Hyundai Elantra / Avante X20 - Knocking Sound.

I have the knocking sound problem since the day I own this car, but I kind of taking for granted, hoping that it will go away after driving it for a while.

The sound is something like metal knocking coming from the front right hand side when the car is start moving and when you hit on the brake, there are occasions where you can hear it when you turn the wheel.

After several inspection and rectification done by SC, they come to conclusion that it is due to body knocking and it would take about a week for them to rectify it. I can't afford not to have my car during the weekdays as I am traveling a lot. They supposed to get me the loan car for that period but sadly until today, they can't get it for me.

So I have decided to send my car this week for the body rectification work as I have to get rid of the sound once and for all.. hopefully, they are right about what caused the problem and it would be good if they can settle it within few days..

MyVi SE 1.3A - 5000km / 2nd Service.

My MyVi is supposed to hit 5000km and due for service but instead, after 3 month, it only clock 3429km. Never mind that, send for service anyway.

5000km / 2nd Service
Odometer: 3429km
Service Date: 26.11.2009
Service Centre: Reign Car Care S/B, Subang Perdana.

Things done on 2nd service: -
1. Replace Oil Filter
2. Replace Gasket Oil Pan
3. Replace Engine Oil - Perodua Semi Synthetic SJ 5W/30
4. Top up windshield washer
5. Air-cond Cabin Filter - Denso.
6. Free on labour

Surprise to know that MyVi does not have the air-cond cabin filter before. They have the housing where the filter should be but it does not come with the filter... no matter what, it is good to have the filter installed. Ironically, I just received the same filter for my X20 earlier this week ordered via group buy.. just don't have the time to install it yet.

For record, the jerking problem is not yet solved and SC is recommending me to send my ride to Perodua Branch. With better equipment, they might be able to detect what caused the problem.

Hyundai Elantra / Avante X20 - Eibach Prokit Performance Springs

Its started with weekend window shopping habits to aftermarket outlets and this time it is ended with Eibach Prokit Performance Springs.

It is surprise to know that Eibach does have the springs for Elantra/Avante HD and that is indeed the main reason why I have it installed immediately.
Stock springs and Eibach Prokit.

FRONT REAR

Height comparison (Taken from the top of the mudguards wheel arch to the floor)
Before: 670mm
After: 640mm

BEFORE
AFTER

It comes with nice decals too...My ride after the installation..My findings after a couple of weeks..
Comfort: You can't really tell the difference with stock springs!
Performance: Body roll reduce, increase in car stability..

Damn good, anyway...its Eibach. ;)

MyVi SE 1.3A - Extractor

Install extractor to my ride on Saturday last week. I have not replaced the muffler and the mid section yet, it would be done later..

Hassle work.. need to remove the bumper and few attachments for an access to the exhaust manifold...

Stock manifold c/w cat converter, compared to the 4-1 extractor..


The good thing about this particular extractor is that it comes with the bracket for the stock manifold cover.. nicely fit.

MyVi SE 1.3A - Send for Inspection - UPDATES

Its been more than a week after I sent my MyVi for inspection.

The car is still jerking and I went to the service centre again yesterday to rectify the problem.. Just when I thought that everything is good.. the car jerks again this morning..

Wonder what is the real culprit.. it looks like I have to pay a visit to the service centre again next week..

Hyundai Elantra / Avante X20 - In search for the Bodykit.

I have designed and talked with body kit shop recently on new set for my ride.

What I have in mind is a custom carbon fibre body kit plus other accessories as well, but after working on the cost, I have to put in on hold..., hmm.. you know why...

All the sudden, good news arrived. My fellow THM forumer told me that there are bodykit supplier that selling the imitate INCUS design elantra body kit made of ABS material and not fibre glass. The cost is far cheaper than the original INCUS and it include installation.

This is what my X20 will look like when installed with INCUS design bodykit..

But it will be in black and aspen silver of course ;p

It is a good news indeed.

MyVi SE 1.3A - Send for Inspection.

This is the second time I send my MyVi for inspection since there is no improvement to the brake and some other issues: -

1. Braking is too light and it doesn't really feel the grip.
2. Loud sound when the car start moving at the wheel.
3. Irritating sound from the rear.
4. Jerking when the car is idle.

Rectification done by SC: -
1 & 2. Bleed the brake, setting and testing
3. Rear Absorber screw loose - Re tighten
4. Reset ECU.

The distance from SC to my office is just nearby and can't really tell the different, will test it on my way back home, later.

Hope all the problems really rectified.

Hyundai Elantra / Avante X20 - 60,000KM Service

I send my elantra for 60,000km service today (Odometer: 59336).

The Service Center recommended to change the timing belt but I put it on hold first. Will do it when it reached 100,000km.

Service done today: -
1. Replace Radiator Coolant
2. Replace Oil Pan Plug Washer
3. Replace Oil Filter
4. Replace engine oil - Castrol SLX 0W30 (Fully Synthetic oil).
5. Replace Automatic Transmission Fluid - Castrol ATF TQM-SP
6. Brake & Clutch Fluid
7. Spark Plug - Bosch Platinum Fusion F1-4 (FGR7DQ1)

There is some minor adjustment required to my boot but it can wait since I have to rush for an appointment. Will do that on my next visit.

Hyundai Elantra / Avante X20 review by Kenso

Hyundai Avante/Elantra X20 review by Kenso, a Team Hyundai Malaysia forumer.

To Kenso, great review and write-up!..

Impressions are, at times funny things. Most of the time, it is limited to our past experiences and more often than not, colored by other people's opinions and feedback. Hyundai, in my books is for someone who couldn`t afford a Japanese yet wants to move away from Malaysian brand cars. Hyundai equates to poor build quality and high fuel comsumption, thanks to some comments made by some owners of earlier generation Sonata and other Korean cars like Atos.

The Avante is a company car; for business owners/directors, the 5 year warranty is a very encouraging piece of argument for company cars since company cars that are trashed within the period can be repaired at very lost cost to the company. Furthermore, it's size makes it more ideal to ferry Caucasian clients around. I wasn't thrilled when I heard I was going to get a Hyundai which was a much bigger car (reasons being listed above). When when the car came and I had to return the Vios I was driving for the past 3 years, I wasn't excited at all. Moving from a Japanese brand to a Korean sounds like a downgrade to me.

Without a doubt, the X20 is a car with very sexy curves. I may be biased against Hyundai but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate beauty when I see one. Seeing it parked beside other sedan cars will give you the impression that it's a really big and tall car. Sure enough, headroom is absolutely fantastic, both for front and rear passengers. Moving my butt in, I`m struck by how supple the leather feels and its perforated leather. A friend once told me only with good leather can we have homogenous perforation. I was surprised to note that the leather in the X20 is DK Schweizer leather, 1 of the more reputable brands around. Seat comfort is seriously one of the best in its class.

I`m a tech freak .... I like buttons and controls. The dash of the X20 has a minimalistic quality yet with sufficient buttons to satisfy me. The locations of the buttons are ergonomically designed and placed. There are audio controls (volume, mode, search) on the steering wheel. Too bad there is no cruise control unlike many found in other countries. There are a few compartments to store ur stuffs. A 2-tiered compartment center armrest is useful. I keep my Touch&Go card as well as my car keys on the shallow tier while the 2nd tier is deep enough to put a big Ricola candy can and a spectacle case easily. One compartment is above the headunit, one below the aircon controls and an illuminated glove compartment. Moving all my things from the Vios to the Avante, I've got so many extra spaces. There are a total of 4 cup holders, 2 in the center next to the hand brake and 1 on each side of the front passenger doors. In case you're wondering how many drinks can a normal person bring to the car, young parents will find this most useful as they need a place to put their water container, milk container, baby bottles, etc. when mixing milk.

Many owners have said they love the airconditioning unit of the car. This is very true as the airconditioning unit behaves very much like a automatic climate control system, the fan speed gradually increases as your car engine warms up. While this car doesn't have rear aircon vents, there are 2 vents under the 2 front passengers. The bottom vents works when the driver selects the blower to aim the top/leg and leg. This helps to cool the car down very quickly. Not cool if anyone in the car has smelly legs ... your cabin will also have a particularly offending aroma in a short time as well.

Moving the car out for the first time, the 143PS power is nice. Having tested both Nissan Sylphy, Lancer and Civic (was looking for a 2.0litre car), the power is better compared to the Sylphy and Lancer but loses to Civic. What blew me away was the suspension; it was absolutely fabulous. After the first few kilometers, I wondered at myself why Toyota has always been regarded the KING in suspension ... this Hyundai would definitely give it a run for its money. It has independant suspension, a far cry from those linked MacPherson systems and this really shows as you go through our country's ample potholes and bumps. NVH surpasses all my expectations. It's even better than a lot of Japanese cars. The next time you find yourself in a Hyundai showroom, just slam the door and you'll find that's very good insulation on the door itself. The only gripe I have against the NVH is the Goodyear NCT5 tyres are well know to be noisy. This issue can be easily rectified by changing to a more silent tyre.

Ok, so what about the main issue I have with Korean cars? The fuel consumption. Since the car is new and has yet to do makes its first 1k km run, I decided to run it in a little (keeping below 3k rpm while revving it up and down without keeping to any constant speed). For my troubles, I was rewarded about 440km/43litres of fuel. Not bad, considering this is a much heavier car (and I'm not even driving it very efficiently). Now that I`ve done the first 1k km service, FC is still erratic but it's still clocking an average of 0.17cents/kilometer. I am impressed.

Oh, not sure if this was mentioned by others ... it's a small thing, really but I appreciate this feature. In most cars, if you forgot to switch off the lights and you turn the engine off, your car would give you an audiable beep to indicate your lights are on. The X20 doesn't ... it turns off the lights when your engine is off. Some might argue they need the lights on when they open the gate, etc, but honestly, how many of us actually turn off the engine when we alight? How many of us have forgotten to switch off our headlamps?

In the end, the Avante is an eye opener for me. Not only is it a far more comfortable car, fuel consumption is seriously not bad. If you were to look at the owner's manual, you'll note a lot of specs is missing from the X20s found here in Malaysia. Sun-roofs, auto cruise, keyless entry/start, etc. But the fact is, that's how these cars come in. You don't get as much features in a Sylphy and yet it costs so much more. The Civic and Mazda 3 is probably the most well endowned with features but look at the price. Speaking of price (and the often associated 2nd value), let's look at the following:

Price difference between X20 and Civic = approx. RM30,000
Loan interest = 3.5% x eg. 5 years loan = RM5,250
Total amount of difference = RM35,250

Civic 2nd value after 5 years = estimated RM76,800 (calculated at 10% depreciation/year)
X20 2nd value after 5 years = RM57,900
Price difference = approx. RM18,900

So you see ... at the end of the day, the total initial payment price difference would have offset the 2nd value difference. The difference is actually greater because imagine you have RM35,250 in your bank account ... even if you were to put it into Fixed Deposit running at 3.5%p.a, you would have made a couple of thousand in 5 years time. Granted the above calculation is based on assumption, you have to ask yourself this ... do you think, 5 years from now, the 2nd price of the 2 cars will be more than RM35,250 apart? Compared to the Civic, you pay less but you get a more comfortable car that has comparable cabin space. The only setback is .... you're not driving a "Honda".

I used to think my next car would be a Honda or a Toyota. Now I would very seriously look at Hyundai when I'm shopping for a new ride. Don't let others impress you with what they think .... at the end of the day, impressions are, after all fleeting. Your car, however should last longer

Voltage Stabilizer In My Rides.

After a while of comparing, testing and searching, I've made up my mind and install voltage stabilizer to my Elantra yesterday.

So now, both of my ride have installed with this product.

First for my MyVi which installed with Pivot Raizin (Blue Raizin).

Followed with Pivot Mega Raizin (Purple Raizin) for my Elantra (c/w Digital Display).

First day reading for my elantra:
Lowest Voltage (at the engine start): 7.3
Real Voltage: 14.5

For more details on the products, click here