2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Intermittent Engine Stalling

Tiny
ARIZONABOB
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
  • 160,000 MILES
My 2003 Santa Fe 2.7 L 2wd. Will on occasion stall while driving in city traffic and at freeway speeds. After the stall occurs, it will restart sometimes immediately and sometimes after a minute or two. Also, when this occurs, sometimes the fuel gauge will go to approx. 1/8th tank no matter how much fuel is in the tank. The factory fuel pump was replaced approx. 1-1/2 years ago because of this same problem as a "best guess" fix. The pump was replaced with a complete pump assembly that was purchased at a Hyundai dealer (OEM PART). The new pump has approx. 11000 miles on it now. I don't have many diagnostic tools. Could this new pump already have gone bad or is there some other problem I should be addressing?
Saturday, June 15th, 2013 AT 11:33 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
The gauge showing erratically means this problem is most likely electrical in nature. A wire or connection somewhere could be loose and this would intermittently cause the stalling. Such intermittent problems are not easy to detect and when it stalls and is difficult to start, that is the time you would most likely be able to find the source of the problem.
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Sunday, June 16th, 2013 AT 1:08 AM
Tiny
ARIZONABOB
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Yes, thanks for your input. I have inspected the harness that connects to the top of the fuel pump and have found everything as it should be i.E. No rubbing, nothing pinched, no broken connectors and etc. I failed to mention in my original post that that this has happened at least 7 times and the check engine light never is triggered nor is there any codes. I am leaning towards replacing the pump assembly again. Just wish they were not so expensive!
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Sunday, June 16th, 2013 AT 9:08 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Fuel pumps are quite durable components and I am not really sure it would give way that fast if it is an OEM component. Was the relays checked?
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+1
Sunday, June 16th, 2013 AT 1:21 PM
Tiny
ARIZONABOB
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
No, I have never checked the relay, but I will check it.
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Wednesday, June 19th, 2013 AT 10:21 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Any update on this?
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Sunday, June 30th, 2013 AT 3:24 AM

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