Rear passenger outer door handle for my Hyundai Matrix

The unfortunate incident happened, the right rear passenger outer handle broke, so cannot enter the rear unless open from inside !..really troublesome.

So I did try to DIY ...very very difficult that I give up doing it. Better let the mechanic to do it with the proper tool.

It took them close to 3 hours to change this door handle...worth paying to do it. Same time I send my Matrix for manual gearbox oil change..yeah kill 2 birds with one stone.

The door handle is not original, it's OEM and it fit in nicely...RM45.

The 198,522km

As I reach this mileage on my 11 year old Hyundai Elantra X20...it is something to be proud off, the quality of Korea car is just awesome ....  on this week I did an oil change and top it off with X-1R engine oil additive.

As for today, decided to change the ATF as it's already over 30,000km...send the car to my regular workshop in Taman Melawati to do it. And then it crossed my mind to also service the aircond. The last service was more than 5 years ago.

The aircond compressor already pull out !!

Place it in the vice, change the O-ring and oil seal. Pressure test to confirm seal are good and replenish with fresh compressor oil and also clean the condenser.

The aircond compressor fitted to my Hyundai Elantra is the original aircond compressor since I bought the car in total 11 years running well.

Engine Control Temp Sensor Replace on Hyundai Avante 2.0

There were many sensor I had replace all due to difficult to start when the engine is hot and hesitation to accelerate when the engine is hot. From checking of the air leak on the vacuum hoses till replacing the Throttle body position sensor, crankshaft sensor, VVT sensor or oil control valve sensor...all end up with little improvement and the problem never solve.

Even send to my regular mechanic could not detect fault code.

Until then, I read up on the internet :

I have not change this sensor since I bought the car, that is over 13 years. So I gave it a try. It cost only RM50. Should conduct the test with a volt meter, anyway I don't have it and this is the only sensor I yet replace.

You may find the sensor located nearly the cylinder cover. You need a long box socket size 16 to remove the sensor.

Will need to drain out some coolant before removing the sensor. Locate the drain plug from bottom of the radiator.

Here are the comparison between the old and new ECT sensor. Place a layer of the pvc white tape. A layer is sufficient, do not apply extra layer as the cylinder head is made of aluminium, do not wish to crack it during tightening.

A word of caution, during fitting it must be align properly and hand tighten before fully tighten with a wrench. Avoid over tighten. Refill the coolant and ready to go.

After more 300km of drive, no more problem as mentioned above. The drive is smooth which I have long missed. No more of the hesitation to accelerate or hard starting when the engine is hot. Cold starting never a problem.

My battery becomes weak

The battery on my Hyundai Elantra was replaced on 8 January 2018 and today is begin to show usually sign..the cranking becomes becomes slow but able to start, the signal light behaving very strange: flickering inconsistent...some time fast and sometime slow.

Lucky I have fitted a battery meter, a good battery will show reading of 12.0 -12.3V but this time it recorded 10.02V..this means the battery is weak.

I know the cause...my Elantra has not been doing good daily running and frequent starting. Daily travel about 22-30km only.. on weekend the car even travel lesser. 

Removed both terminal and hook up to my battery charger. I hope 6 hours of charging is sufficient. If were to perform recondition charge..it will take about almost to 3 days.

New sport rims for my Hyundai Elantra X20

The road and surrounding areas are not being properly maintained, my tires and rims are taking lots of beating. This year alone, I think 3 times I have to tyre change tyre and with 18inch rims...it's also lighten my wallet.

And the final straw came after the rear tyre punctured, I found a nail and a broken a glass ... the tyre is totally condemned. The other rear tyre also suffer with inner wear maybe due to negative camber.

I wanted a good set of sports rims, not for racing just to get me from point A-B and strong to withstand the poor road condition. My regular tyre shop recommend an old design rims but good and strong match with a 215/45/17 rubber.

I had a good offer...new 17inch rim complete with new rubber, new lugs nuts for each tyre , new metal air valve , alignment and balancing ...RM1,600.

The new look !

200,000KM !

A proud day...my 2005 Hyundai Matrix 1.6M has clocked in 200K KM. The years of ownership was really satisfying. No major breakdown ...only teething problem such as power window, aging door handles and central lock. Parts are available as need time to get them fixed.

Oh yes, the paint job need to be ....repaint the whole Matrix ! I have yet to decide the colour.

Hyundai Matrix 03 ... The long drive to Skudai

This Hyundai Matrix 05 1.6L M is my 1st hyundai and it has been with me till now for 14 years. Mileage closing to 200k km and still sturdy. It has the best space, large boot and very comfortable. Still able to clock more than 650km in a single full tank of petrol Ron95 full highway drive.

The alternator has been replace and clutch plate too.

Maintenance cost is on the average. So far no major problem.
May apply extra dark tint for that extra cool looks.

My daily drive is now about 4km as compare to years ago and when it comes to long journey...I'm happy that is perform very well.

Very very lucky ....the engine oil light turn ON ,Timing Belt !

Recently I had oil change to my Hyundai Elantra in May 2019, https://bit.ly/2XlRKwC. I clocked 189,246 km. About a week later, my wife was driving home and she saw the engine oil light turn ON , she was about 2km away from home... I told her to continue driving since the  engine acting as normal with any abnormal noise or smoke.

As I reach home after work, I immediately check..found below the sump tank was wet and extending to the rear. The dip stick was totally dry. The oil filter was wet..I suspect the gasket may have broken...so when ahead with changing the oil filter and make sure I wasn't over tighten. Top up with X-1R again and give it a start.

Then, I give the engine a start...it surprise me....there was an oil leak...came from the oil seal near the crankshaft..it was a strong leak..at any moment it can empty the whole engine oil sump tank. At that moment , the car just clock 189,686km.

I had the car tow away the next day to Ah Yau for check up. In my heart...lucky I top up with X-1R,never expected this incident to happened.

AhYau confirm the timing belt oil seal leak..oh dear! The timing belt was replace last year Feb https://bit.ly/2HQoyZv, it just clocked over 20,000km.

Change to another set of timing belt kit (90,000) recommended by Ah Yau, not require to drained out the engine oil.The alternator and aircond belt was also replace. Total costing RM660...poor me. 

Hyundai Matrix oil change

Had my Hyundai Matrix oil change last year  https://bit.ly/2Z9HOXV when it clocked 195,868km. This time around, I had it change again at 199,852 km..that is after travelling 3984km. I when to Skudai from KL and return recently..manage to clock 680km before re-fuel.

I found that Shell has the high mileage 15W-50 engine oil. This oil better that the previous engine oil ..As I read somewhere it is suitable up to 7000km....

To finished it I  top up with X-1R engine oil additive.

My Elantra Oil Change May 2019

Comes May 2019, the engine has clocked 189KM..time for its regular oil change. This time I have added the X-1R Engine oil Treatment bought it from Shoppee ( I bought 7 bottle !) as seller was giving good discount.

As for the engine oil...it's good...good for 10K KM oil change.

Brake switch of Hyundai Elantra 2.0

Two days ago, the brake light refuse to turn off even after the ignition key was removed. I have suspected the brake switch as this is not the 1st time even happened..this would be the 2nd time and from my other ride ..the solution is to replace the brake switch.

So, I bought a new brake switch, cost me RM35..not that expensive. Below is the old brake switch.

And to my surprised, after replacing the brake switch , the brake light did not turn off...how is that possible !! Then again I check and discover, on the brake lever, there is hole. Usually this is solid metal without any hole. I begin to find small rubber pieces on the flooring. This I assume there is a rubber insert...oh dear, why Hyundai make such design.

As a replacement, I place a small bolt and nut. I tested the old brake switch, it's working, but since I have bought a new one's better to change it and keep the old switch as spare.

No labour cost as this is DIY.

Hyundai Matrix 2005 Timing Belt Change

This would be the 4th time, the timing belt was replace for a 14 year old Hyundai Matrix. Only timing belt was replace, water pump was not replace.

Next replacement would at 297,568km.

The condition of the old timing belt was quite good even thou it has about less than 18,000km to go ( it's a 100k km belt)

Hydraulic brake oil was also replace and all 4 brakes was bleed. I replace it a Bosch Dot 4. After replacement, the brakes felt better and the clutch pedal also felt solid not soggy as before.

One will be inside the car to press and depressed the brake pedal.Another will be at the bottom of the car to bleed out any air on the system as well flush out all  dirty brake oil. Consume almost 1L of fresh hydraulic brake oil.

Total cost for labour (timing belt,brake oil change and aircond belt  and a new aircond belt : RM285.00