Hyundai i20 Engine Problems
What Hyundai i20 owners describe when they ring us and what those symptoms usually mean. We have not published an engine code for this model, so the first step is always identifying what is in it.
General guidance, not a diagnosis
The same symptom can have several causes and nothing here replaces having the vehicle looked at. If you are not sure, ring us and describe what it is doing before you spend money on parts.
The symptoms we hear most on these engines
Knocking or rattling under load
A deep knock that worsens with acceleration generally points at bottom-end wear; a lighter rattle on start-up more often points at timing-chain components.
Smoke that does not clear
Blue usually means oil, white can mean coolant on a diesel or fuel on a petrol.
Rough running or misfire
Ignition, fuel and compression all produce it, and the first two are cheap to eliminate.
Smoke that only appears when working
What colour it is, and when, narrows the cause quickly.
Hard starting
Worth establishing whether it is cranking slowly, not catching, or catching and dying - each points somewhere different.
Using oil between services
A sudden change in consumption matters more than the absolute figure.
Using coolant with no visible leak
If the level drops and you cannot find it on the ground, it is going somewhere internal. This is the symptom not to defer on, and continuing to drive is what turns a head gasket into a replacement engine.
What this means on an i20
The i20 had a short run in Australia before Hyundai concentrated on the i30, so there are far fewer of them about. That is part of why we have not published a fixed code for it.
On a smaller car the question becomes blunt quickly: what the vehicle is worth against what the engine costs. Our prices are published so you can do that sum yourself.
Because we have not published a code for the i20, the first thing we do is identify the engine from your rego or VIN. Everything else follows from that.
There is a point where chasing a fault costs more than replacing the engine. Diagnostic time, parts fitted on a guess and the vehicle off the road all add up. Send your rego or VIN and we will give you a real figure to weigh against a repair estimate.
What we will ask you about the i20
Answering these first usually saves a call, and often saves money.
- Does the symptom appear cold, warm, at idle or under load?
- Has anything changed recently - a service, a part fitted, a long trip?
- Has the coolant level moved?
- What year is it, and what is the rego?
Common questions
Where do I start?
Describe what it is doing and when. Whether a symptom appears cold, warm, under load or at idle narrows the cause faster than anything else.
How do I know if it needs a new engine or a repair?
A compression test separates the cheap causes from the expensive ones. If the engine has an internal fault and the vehicle is otherwise sound, replacement is often cheaper than diagnosis plus repair. If you are not at that point we will say so.
What engine does my i20 take?
We have not published a code for this model. Send your rego or VIN and we will identify it.
Can I keep driving it?
If it is overheating or losing coolant, no. Continuing to drive is what turns a head gasket into a replacement engine. For most other symptoms, get it looked at before the next long trip.
Not sure how serious it is?
Describe the symptoms and send your rego or VIN. We will tell you what we think before you spend anything.