Man Brings An Overheating Hyundai Into The Shop. Then The Mechanic Realizes The Driver Made One Way-Too-Common Mistake

"Hyundai Palisade came in here..."

Man brings a smoking Hyundai into the shop. Then the mechanic finds out he made a preventable, basic mistake

Photo by: jsmechanics & Hyundai Motor Group

Mustafa Gatollari

By: Mustafa Gatollari

Mar 23, at 6:00am ET

Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google

Comment

Some vehicles roll off the assembly line with defects. After all, millions of vehicles were recalled by major brands in 2025 alone.

Brand new cars are expected to run optimally, but so are well-maintained vehicles with higher mileage. Of course, all those extra miles will also reveal how the driver’s habits affect its performance—for better or worse.

A 2022 Hyundai Palisade that rolled into J&S Mechanics’ (@jsmechanics) shop is a clear example of the latter. Their client brought in the Hyundai with smoke rolling out from its engine.

Why Did The Hyundai Palisade Go Up In Smoke?

In a TikTok, a shop employee says, “This 2022 Hyundai Palisade came in here overheating. Smoke, all over the place. And the client was like what is going on? Please check it.”

Techs quickly discovered the root of the problem. “So we check it, and it turns out there was no coolant, at all. Not even a drip. And then a hose was damaged,” the worker says.

“So literally like he just fixed it real quick,” they continue. “He replaced a little piece real quick, it’s called fitting hose. And … he put some silicone on there. And it took him maybe about an hour or so, maybe less.”

Thankfully, they said the Hyundai was able to get back on the road after an hour of work without any major issues.

“That’s pretty much it. We put more coolant in there, we detected no leaks and they were good to go,” they conclude.

What’s Considered Basic Maintenance?

There are numerous resources available that give guidance on basic maintenance, including your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

Kelley Blue Book (KBB) recommends that every 30 days, drivers check their car’s headlights and taillights, tire pressure and tread depth, and levels of basic fluids such as windshield wiper, oil, and coolant.

Neglecting maintenance can’t just lead to repair bills or embarrassing breakdowns. It can potentially void the warranty.

According to one blogger, the root cause of a car’s coolant going dry will ultimately determine whether or not coolant-related repairs are covered by warranty. For instance: if the coolant leaked due to a parts defect, then an argument could be made that the driver isn’t at fault. The same piece states that a cracked radiator would “likely be covered.” On the flip side, the author contends that “a loose hose … will not.”

The onus of checking coolant levels and the condition of hoses rests on the driver. KBB recommends inspecting all belts and hoses every three months or so. “The serpentine belt and other belts in the engine compartment shouldn’t look glazed, cracked, or frayed. Hoses shouldn’t leak or have cracks or bulges,” KBB reports.

Commenters Sound Off

Folks who replied to J&S Mechanics’ video had varying responses.

One person called the job a “minor” fix, with another praising the shop for its “excellent work” on the Palisade. Someone else highlighted Hyundai’s “10 year 100k mile warranty,” as a failsafe against any major issues.

However, another person pointed out that failing to perform regular maintenance on a car will invalidate the car’s warranty. This is generally the case when it comes to all automotive warranties.

What do you think?

View

Comments

The Federal Trade Commission advises car buyers to always keep service records. This way if they ever need to make a warranty claim, they can prove they abided by all recommended warranty guidelines.

Motor1 has reached out to J&S Mechanics via TikTok Direct message for further comment. We’ll update this article if the company responds.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team

Share this Story

GO TO COMMENTS

(

)

Got a tip for us? Email: tips@motor1.com

View all comments ( )

Popular

Bugatti Restores One-Off Veyron With A Mirror-Like Aluminum Body

BMW Kept This Hatchback A Secret For Decades

Skoda Wants You To 3D Print Pieces Of Your Car At Home

The Gas BMW M3 Isn't Dead: Next-Gen Prototype Roars