Girlfriends' Hyundai overheated. Taking it to the Auto Electrician...

[DigitalPho3nix]

Hey everyone,

Just a quick question.

My girlfriends' Hyundai Coupe overheated recently and it cracked a radiator. No surprises there, since the end tanks are made of plastic (ewww)...

What parts do I need to pick up from the wreckers and Super Cheaps?

Here is the list I have so far:

1. New Radiator
2. New Thermostat (apparently they have a wax thingo in them that melts?)
3. New Radiator Hoses
4. New Radiator Cap


Am I missing anything?

[2jzhilux]

5. new head / engine / car















just kidding dont forget coolant but dont put it in till you make sure the head gasket is not stuffed

[Dale]

Replace the heater hoses while you're at it, and manifold hoses (if it has them).. more importantly though figure out WHY it overheated and fix that

[Vios-GT_07]

yea check the head for any damage.. TK test? look under oil cap any cappucino? the oil in the motor turned colour?

and yea.. check water pump, condition of hoses etc etc.. just to be sure.. don't replace if unnecessary i always say.. hyundai motors don't come cheap afaik..

[DigitalPho3nix]

Yeah, she just bought a new Swift and we are trying to sell this one! Grrrrrrrr...

I think the reason it overheated is because of neglect. She didn't change (or top-up) the coolant in the three years she's had it. Neither did the service guys.

Now it is left to me to fix it. I have a really busy schedule, so I just need it fixed for as cheap as possible in the least amount of time. This means one trip to the wreckers, and one or two trips to super cheap, and a few hours in the garage.

I'll check for a blown head gasket, but I doubt it did that.

AAARRRRGHH! I really didn't want to be stuck fixing this car!!!!!!!!!! I HATE THE THING!!!

[Vios-GT_07]

you could leave it with me and i'll fix it up for you

i used to own an Excel.... *bows head in shame*

[DigitalPho3nix]

Nah its cool dude. I'll DIY it sometime next week. I just gotta find time to go and get the parts I need! Goddamn uni...

[barned01]

if you are selling it you could chuck that sealing crap in the radiator also to hopefully fix any issues there may be with the head gasket

[thechuckster]

maybe get a radiator from the wreckers? ...perhaps find something that's been t-boned or rear-ended? an alloy rad isn't going to be cheap

[Vios-GT_07]

i'm wrecking a corolla and it has a perfectly good radiator.. if it fits u can have it

[DigitalPho3nix]

I want an OEM one, as I don't want it to look non-standard.

Yeah, the radiator is aluminium alloy. With the cooling system sealant, will it seal a hairline crack about 2cm long in the top end-tank of the radiator? Or is it for tiny little holes only?

If I can, I'll just seal it and just replace the hoses and thermostat. I've never used this sealer stuff so I have no idea...

[MRMOPARMAN]

mate, id highly doubt in 3 or so services the car woulda had, that the service technician has missed the water level every single time, therefore id be looking for the reason the car has overheated.

*you need a new radiator anyways so thats one thing out of the way

*the thermostat is probably ok but for the sake of $10 just do it anyways

*pull the timing belt off and check the timing, and the water pump conditon/leaks etc.

*check the oil and spark plugs for water ingestion, take out the plug and spin the engine over a few times on the starter motor, see if any water sprays out of the cylinders (you'll know if theres any in there) and run the engine briefly to make sure it doesnt miss.

*check the condition of the hoses to make sure they arnt split/hard/swelled etc.

if all that passes, replace the radiator and thermostat, refill with water only and test the car again.
warm the car up and make sure the engine doesnt start missing as it warms up, check the lower radiator hose to make sure it doesnt suck in as the revs increase, and make sure the thermo fans operate, aswell as the heater, and make sure there isnt a buildup of water under the oil cap and make sure the exhaust doesnt keep smoking white smoke well after its warmed up. oh and make sure theres no water leaks.

if that all passes then drain the water and fill with coolant and off ya go.

oh being a hyundai aftermarket radiators are fairly common so they shouldnt be that expensive, alloy or not.

hope this helps, cameron.

[Adrian]

2. New Thermostat (apparently they have a wax thingo in them that melts?)

yeah im not sure if it compleatly melts but it softens to open the valve @ woteva temp.

[IN 05 NT]

i woulda kept the excel over the swift....

its amazing how many people bag them out...yet they are just as reliable as a corolla, they really are a good cheap car!!! yes they have a few little probs, just like every car, but they do last the k's!!!

if you dont know the cause of the overheating, what you might be doing is replecing everything and anything......get a good inspection on it....

got a nearby mechanic that you can abuse for a quote?

[o_man_ra23]

First, the plastic tank can be replaced without replacing the core. Look for a good backstreet (not heavily commercially advertised like NatRad etc) radiator mob, they will probably do it for $40 or so.

Second, blake is correct on getting a proper diagnosis... best to find the problem and fix it than just treating the symptoms.

I would disagree with blake though, with my experiences the Hyundais are crap. Ive spent more money fixing the woman's 95 excel (third owner, her mum had it since 2 yrs old and its be meticulously maintained) in the last 6 months than it cost me to purchase, roadworthy (including new front suspension and brakes), paint and maintain my 79 RA40 which Ive had for over a year. They are a high maintenance vehicle when they get to 10 yrs old, and I will never let her buy another one. The 87 Ford laser she had was a much better vehicle, only thing we ever replaced on it in 4 years was the igniter module and the clutch.

Cheers, Owen