Owners Manual:
 
Recommended for maximum fuel economy, 5W20. "However, if the engine oil is not available in your country, select the proper engine oil using the engine oil viscosity chart."
 
Which, in the chart just above that statement, call out 10W30 for temp ranges from 0 to 120+ degrees F, or 5W20 or 5W30 for temps ranging from -10 to 120+ degrees F.
 
It was the same in my 2002 and 2005 Elantras. And the Hyundai Platinum Certified technician at my dealership stated that for our climate 10W30 is recommended, but 5W20 can be used. He was very clear about one thing, though: Castrol GTX or Valvoline only. Would not recommend any other brand.
 
I figure it's Hyundai's owners manual publication, so if they say the 10W30 is good, that's what I will use. And I have used nothing but Castrol GTX since 1968 and have never, ever had and oil related engine failure nor sludging. The proof is in the pudding, or in this case, lack thereof.

#3332 of 3416 lathan2 by lathan2

Jul 01, 2010 (5:33 pm)

how do i remove the side marker reflector on a 01 elantra to change the bulb?

#3333 of 3416 MIL P1723 P1529 by deribas1

Jul 05, 2010 (12:25 pm)

I have a 04 Elantra with 86K, recently I noticed on hot days if I park in the sun the MIL will come on with code P 1723 and P 1529, input/output speed sensor and auto trans relay switch. If I park in the shade or it's cool out the light won't come on. Anyone else experience this? I'm not sure where this relay switch is, but could it be something that is getting stuck with the heat and swelling? Thanks for any info.

#3334 of 3416 '02 Elantra overheated engine by akx7

Jul 21, 2010 (3:32 pm)

Our 2002 Elantra GLS with about 35,000 miles overheated while driving along, with no warning. Car was towed to the shop that maintained the car all through since '02. They replaced the radiator, but the car continued to overheat. Head gasket was replaced next, and now damage to the engine block is suspected to be the cause of the problem (head assembly checked out okay).
 
Question is if it is worth spending the 3400 or so on the engine. Seems like the car is fragile enough that it would be a bad bet to sink more money into it.

#3335 of 3416 Re: '02 Elantra overheated engine [akx7] by backy

Jul 21, 2010 (4:14 pm)

Replying to: akx7 (Jul 21, 2010 3:32 pm)
If you have owned the car since new, it is still covered under the powertrain warranty. Check with Hyundai re coverage of the engine block. If that was the cause of the problem, you can make a claim on the warranty. But if the cause really is "damage", as you said, and not a defect, that would not be covered.
 
If that doesn't apply, you could look for a salvage engine. The car isn't worth much more than $3400.

#3336 of 3416 Re: '02 Elantra overheated engine [akx7] by jlflemmons

Jul 21, 2010 (7:45 pm)

Replying to: akx7 (Jul 21, 2010 3:32 pm)
There was an issue several years ago with thermostats in some Elantras. Upon failure, the engine would suffer sudden and extreme overheating. These were covered by Hyundai under the 10/100K warranty to the original owner.
 
I would strongly suggest you get the dealer involved right away. There will likely be an issue with reimbursement since the original diagnosis and repair was not performed by a dealer. I assume the shop you mentioned was not a Hyundai dealer as they would have known immediately that the thermostat should be investigated.
 
Regarding the fragility of the '02 Elantra, no. The little buggers are tough, but I know of several that suffered blown head gaskets due to the thermostat issue. The 2.0L engine that Hyundai uses (and still uses in the 2010, but with CVVT) is very durable.

#3337 of 3416 Re: '02 Elantra overheated engine [akx7] by perno13

Jul 22, 2010 (5:38 am)

Replying to: akx7 (Jul 21, 2010 3:32 pm)
I have a 2002 Elantra GT and as jlflemmons mentioned, I had a thermostat problem that caused the car to overheat quickly back around 2006 or so. Got the thermostat replaced for about $100 and it's ran perfectly since then. I'm starting to have some leaking from the engine block maybe (I'm not a car guy, not sure if I'm using the right term), but I'm told that's a pretty simple fix (another $100) to replace a gasket.
 
I'm loving this little bugger, I'm around 136k miles, about to replace my timing belt for the 2nd time since I did it so early the first time (around 55k miles, guy talked me into it).

#3338 of 3416 Re: '02 Elantra overheated engine [jlflemmons] by akx7

Jul 22, 2010 (8:20 am)

Replying to: jlflemmons (Jul 21, 2010 7:45 pm)
The shop (not Hyundai dealer) checked this, and in this case the thermostat was okay. Hyundai did refuse coverage under the warranty claiming that the problem was caused due to damage. Seems kind of unreasonable since no warning lights or indications of a problem were seen before this incident.

#3339 of 3416 It's been asked I'm Sure but... by likalika57

Jul 29, 2010 (4:41 pm)

with 167 pages, I just don't have the heart to go back 10 years!!! LOL!
 
I have a 2005 Elantra that I love, and the husband that I loved recently passed away, leaving me to take care of lots of things that I never took care of before, including the car. Recently, as I get the car to 60, it starts to vibrate, for lack of a better word. The steering wheel vibrates as if I'm on a road that needs some repair.
 
Before I take it in to be looked at...any thoughts about what I should be listening to the dealer say?
 
I live in MA where we are in the midst of a "discussion" about who should be doing repair and warranty work, so I definitely have to take it to the dealer to at least get an "opinion" and am happy to take it somewhere else for a second opinion.
 
Any help is much appreciated.
 
Lika

Messages Page 334 of 342

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