Preventative Maintenance on a Used Car (Elantra ~70k mi)?

Question

I am looking at a used Hyundai Elantra (2001 with about 70-80k miles). It will be a weekend car and will get its share of abuse, as all cars do, in Manhattan where I live. I won't be able to do much maintenance myself (no place to easily work on it) but I am wondering if you can give me advice on:

A: Anything I should look out for with a used car given the mileage/age (for example, I read that the timing belt and water pump should be changed at 60k mi)

B: Anything you might suggest that I do upon buying a used car with this many miles to prevent headaches later on (repairs in NYC are a bit of a pain and garages are often expensive)

I was thinking: oil change (maybe synthetic oil), new filters, plugs, plug wires... Does this sound right? Anything else that I should expect to be wearing out soon?

I really do appreciate your advice. I haven't owned a car in quite a number of years and never one with this many miles.

Answer 1

Changing to synthetic oil is a personal choice. Either way works well as long as you change close to the recommended schedule.

Other things:
- look at all rubber hoses to/from radiator and heater. Replace all if any are old, worn, cracked or showing bulges. As long as you have the water pump out, this is a good time. Don't reuse the coolant unless it is only 1 year old - it's cheap.
- replace any worn/cracked accessory V-belts, in addition to timing belt. I don't know whether Elantra engine is an 'interference' type - many Japanese engines are, so I wouldn't be surprised if Hyundai follows. In an interference type engine, a broken timing belt will almost always lead to destroyed valves and possibly pistons, because there is *no* clearance between TDC and valves in an interference design.
- check condition of power steering hoses - replace if worn.
- check condition of brakes and brake fluid. If need to be replaced, have the fluid changed too.
- check condition of battery for ability to hold a charge and and alternator to provide adequate charging voltage
- replace transaxle fluid and filter if available
- check A/C system for proper cooling.
- check all the lights

Answer 2

Take this for what it is worth:

If you buy a Hyundai, Kia or any other non-standard Korean vehicle (i.e. Daewoo), expect to become your local repair facilities' favorite customer. These vehicles require frequent, and MFG-only, repairs.

Advice: sell it and buy a Camry

Answer 3

you all ready know what to do youve answered yourself .but here is something you can do when you buy your oil make sure you get and oil thats for cars that have 75,000 mile or more also buy some slik 50 for your car you add this when you do your oil change plue add fuel cleaner to you gas once a month and keep it tuned up and you should be fine .....good luck............lonewolf.
ps. if you have any ? e-mail me at [e-mail]