Ask the Car People.SM


Hyundai Elantra Maintenance and Repair

3419 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2013 at 4:51 PM

You are in the Hyundai Elantra Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Elantra, Hatchback, Sedan

    
Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.
Or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm ET) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800)424-9153

Messages Page 340 of 343

#3387 of 3419 Big Problems with Hyundai Elantra by ezrateach

Sep 14, 2011 (11:12 am)

I had a Nissan Sentra for fourteen years and 160,000 miles with very few real problems. But eight years ago I puchased a two-year old 2001 Elantra. I swear to you that the minute that car hit 100,000 miles everything major that could go wrong with it, did go wrong. For example,this summer I had to have the air conditioner fixed because of a major leak; cost: $990. Two weeks after that, my electric windows would periodically fail to raise or lower. The problem is still not fixed but the mechanics just figured out that the wires are corroded between the door panels and body of the car; the kits to replace them, before labor, will cost $1320.
 
I won't even go into all the other costs of just routine maintenance, which are also very high (ok, belts replaced: $750.)
 
I am warning you that Hyundai's, in my opinion, are financial disasters waiting to happen. I am a private school teacher, and the huge costs to me are taking major hit on my savings.
 
Put simply: I will never buy a Hyundai again, and I advise anyone here not to do so either.

#3388 of 3419 Re: Big Problems with Hyundai Elantra [ezrateach] by perno13

Sep 14, 2011 (11:24 am)

Replying to: ezrateach (Sep 14, 2011 11:12 am)
You're barking up the wrong tree, people that read this already own Hyundais for the most part. Also, I have a 2002 Elantra that has had minimal problems and has 150,000 miles on it. I'm about to get my second timing belt on it and it will cost me around $450. You have to shop around for those kinds of things otherwise people will charge you $750.
 
I'll probably always buy Hyundais, to each their own.

#3389 of 3419 Re: Big Problems with Hyundai Elantra [perno13] by joegiant

Sep 14, 2011 (12:46 pm)

Replying to: perno13 (Sep 14, 2011 11:24 am)
Awesome response, perno. My thoughts exactly! But ya know, if what this person said were true about ALL Hyundais, wouldn't these new Elantras and Sonatas come with DEEEEEP discounts? Nope. Appears they are damn near getting MSRP for these things. Imagine that.

#3390 of 3419 '08 Accent by sandman_6472

Sep 17, 2011 (9:35 am)

So far, it's been a great little car for my daughter...last month I complained that one of the sun visors was not staying up...they replaced them both under warranty! Besides that, only had to do oil changes/rotation and that's it. We're so pleased that the Elantra and Accent are on my wife's short list. So after having a Hyundai product in the family since 2008, I'd say it's just as reliable as the other Japanese brands...and we also own a Nissan, Honda and a Mazda...all great cars also!
 
The Sandman

#3391 of 3419 Re: Big Problems with Hyundai Elantra [ezrateach] by mrgrey43

Sep 24, 2011 (2:56 am)

Replying to: ezrateach (Sep 14, 2011 11:12 am)
to ezra,I think that their can be problems with all cars,certain makes do seem to be more reliable than others,you probaly pay for those as well.
  I owned 2 jeep yj's over 20 years,traded the last for a 2003 kia rio wagon when my wife and I had kids.The Kia has been faily reliable with just over 90,000 kms on it.
  Back in 88 my wife bought a 85 hyundai pony,It has 157,000 kms on it,which is low for the year.People make jokes about it and I understand its a cheaply made car but its been a great car as a dailydriver,not much has really gone wrong with it besides a cracked distibutor cap causing arcing and the pistons wanting to turn at different times(sounded like a hammer on the hood).
  Sadly the old pony is starting to blow blue,and I had trouble passing aircare this year,its also a little beat up from some accidents so I've been looking at used cars most of the summer looking to replace my DD.
  I looked at another Kia wagon,subaru outback,ford focus wagon,but I've decided on another Hyundai,a 2000 elantra wagon,getting it inspected this weekend,already test drove it,ran straight and true,cosmetically its a 11 year old car but I think this car will be as reliable as my last 26 year old hyundai.The only thing that concerns me is the power windows failing,but I've read that about the ford focus as well.
  I think Hyundai make good cars,If I could afford a new accent or elantra I'd get one.Everyone has their opinion I hope you get a car your happy with ezra,make mine a Hyundai

#3392 of 3419 Re: Big Problems with Hyundai Elantra [ezrateach] by mojave2k

Oct 06, 2011 (3:01 pm)

Replying to: ezrateach (Sep 14, 2011 11:12 am)
10 years old, 100,000+ miles, bought used, (so you do not know what abuse it had before you bought it). Old A/C lines can leak, and where do you live that might add to your chance of corrosion. I am guessing the first 9 years were not too bad as you are just now complaining.

#3393 of 3419 diagram needed for fuse box 02 Elantra GT by tennisdoc1

Dec 24, 2011 (12:05 pm)

My manual shows below coin box--yet nothing---i looked completely and saw wiring, connectin only--my relay box under hd and no issues with that. As I want to find out if my rear marker light has a blown fuse-yet turn signal and flashers work---quoted a $$ fee I cannot pay for the fix--any help appreciated
Teresa

#3394 of 3419 Re: my latest shimmy update [jimijames] by rtshon

Dec 26, 2011 (4:07 pm)

Replying to: jimijames (May 20, 2004 5:10 am)
My wife's Elantra had a shim the first time that the repair shop changed the tires. I pulled all four wheels & ground the center holes out. It appears that the wheels fit much to tight to start with & after 25K miles there was enough rust to keep the rims from seating against the hubs. Retorqued to 80# & problem solved !! The car now has 89K miles & I just changed the tires out for the winter ! Snow Tires for the next four months in upstate NY.
   Personally I don't care for the car. I'm 6'3" & 215# & always feel cramped. On the other hand it beats the tar out of the gas milage on the truck !!

#3395 of 3419 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS - Engine Replacement Questions by omatase

Dec 30, 2011 (9:33 am)

We have a 2000 Elantra GLS (auto) and have owned it since it had fewer than 10,000 miles on it. It now has about 130,000 miles on it. Here is a brief history: A few years after purchase we got in a minor fender bender. Nothing but aesthetic damage (as far as we know) and the hood hasn't quite fit right ever since (barely noticeable really). Shortly thereafter the car overheated which I think caused some of the rubber seals to melt because ever since then it's burned oil very slowly (about a quart every 2 or 3 months). At some point the engine also ran with almost no oil in it for a little while because we hadn't discovered the fact that the oil was burning off.
 
It's been 3 or 4 years since we've had any issues with the engine that wasn't minor (hoses being replaced, etc) but recently the engine has had a hard time starting. When I opened the oil compartment to put new oil in I saw a few ounces of white-yellow goo on the back of the oil cap. In my experience this means a blown head gasket or a cracked head.
 
Traditionally people would just replace the car in this condition, but I'm much more keen on the idea of just replacing the engine to get another 10 years out of the car. What engine replacement options do I have for this car? Are there new engines out there I can buy for it? Is there an engine I can buy that will give me more power and be fresh and new and good? Should I replace the transmission at the same time? As I stated above it is an auto. My father-in-law was all excited about us getting an Accord VTech engine but then said it wouldn't be possible since it's an automatic transmission. I don't really know why.
 
Also, what is the presiding wisdom on how long a car can run under these current conditions? Does a few ounces of white goo mean I have a few hours left before it will die, or do I have another 10,000 miles on it potentially? I realize there's no exact science here so guestimates work fine for me. I do think I noticed a tiny amount of goo in the same place 6 months ago or so.
 
Thanks for your help everyone!

#3396 of 3419 Re: 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS - Engine Replacement Questions [omatase] by backy

Dec 30, 2011 (10:34 am)

Replying to: omatase (Dec 30, 2011 9:33 am)
I think it unlikely you can find a new engine for a 2000 Elantra. At best you'd get a remanufactured engine or a used engine. And it would be pricey. Putting anything other than the factory-spec engine into the car, e.g. a Honda engine, would be a tricky proposition. You might be able to get a newer Beta engine, e.g. Beta II, to fit, but I really don't know. You should check with a good mechanic who knows Hyundais on that.
 
If it were me, I wouldn't put that much money into a 12 year old car, one that was designed in the mid-'90s and fairly crude by modern standards. One alternative to consider is to replace the car. I just checked within 100 miles of me using a well-known Internet car locator service and found 3 2001-2002 Elantras with under 125k miles for under $4,000 asking price. These cars are a generation newer than your 2000 and IMO are far superior cars. One of these was a 2002 GT hatch, which is a very nice car for the money (I have a 2004 GT hatch). Or you could look for other cars in that price range.

Messages Page 340 of 343

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement