Hard time starting

Tiny
MCADOO0909
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA
  • 3.3L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 168,990 MILES
My car has a hard time starting but in a few tries it starts and all of a sudden. While you are driving this little windshield icon pops up and it slows your speed down and then your car will cut off and it will take 30 minutes before it restarts and goes.
Sunday, July 21st, 2019 AT 6:35 PM

32 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,144 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like the car is in limp mode due to a dirty throttle bore. here is a guide to help you fix the problem:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/reduced-power-limp-mode

This guide can help as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-cranks-excessively-before-starting

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019 AT 2:33 PM
Tiny
CHARLES RIZZO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA
  • 12,500 MILES
After every gas fill up car is hard to start.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:05 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Is the Malfunction Indicatro Light showing? Such probems are common when there is a fault with the EVAP system.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:05 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CHARLES RIZZO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Dont know what the Malfunction Indicatro Light is. And if there is a problem with the EVAP system ( what does that stand for?), How is it corrected?
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:05 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
The CHECK symbol in dash.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzfR84T6pBY

Check above link.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:05 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RANDY1955
  • MEMBER
  • 71 POSTS
  • 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA
  • 2.7L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Sometimes it has to crank for awhile more time than it should. So what is causing the hard starting only sometimes?
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:05 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros. Com.

That is a tough one to answer, especially since it is not all the time. I have some questions. When it does happen, is it always on a cold start, warm start, both? Does it start right back up when it happens? Is there anything you can think of that may happen prior to the problem? Are there any specific conditions which seem to increase the likelihood it will happen?

Let me know.

Joe
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:05 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HSAAGER1
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
  • 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA
  • 2.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 110,000 MILES
Last night it about an hour after I got home.
Car did crank, but not start.
2 hours later it would start but stoll, sounded like bubbling ( too much liquid? ).
This morning it started normal. But I didn't drive it, because I didn't want to risk to be stranded.
Any suggestions what it could be?
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ED-WEEZY21
  • MECHANIC
  • 248 POSTS
Just to add to this one, have you tried scanning for pending codes? This cars are widely known for bad crankshaft position sensors that cause all of the symptoms you described. Unfortunately, on the 2.4L engines, its located behind the timing belt so the timing covers will have to be removed in order to inspect it. Best of luck.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HSAAGER1
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Took it to two mechanics. No codes or reason we're found. Last one recommend that I should take it to hyundai. They said it was the purge valve, got it done. Didn't have a problem since (3weeks ago).
That's about how long it took between the first and second time to occur. Guess I'll find out if the problem is really solved or not.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
That would have shown up in the testing I gave you as no spark and no injector pulse, although the injectors and coil would have power supply.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
A purge valve isn't going to cause a crank, no start.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HSAAGER1
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
After the first time when it hapened. The mechanic I took it to couldn't find anything and suggested that bad gas might have been the issue. It took about 3 weeks until it happened again. That time, it would start after I waited for a few minutes and then tried again. It would start just fine a few times and have the same issue again the next day. That's when I noticed the gas smell, I took it to another mechanic who also wasn't able to figure out the problem. He then recommended to take it to hyundai as they would know more about that particular model. Who then diagnosed that it was the purge valve.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HSAAGER1
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
I'm not able to run all those tests you were describing in an earlier response. As you can tell, the problem occurred again. It is now about a month after the Hyundai dealer replaced the purge valve.
It will crank a few minutes after it didn't. So there is no way to have a mechanic run those tests when it happens. Can you give me an ballpark estimate, on how much a crankshaft sensor replacement would be?
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HSAAGER1
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
This time it stalled after it started and then wouldn't start for a few minutes.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
It al goes back to my first answer. Those tests HAVE to be run when the problem is present.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HSAAGER1
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
But how, if the problem is resolved after a few minutes and I don't have a mechanic with his tools riding with me at all times?
So far, it happened 4 times in the last 2 months. Only the 2nd and third time were less then 24hours apart. The rest 3 to 4 weeks.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
It's not easy but this is the type of problem we face a lot. If the problem is that intermittent it's about impossible to diagnose. The mechanic has to be able to duplicate the symptoms to be able to diagnose the problem. If you just start throwing parts at it, that can get very expensive and we simply don't work that way.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HSAAGER1
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Well, if there really is no way other way to figure out whats wrong unless it actually just happened. Where would you recommend to get started. Compression test, crankshaft sensor?
I need to get something done about it.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HSAAGER1
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
There seems to be a problem with the security system as well. Sometimes the remote won't open it and the key won't turn either. Could that be a reason for tbe related?
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 11:06 AM (Merged)

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