What to Do in an Emergency

If the engine overheats

~2min read

If your temperature gauge indicates overheating, you experience a loss of power, or you hear a loud knocking or pinging noise, the engine may be overheating. If this happens, you should:

1. Pull off the road and stop as soon as it is safe to do so.

2. Place the shift lever in P (Park) and apply the parking brake. If the air conditioner is on, turn it off.

3. If engine coolant is leaking from under the vehicle or steam is coming from under the hood, stop the engine. Do not open the hood until the coolant stops leaking or the steam stops. If there is no visible coolant loss and no steam, leave the engine running and make sure the engine cooling fan is operating. If the fan is not operating, turn off the engine.

WARNING

Hyundai Elantra. If the Engine Overheats While the engine is running, keep your hands, clothing and tools away from moving parts, such as the cooling fan and drive belt, to avoid serious injury.

4. Check for coolant leaks from the radiator, hoses, or under the vehicle. (If the air conditioner has been in use, dripping of cold water from it when you stop is normal.)

5. If engine coolant is leaking, stop the engine immediately and contact the nearest authorized HYUNDAI dealer for assistance.

WARNING

Hyundai Elantra. If the Engine Overheats

Your vehicle is equipped with a pressurized coolant reservoir. NEVER remove the coolant reservoir cap or the radiator drain plug when the engine and radiator are HOT. Hot coolant and steam may be expelled under pressure, which can cause serious injury.

Turn off the engine and wait until the engine has cooled. Be extremely careful when removing the coolant reservoir cap. Wrap it with a towel or thick cloth and slowly turn it counterclockwise to release some pressure from the system. Step back until the pressure has been released.

When you are sure all pressure has been released, continue turning the cap counterclockwise to remove it.

6. If you cannot find the cause of the overheating, wait until the engine temperature returns to normal. Then, if coolant was lost, carefully add coolant to the reservoir until the coolant level reaches the middle mark.

7. Proceed with caution and watch for further signs of overheating. If overheating occurs again, contact an authorized HYUNDAI dealer for assistance.

CAUTION

A significant loss of coolant indicates a leak in the cooling system and should be checked by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.

Test yourself

A quick Hyundai Elantra AD quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.