Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

The car obviously doesn't do a lot of kays, having done only 55,000 in eight years; so I'm guessing it sits around idle for much of the time. From the compression figures it could be that the valves are not sealing properly through lack of use. I doubt that you would need a new engine, or a major repair, but if it's now going I would suggest you take the car for an extended drive. If it's not going then you might be faced with taking the head off and checking the valves.

You'll find there's also a time requirement on the belt. Even though it's only done 37,000 km it is going on for seven years old, so I would always err on the side of caution and change the belt.

Hyundai spokesman Bill Thomas says there is definitely a fix for your problem and apologises that you were not advised. Your dealership will be in touch to get the vehicle sorted.

Is that 360,000 miles or is it kilometres? I’ll assume it is kilometres given that’s what the odometer displays. It’s impossible to answer your question with any accuracy, but you have already had a good run out of the car and I wouldn’t expect that you would get another 360,000 kilometres out of it. But if it has been well serviced with regular oil and filter changes the engine could conceivably go for many years yet. You could have a mechanic give a health check, take a compression reading for instance, and that might give you an idea of how much life is left in it.

You need to take this problem directly to Hyundai and request the company’s help to fix the problem. It’s possibly an electronic problem that affects the engine when cold, it could be that it’s not getting the fuel enrichment that it needs to start cold. The company is the one that can fix it for you and there’s no reason they can’t.

Is that 360,000 miles or is it kilometres? I’ll assume it is kilometres given that’s what the odometer displays. It’s impossible to answer your question with any accuracy, but you have already had a good run out of the car and I wouldn’t expect that you would get another 360,000 kilometres out of it. But if it has been well serviced with regular oil and filter changes the engine could conceivably go for many years yet. You could have a mechanic give a health check, take a compression reading for instance, and that might give you an idea of how much life is left in it.

I doubt it is a fuel pressure problem, if it was you would have trouble all the time, not just when the engine is cold. It sounds like the cold enrichment is not working, so have that checked. As for the garage tracking a problem can be a challenge and many a new part is fitted that doesn't do the job. The best thing is to return it to the garage, tell them they haven't fixed the problem and ask them to check it again. If you're not sure they are competent to do the work tell them that you approve of any parts before they fit them.

The Elantra’s 1.8-litre engine has reputation for piston slap and ticking noise, hence the offer to cost of the parts. Carmakers will often make an offer like this, they pay for the parts, and you pay for the labour. They usually argue that you have to bear some of the cost because you’ve had the use of the car for a period of time. If you want to pursue it try to convince Hyundai to come around to your way of thinking by direct negotiation, or enlist a government body like the ACCC to help you.

THE 90,000km service is important, and part of that is changing the camshaft timing belt. Though it is done as a precaution, the consequences of not changing it far exceed the cost of replacing it at the recommended time. Should the belt fail, you will probably badly damage your engine, the repair of which would cost thousands of dollars.