Hello,

I just bought a new 2009 Elantra SE automatic last week, and had actually been reading these forums in my vehicle research phase.

Unfortunately now I am back with an early problem: after just one week and 350 miles, my Elantra's malfunction indicator lamp lit up on my way to work this morning. I initially thought it might be an indicator that I needed gas (I had about ~70 miles left on my range) - that shows you how much I know about cars - so on my way home today, first thing I did was fuel up, and surprise, surprise, the light did not turn off.

My questions are these:

(1) Has anyone else had this happen so soon into ownership of an Elantra?

(2) I understand based on the owner's manual and some googling that I will need to go get my car checked out by a Hyundai dealer. But I don't have any time to do this before work tomorrow, which is a ~30 mile commute. Will I be okay on the roads for a bit in this condition? Are there any precautions I can take between now and getting this issue checked out?

Thanks much.

Unlikely to be anything that would be dangerous to drive. Just call dealer when you get a chance.

What does that "malfunction lamps" says?

OMG! I had the same exact thing happen to me today. I bought a new 2009 Elantra just 5 days ago and haven't even gone through the first tank of gas, but at nearly 290 miles the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (check engine light) turned on. I checked the gas cap, but the light is still on.

When I visited http://db.theautochannel.com/db/HyundaiReviews/safety.php, it lists the following service bulletin for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra:

Bulletin Number: TSB-09-01-008
HYUNDAI: EPS (ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING) SOFTWARE UPDATE OF CERTAIN VEHICLES. VEHICLES ILLUMINATE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMPS RESULTING FROM DTC RELATED TO EPS SYSTEM C1259 AND FROM DTC RELATED TO ESC SYSTEM C1260. *PE

What does that mean? Is that what my car's problem is? Is this some sort of scam? Please help!

***About TSBs, don't treat these like recalls... this is just meant to help sevice tech to solve common problems on particular cars. Unless they find these specific codes, it doesn't apply to your case.***

Unless it's flashing, it should be fine to drive.

Gas cap is tight? Drove over a 100miles since you check it? If it was the cap, it would have shut off by itself I think.

If you pass near a dealer, I would have them just read the code. That way, they can't blame you if more damage is ever done.

In my case, My new Elantre triggered the light right @ 500km Read the code myself with my Scantool: P0455.
Car was in the shop twice for it:
1. They reset the code and test the EVAP System with success.
2. Code came back after 150km. They reset the code again and test again with success... but since I insist this is the 3rd time the light comes ON on a brand new car in less than a month. They guessed they should replace the EVAP Solenoid, and that they were 90% sure this would solve it.

1500km later, still haven't come back. So they seem to have fixed it right this time.

This post has been edited by MarioT: Oct 23 2009, 09:22 AM