Making noises and overheating

Tiny
HFRANKLIN1541
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 330,000 MILES
Well a couple months the car would overheat when sitting idle. We replaced the thermostat and it seemingly quit. Now it is starting up again. I have to add coolant/water about once a week to keep it from doing this. This morning it was making some gurgling noises and my heat would not work. I am letting it cool so I can add more coolant but I am afraid whatever is wrong is definitely getting worse. It sounded as if the gurgling noises were coming out of where I shift or maybe underneath the dash. Water pump?
Tuesday, November 21st, 2017 AT 4:57 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
If you need to keep topping up coolant, that would mean a leak somewhere and presently the leak is still minor and definitely it can only get worse if not rectified.

The gurgling noise is most probably air trapped in the heater core. It would result in the heater not working. You would need to top up coolant and bleed the system to eliminate this.

Check for signs of coolant leakages. Coolant would leave behind some sort of powdery residues when dried up. Most common leaks for Hyundai vehicles would be from hoses connected to the thermostat.

A pressure test would make it easier to detect the leak.

Check and ensure the cooling fans are working and come on when required.
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Tuesday, November 21st, 2017 AT 5:56 AM
Tiny
HFRANKLIN1541
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I have been told that people think anything from water pump to a head gasket. Some reasoning say being this morning it kept trying to overheat even after adding more coolant. It would on cool down if I revved the engine. Or when driving and I speed up. I have not noticed any leaks, but today it spewed everywhere but all hoses seem to be okay.
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Tuesday, November 21st, 2017 AT 10:42 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
The cooling system comprises many different components and any fault with one of them would cause overheating. What I am advising is based on the symptoms you have described. Listening to possibilities is a waste of time.

You need to diagnose the problem and find the cause.

When you add coolant, you need to bleed the system as well as there will be air trapped in system and under such circumstances it would continue to overheat. Did you close the radiator cap immediately upon topping up the coolant? If yes, it is not the correct procedure. After coolant is full, start the engine with radiator cap open. If coolant shoots up very high, it is a sign of a bad head gasket. If it only gushes out briefly, let engine run and keep topping up till level stops dropping.

If the cooling fans are not working, it would definitely result in overheating when driving slowly or at idle. While driving, moving air helps to cool the coolant passing through radiator.

Spewing everywhere indicates overheating and it could be due to a bad radiator cap.
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Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017 AT 7:22 AM
Tiny
HFRANKLIN1541
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
You were right on, with your first answer it was a coolant bypass hose. Thank goodness! And for all your help. Guess I should listen to the pro like yourself, instead of other people. Thanks so much.
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Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017 AT 7:38 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
You are welcome and glad to know the problem has been rectified.
Have a nice day.
Feel free to drop by if you have any questions.
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Thursday, November 23rd, 2017 AT 6:41 AM

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