Engine being replaced under warranty

[Rloyola0426]

Last Thursday night I was driving home from dinner with friends, cruising at about 70-75 mph when my check engine light started flashing. Suddenly, all the lights on the instrument panel lit up and the pedal went dead. Luckily I was carrying enough speed to exit the freeway before finally coasting to a stop on the side of an offramp. The car wouldn't restart, but would just crank and crank. I had it towed to my house using AAA. I had forgotten that Hyundai provides free tows to a dealership with their roadside assistance program. I used that the next day to get it to a dealership.

Once at the dealership, they replaced the fuse to the ignition and it started, however running very rough and very rich. They decided to keep the car for a little longer and run some tests. Turns out cylinders 1, 3, and 5 are misfiring (a whole bank) but the ignition coils are fine. They run a compression test followed by a leak down test and it fails, showing only 60-70 lbs with extreme blow by. I wish I took a picture of all the oil splatter in my engine bay and underside of my hood. There was oil everywhere. It's like she had hemorrhaged or had her femoral artery cut.

Service advisor then told me that they will just replace the engine under warranty as it is easier to yank it out and replace it vs taking it apart and trying to figure out exactly what failed and what to replace. He told me to gather all my service records just in case Hyundai asks for them. At 20k miles all I have are just oil change records.

I wish I could pass a few Benjamins his way and have him replace it with a V8. Didn't have the audacity to ask. Their warehouse shows 1 motor in stock. If the number is true and it is indeed in stock, I get my car back in about 2 weeks. If not, it will take at least a month . In the meantime, they put me in a rental Chevy Malibu, covered by Hyundai. No offense to any of you who may have a Malibu, but driving this car really makes me miss my Genesis.

For requiring a whole engine replacement, the whole process seems pretty painless so far. It's only been a few days so who knows what speed bumps are ahead before I actually get my car back, intact and in perfect running condition.

 

[chris41]

Glad to hear they aren't trying to give you a rebuilt engine. Every time I hear of member's problems, I get a sinking feeling cause I know many issues aren't isolated occurrences. Glad to hear of only one engine failure so far (sorry it had to be you). Best of luck!

 

[Mark_888]

I wish I could pass a few Benjamins his way and have him replace it with a V8. Didn't have the audacity to ask.

1. It's not up the dealer, up to Hyundai Motor America. If dealer gets a part from HMA for warranty replacement, they must return the old one to get credit for it.

2. They would have to replace suspension (at least the front), and maybe a bunch of other parts.

 

[balfor]

It is not feasible to swap to the V8, you have many components that are different like engine computer, probably engine mounts, exhaust, radiator, etc. Also you run into emission headaches if you are in a smog test area.

Sounds like an odd failure, if oil was all over the outside of the engine sounds like a seal failure of some kind. If the engine failed due to lack of oil you would expect both banks to be low compression not just one side. Anyway getting a brand new engine is a benefit at the end of the day.

 

[hokie1525]

It is not feasible to swap to the V8, you have many components that are different like engine computer, probably engine mounts, exhaust, radiator, etc. Also you run into emission headaches if you are in a smog test area.

Sounds like an odd failure, if oil was all over the outside of the engine sounds like a seal failure of some kind. If the engine failed due to lack of oil you would expect both banks to be low compression not just one side. Anyway getting a brand new engine is a benefit at the end of the day.

But you would have a very unique car. You would be the only one with a V8 with OUT fog lights.

 

[Mark_888]

At 20k miles all I have are just oil change records.

Who did your oil changes, and when was the last one?

 

[Rloyola0426]

LOL guys I know it's not possible to swap for the V8, at least not under warranty. Hence me not having the audacity to ask. I didn't want to be laughed out of the service area. It was just a wishful thought that I knew could never cross over into reality. Maybe the tone of my wishful thinking wasn't conveyed well enough and I apologize if the statement has mislead you guys into thinking I really felt I could just pass Mr Service Advisor a few hundred and magically I get a new V8. HAHA even if I could get that to happen, nobody would believe me. I am no Don Corleone.

But you would have a very unique car. You would be the only one with a V8 with OUT fog lights.

I had foglights installed aftermarket but didn't change out the stalk so they are constantly on. A big no-no for you those of you in VA. Maybe here in CA too but we don't have mandatory inspection.

Who did your oil changes, and when was the last one?

Oil changes have been all synthetic and performed by the dealer, using my own Mobil1 EP. Last one performed was in May.

Glad to hear they aren't trying to give you a rebuilt engine.

They didn't specify if they are giving me new or rebuilt engine! They just said they are giving me a new engine. That could mean new new or new to me as in rebuilt! I better call them to clarify...

 

[dareckibmw]

Oh man, feel sorry for ya.....tell 'em you want an LS in it now!

 

[cane2025]

There goes that empire grey acting up again....lol

 

[rogerlange]

thank god mine is parisian Grey

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[XPO439]

Damn dude sucks to hear that but glad you made it back home safely! You couldn't hit the brakes either? Gotta be one hell of an event. Was it just you in the car?

I hope they give you a brand new engine. A rebuilt engine...I just don't see that withstanding the test of time. Also, you could have some diminished value there. Ask the dealer if this kind of stuff would show up on a carfax report.

 

[Rloyola0426]

Man I didn't even think of that

 

[cane2025]

thank god mine is parisian Grey

Damn it....lol

 

[trespinosranch]

I dumped my '15 MBZ after a piston wrist pin replacement went bad. After 3 attempts to fix it (loss of power and hesitation) ran out of patience and bought my Genesis. It's not as elegant and has some quirks, but I'm liking it.

 

[nhan070]

Thanks much for posting and glad to hear Hyundai America and the dealer taking good care of you. I hope that you'll get a new engine as well!

 

[Rloyola0426]

I talked to the service advisor again today and voiced my concerns. He assured me that it will be a new engine as warranty replacements aren't rebuilt engines and that it will not show up on the carfax.

My eyes aren't trained to identify new vs rebuilt so who knows if he's just blowing smoke. I probably won't know the difference. But since my original engine only had ~20k miles on it, I sure hope I'm getting a new motor.

 

[chris41]

I talked to the service advisor again today and voiced my concerns. He assured me that it will be a new engine as warranty replacements aren't rebuilt engines and that it will not show up on the carfax.

My eyes aren't trained to identify new vs rebuilt so who knows if he's just blowing smoke. I probably won't know the difference. But since my original engine only had ~20k miles on it, I sure hope I'm getting a new motor.

The next guy with a blown engine will be getting your blown engine all rebuilt and ready to go.... Just kidding....I'm sure you'll get a new motor.

 

[Aquineas]

That sucks that your engine died, but if there's such a thing as a bright side, you're getting a brand new engine that's 20K miles fresher! .

 

[Munch520]

Maybe they'll throw in the 3.3L turbo motor by accident

 

[Rloyola0426]

Wouldn't that be great? Get a phone call from them saying "sorry sir, but the 3.8 is out of stock. Would it be ok if you got the 3.3 turbo"

Uhm, hell yes!