My son has just been told he has to replace his short block on a 2007 Hyunda Elantra. What does that mean.?

A short block is just a basic engine block, (pistons, crankshaft and connecting rods). They are trying to save you money by replacing only what is needed and not replacing the whole engine as others are suggesting.

That is the engine, minus all the parts that bolt on, like the oil pan, valve covers, water pump, heads also I think. They sell differently equipped engines, some called Crate engines, or complete, with all things. But a short block is basically just the lower part, or block. The rest, will have to be taken off the old engine and put on the new rebuilt one.

The car is 6 years old, so finding an engine in a wrecking yard could still be feasible. And if it is not too bad on mileage, it would probably be better then buying a rebuilt short block.

You will have to hire someone to pull the old engine, and replace it with the one bought. Some male friends who know cars and some cold beer, and it might work out pretty cheaply.

IF you decide to buy a new short block, you will still have to use all the older parts that attach to it.

Look around, call a few wrecking yards, and get quotes for a good engine. Include shipping costs of course, unless you can drive and get it.

And then, find a decent garage that will remove the old engine and install the replacement. Or like I said, a few male friends, and some beer. lol.

dealership will charge you a fortune .. prob more than his car is worth. Us a different mechanic shop to do it . Also , you dont rebuild short blocks from used parts. A short block is most of the engine , the pistons , cam , crank shaft and block itself.

google " rebuilt hyunda short block for sale " and will pictures of them and companies that sell them and prices . a lot of people just have a used eng from a salvage yard becuase it is cheaper.

He really screwed up big time by driving it when knew it was over heated from loss of water from a leak . . if he had just kept putting water in it untill he get the repairs done this never would have happened . If he trashed his engine , then he drove it a good ways while he knew it was over heated untill it just stopped as the engine seized and ruined his car.. jeeze !

It means that lack of maintenance resulted in very serious damage. That kind of failure doesn't get covered by the warranty.

When an overheated engine seizes, the pistons scuff the heck out of the cylinders. They need to be replaced after the scuffs get machined out of the cylinders. That's pretty extreme and it's often easier to replace the block with one that comes with good pistons already in it. The short block does not include the cylinder head or manifolds. Since the engine overheated, I'd suspect the integrity of its cylinder head as well- I bet it is warped and cracked too. Unless the took the engine apart and examined it, they don't know if the head is any good. I'd find a used engine instead of just a short block.

Tony is right. A short block is the main part of an engine - the block, crankshaft, rods, pistons, camshaft, etc. They are telling you that the cylinder head and motor attachments are okay, but the motor is shot. There's no cheap way out but I would call around and get estimates. Re-manufactured, rebuilt, or crate is basically like new. If you find used motors make sure you're dealing with reputable sellers and ask the mileage. Good luck!

A short block is a new part from the dealer of the car. Why would you put a junk-yard short-block in such a new car. It would be smarter to put an entire used engine in the car. You and your son need to break open the manual in your glove-compartment and read what it says to do when an engine heats up or the same thing will happen again. If he's old enough to drive he's old enough to read.

His engine needs replaced, You could find a good used one at your local slavage yard. Depending on the condtion of the rest of the car it might be better to get a newer car. Next time make sure he checks his fuild more offten and if a proplem is suspected get it fixed ASAP.

just buy a used engine from a wreck lol, dont let someone play god with your wallet, its gonna be expensive as it is. for what its gonna cost, you could take a nice trip on a cruise ship

he needs a new engine

and stay away from dealerships