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Sedans Hyundai Elantra Hyundai Elantra Maintenance and Repair
3260 messages, Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 8:34 AM
You are in the Hyundai Elantra Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Hi, I need help because my dealership is having trouble fixing this loose sound that comes from the front engine area and is most noticeable while driving in cold weather (California cold, not real cold weather). This problem has plagued me since I bought my 'O1 Elantra last August. Since the problem quiets down or even seems to disappear after warmup and because I don't have a check engine light on, the dealer has had it at least five times (day/night) without being able to fix it. I was first told they couldn't hear it because it started off very softly, like a piece of gravel tumbling in the engine. At that point, it was suggested that it was the "lifters" delivering the oil from the pan to the engine and not to worry. As time passed though, it became more obvious. A second service tech said it could be cold cellinoids (normal, nothing to prevent it). A third tech tightened a shield in the exhaust system shortly before Christmas but it made no difference. I have yet to go back until, hopefully, I can find more clues from folks here. So far, I have had two people put their ear to the car while I press the accelerator in park (initially, acceleration was the only way to hear it but now you can sometimes hear it—albeit softly—during idling too). The first person to put an ear to my engine while the hood was open reports a sort of popping sound right beneath the engine cover. The second person heard the noise while standing outside the passenger side while the hood was down. They say it sounds as if it's coming from the front passenger wheel area, which just so happens to be the same area that was replaced for a creaky strut assembly two months ago. From the drivers' position, I would have to agree with the first person: It sounds like it's coming from the area smack in-between/beneath the two windshield washer nozzles on the hood. My other problem is really more of a question: I had spots on my car right from delivery that would not come off. They were mineral deposits collected during the time on the lot when the car was not thoroughly dried. An acid wash performed by the dealer shortly after purchase helped but didn’t totally eliminate the problem. Since, I’ve waxed it with Zbest, McGuires Polish/Cleaner, Turtle, etc. Even so, after the misfortune of going through a automated car wash at a gas station and forgetting to select “dry,” I now have water spots—some as large as a quarter thanks to the wax that apparently was intact just enough to bead the water but not enough to protect the clearcoat. I also have swirl marks all over from trying to wax these spots off. It's not obvious from a distance or under very bright sunlight because I have the "Champagne" color. I have had cheaper cars with darker paint that were much more resistant. Obviously, I want this problem fixed. Has anyone ever had success getting a dealer to do this? If so, how should I go about asking for a new paint job? Any suggestions about either problem? Sorry for the long post but I also have a tip for those who hear a squeal or grinding noise from the A/C. I heard this same noise at various dealerships I visited while test driving Hyundais this previous summer. In each case, I noticed that the air conditioning/starter were engaged simultaneously. Here’s what I do to avoid it: • Switch the A/C to the Off position before you turn the car on/off. If at all possible, wait until the car warms up (the needle moves slightly above the “C”) before you turn the fan and/or heat/air conditioning on. This tip also helps to prevent the overly cold or hot air that blasts from the vents before the engine is ready to pump out the heat or cold levels you desire. ********************************************************** IMPORTANT INFO. FOR ALL HYUNDAI OWNERS! A Jan. 8, 2001 news report published in the Orange County Register, "Engine Failures Hit Hyundai SUVs", contains a sidebar which states that many Elantra's have faulty side airbag sensors. As of this writing, there is no official recall for this or any of the other problems mentioned in the article. If you are concerned, inquire at your dealer. To read the article see: http://www.ocregister.com/sitearchives/2002/1/8/news/hyundai00108cci1.shtml or do a title or keyword search at ocregister.com. |
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Hyundai did in fact do a recall for this problem in October 2000, affecting a few hundred of the first '01 Elantra GLSs in the U.S. (mine included). One telltale sign of the problem is that the airbag light does not go out, so it is pretty obvious if you have a car with this problem. Also, it should only apply to very early '01 GLSs. BTW... why is this "important info for all Hyundai owners"? At worst, these defects affect a few hundred owners of Santa Fes and '01 Elantras. |
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Your question about why the news report is relevant here on a Hyundai discussion forum begs a response: First, the online version of the article eliminated the sidebars I made reference to. These sidebars contained problem summaries for every car in Hyundai's lineup. (It should be possible to get a copy of the print version at a public library.) Second, when engines & critical components are subject to sudden failures and an auto manufacturer does not report such problems once a pattern becomes evident, it is a violation of Federal law. The article makes a balanced attempt to point out that this isn't a Hyundai fault alone. Unfortunately, silence is not uncommon in the automotive industry. It's not good PR, after all, to make one's design flaws common knowledge. We should thank God that the media is the watchdog it is. People that don't read the newspaper, listen to or watch the news sometimes miss valuable and potentially lifesaving information. Weeks after the Firestone Wilderness tire story broke, for example, there were still people driving their Explorers in oblivion—and deaths and injuries continued. The public was put at risk because the manufacturer didn't contact Explorer owners until the problem had become epidemic and cost many lives. Even after the media flushed Ford out, there were people—I know one personally who is a college-educated professional—who were still unaware. This same friend just two months ago nearly lost her life on a busy Southern California freeway at rush hour when one of those same tires blew. I wished I would have been more assertive about warning her. But I assumed she would have been informed enough to insist that the dealer replace her Wilderness tires. I won't make that mistake again. So I am here, in a forum that addresses Hyundai owners who are experiencing problems, to provide information that is relevant to Hyundai owners who are experiencing problems. If this information helps one person, I've said enough. I hope this answer suffices! Now, anyone with some tips in response to my questions? |
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Actually, your response makes me wonder if you read my post. I did not say that your mentioning the news report was not relevant to this forum. I questioned why a story about defective side air bag sensors on the '01 Elantra, taken care of long ago by a recall, merits a warning like this: "IMPORTANT INFO. FOR ALL HYUNDAI OWNERS!" And I also wonder, if the media is such a watchdog, why did they report in January 2001 that Elantras have [sic] defective side air bag sensors, when that problem occurred in the fall of 2000 and was covered by a recall in October 2000? Is that news? Why did they not do a little more research, such as simply check nhtsa.dot.gov/cars, and determine that in fact the problem was covered by a recall? Is that an example of publishing "valuable information"? I don't like it when automakers cover up defects in cars, as in the Ford/Firestone case. But comparing the Santa Fe engine problem to the Ford/Firestone case is a little unfair IMO. |
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Hi Backy, I have to admit that when I posted the link to the news article regarding the Santa Fe, I didn’t expect to be hammered for it. Criticism of my attempt to relay the news and your call to defend my post not once but twice calls into question your motive. Nevertheless, I will try to assure you that this is relevant info. and that I did read your original response. This time, I hope you will understand my reasoning. You don’t have to agree with it, but please don't attempt to censure it either. The Orange County Register article regarding 300+ catastrophic engine failures, as indicated by the title, focuses on the Santa Fe. The sidebars, though not included in the online version, contain a run-down of known issues pertaining to other models. By definition, a sidebar is not the central focus of a news story. Likewise, my post was not about Elantra air bags per se. I mentioned the air bags only because it is an Elantra-specific issue and this is an Elantra-specific discussion forum! If you own a vehicle and you read an article that makes you question the safety or reliability of your particular make, you naturally want to know if anything similar has been reported with your own model. The news article I referred to answers the obvious response: "What about my Hyundai?" If the newspaper did not summarize this "old news” in the sidebar, people would call and ask for it, trust me. I used to work in the field. If there was a recall for the air bags as you mentioned, the sidebar should have said so. I do not disagree with you regarding that point. Bottom line: ANY problem that has the potential to put lives at risk is worth mentioning if a pattern of failure exists. The Ford Firestone case is an example of an issue being left untouched and unresolved for far too long. In sharp contrast, Santa Fe owners have the potential, thanks to the quick action of this newspaper, to remain light years ahead of the folks who learned too little too late about their Firestone tires. If this article constitutes disaster prevention or saves time, money, headache and hassle, I'd say that makes it important! As I noted in the first paragraph, you don't seem to appreciate the pains I've taken to post this FYI. I can only guess as to why the post bothers you: • You work for Hyundai and have a stake in promoting an untarnished image here on this forum. Response: This is a forum to share multiple viewpoints and experiences. It is not intended for a PR campaign. Only the moderator should critique the content and only when it's grossly inaccurate, obscene or libelous. • You or someone you know drives or is about to purchase a Santa Fe. Response: I agree that it's not pleasant to imagine the sad fate some owners have experienced. If I were in that position, however, I'd focus on the message itself and what it might mean for my safety or finances rather than blaming my frustration or fear on the messenger. • The story makes Hyundai look bad. Response: Not necessarily. At this point, Hyundai is only guilty of trying to protect their image like every other auto manufacturer. Still, if there is a Law regarding personal safety that's in violation, this news warrants not only one article but a followup to see how the issue is resolved. • You have underestimated this article's potential to save owners from the hassle of a dealership saying "No, we haven't seen a problem like yours." Response: I’ve worked for car dealers. I know their game. They don’t tell customers, “Why yes, we’ve had 10 visits per day for the same repair in the past five months.” Just about any dealer anywhere will allow customers to think they have experienced an isolated problem. Reading the article/sidebar gives owners the confidence to say, “I know you know about this problem and I expect you to fix it without a fuss.” • The media can do no right. Response: There is no such thing as a perfect story and no such thing as a perfect audience. Whether newsmaker, news reporter or news watcher/reader, we all have our biases and flaws, some intentional, some not. If the media has failed to provide any valuable service at any time whatsoever, I am truly sorry. • You could care less if this information saves life and limb. Response: Flabbergasted. There is no suitable comeback to a disregard for the law, personal safety or attempts to downplay the significance of either. Last but not least, you implied that my title, "Important Info. for all Hyundai Owners" is inaccurate. To folks like me who didn't know about ANY of these problems, it’s nothing but relevant! My post—and the article it referred to—was for those who Did Not Know. People who may not be expected to know include prospective buyers and recent owners. That’s a significant chunk of people who are likely to agree that the article is newsworthy. Backy, let's call this discussion quits and let the readers decide for themselves whether or not it's relevant. There's no reason to quibble over it. |
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| >>> Backy, let's call this discussion quits and let the readers decide for themselves whether or not it's relevant. There's no reason to quibble over it. <<< No, I don't think so--not when you take such great pains to attack me personally for disagreeing with one of your posts. I did not attack you for your post, I only disagreed with you. I also never challenged your right to post what you wish (that's not for me to decide, but for the Host), but I do have the right to disagree civilly with other posters, including you. FYI, none of the reasons--all of which are attacks on my integrity and/or intelligence--that you listed above is accurate. The reason I disagreed with your post is very simple. What I believed I saw was someone misrepresenting the facts, either by mistake or intentionally. Why you did it, I don't know, and since I can't read your mind I'll abstain from speculating as to your motives. And I'm not talking about the Santa Fe. You keep coming back to that, but my main disagreement is with your statements regarding the side airbag wiring problem on a few '01 Elantras, a problem that was fixed long ago and literally before cars got into the hands of owners. So please talk all you want about the Santa Fe problem and your opinion of it, but please try to stick to the facts, and maybe do a little research to back up your statements (e.g., that there was no recall on the Elantra when it takes two minutes to check nhtsa.dot.gov to verify that). Also, I'd appreciate it if you would refrain from personal attacks on people because they happen to disagree with you. | |
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I have web published a new website dedicated to the Elantra GT, and one of the features is a Garage Page.
This page contains a listing of known and common problems and solutions, with pictures where possible. Check it out. The site is still under construction so check back often. |
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