Pressing accelerator causes electrical short

Tiny
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  • 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
  • 2.3L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • 139,000 MILES
I just started having an issue when I step on gas pedal, I'm hearing what sounds like an electrical short. When I stop accelerating, noise stops. I looked around the net, but what I saw mentioned the engine stopping. Which it did not stop. I checked recall info and called my dealer. They said my car (verified by VIN #) doesn't have any recalls on it that are undone. What could this be? Is it serious? Thanks!
Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 10:54 AM

25 Replies

Tiny
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PS Timing belt was replaced on schedule. Serpentine belt was replaced a couple months ago. New brakes on all four tires were done at the same time. All four tires are one month old.
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
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Hello, so there is no 2.3-liter V6 Santa Fe, I think you mean 2.7Liter. And is this the GLS or LX model? I will try to help you out, but if you had a wire shorting out, it would most likely blow a fuse.
There is a 2.4-liter engine
Also, some more information would help, is this possibly a very fast clicking noise? And where exactly is the noise coming from?
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 12:02 PM
Tiny
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It's a GLS not LX. Okay, maybe it's a 2.4 liter. The noise sounds like it's coming from near where the glovebox is. It didn't sound like clicks; it literally sounds like something electric sounding shorting out. I don't know how else to describe it. I looked at more stories online. Could this be caused by dirt in my fuel injectors, and should I try adding fuel injector cleaner? Also, I had AC replaced over the summer. Recently I have been driving with heat and or defrost when I start the car in the mornings. Thanks very much!
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 12:33 PM
Tiny
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Well, I don't think it has anything to do with injectors, how does the car run in general? Is it rough at idle? And for your noise, are you saying something like a zapping type noise?
So, it must be the 2.7-liter engine, that's the only GLS. Is this automatic transmission or standard shift?
And do you smell anything funny? Like electrical burn type smell? If there was an electrical short happening, you would smell it.
If you open the hood, do you hear anything in the engine compartment, with the vehicle in Neutral and parking brake on for safety. Have someone push on the throttle and see if you hear anything in the engine compartment.
Because we can only go by what you tell us. If possible, make a video with your phone or someway so we can hear the noise and upload it here.
And does this happen when the vehicle is sitting still, and you push on the throttle, or does it need to be moving to happen? Every little detail helps. Try to record the noise somehow as well. Video, whatever works for you.
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 1:15 PM
Tiny
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It's an automatic with control trac that you can convert to manual in a couple speeds. I just went and started it up in park. I didn't smell anything -. When I pressed the accelerator, I was unable to recreate the sound multiple times. I drove it about 10-15 MPH and didn't hear the zappy sound or smell burning. I accelerated to 35 MPH, and then I started hearing it again, as well as I did indeed smell burning. What do you think? Thank you!
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 1:59 PM
Tiny
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Forgot to say, the car generally runs fine. I've never had any major issue with it and follow the recommended maintenance schedule/keep up on my oil changes.
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 2:03 PM
Tiny
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If you did smell electrical burn, then yes that's a major concern. It's hard to say what it can be, cars have miles of wiring in them, are you able to take a drive with someone who can do a video so we can at least hear the sound.
The only real part of the electrical system behind the glove box area is the blower motor for the heating and A/C system. Does this vehicle have Automatic HVAC or Manual? Meaning can you set the temperatures different for the driver side and the passenger side?
The technical service bulletin (first pic) is for poor Ground wire issues that can cause the blower motor or headlights to have issues. But what you're describing sounds more like a power wire shorting to ground somewhere in a circuit before the fuse, that's the only way a short to ground would happen. Otherwise, a fuse would blow.
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 3:06 PM
Tiny
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The blower motor doesn't have different adjustments for driver and passenger
Do you think I should just have it towed to a shop at this point? I'm getting concerned re driving with the burning smell-I can see if I can keep my cell recording driving myself, in a minute but don't want to endanger anyone asking them to ride with. Two other very recent details: 1: I had asked the place I bought my new tires this summer to check air pressure and tighten the lug nuts 12 days ago, since a couple months had passed since buying new tires

2: while driving a couple weeks ago, I hit a puddle that was in a dip, though I didn't notice the strange sound until about 2 days ago. I'll go try to record doing a lap at 35 mph and hope phone keeps filming/recording-not sure this will work but will attempt it. Thank you!
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 4:07 PM
Tiny
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Ha! Just got a decent recording! Sending now.
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 4:24 PM
Tiny
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Yeah, it's just real tough to tell what's going on from my standpoint but having anything electrical burning is definitely not a safe thing. There are just too many possibilities of what it could be. I have seen vehicles with power steering fluid leak just catch on fire, even though it wasn't even running. It was leaking onto the exhaust and at our shop it was outside and happened just sitting there. It's not exactly the same as your issue but you get the point. Always better to be safe. If it's that dangerous, don't drive it. If you can't get a video, it's okay, just don't risk your own safety over it.

Okay, I will take a look at it and get back to you.
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 4:28 PM
Tiny
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Here's 1 recording-had to reenter it there are two more. This one is the shuffling sound video; sorry it didn't upload right first. Video #3 you can really hear sound the best.
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 4:32 PM
Tiny
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I don't see any recordings.
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 4:34 PM
Tiny
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Here's recording #2:
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 4:36 PM
Tiny
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Here's recording #3 one of the 3 recordings sounded like a "shuffling noise" when replayed, which is not how it sounds in the car-the other 2 recordings captured the zapping sound better, 1 better than the other.
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 4:44 PM
Tiny
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#3 is the best clip to hear the sound!
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 4:50 PM
Tiny
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Also #1 won't load, sorry, I tried again. Now that I got help going a block, I totally do of course want to hear your opinion! Thank you!
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 5:04 PM
Tiny
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Okay, that to me sounds like a relay turning on and off really fast, that's not an electricity jumping to ground. What an automotive relay does is turns on a high current circuit using a low current circuit. They do this so that things like computers in the car can turn on Higher current circuits without damaging the computer. Relays over time develop carbon build up on the contacts and this causes them to not be able to keep their connections made. Thats what I am hearing, although I'm not in the car with you. So, what ever circuit this relay controls may not be shutting down because the circuit is not really being turned off, it's on again, off again, on again, off again, and happening so fast that the component it controls just isn't shutting down. For instance, if that was controlling your heater blower motor, it's just not fully losing power as an example. But it will need to be diagnosed since it's hard to tell which side its actually coming from. But I have heard them do that many times. It's a sign of it starting to fail. I would also have the charging system checked, specifically that the alternator is not putting out any AC voltage ripple and it's putting out the correct DC voltage. But take it to a technician you trust. Don't let them sell you a bunch of stuff you don't need, if you're in doubt of what they say, just ask us. We're always honest here. We're not selling anything. Just helping people. Here's a guide to relays except yours is under the dash somewhere. Most likely in the fuse panel. If you can access it while this is happening, you'll be able to feel the relay itself doing this. Added a picture of an automotive relay too.

Let me just add that if there is a loose ground wire for this relay, it will cause the same condition.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 6:05 PM
Tiny
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Thanks for all that! So, do you think an alternator shop could fix this?
And based on what you're saying, possibly not the most dangerous?
And do you think if this shop has reasonable rates, it might not cost me an arm and a leg to fix? (I'm hoping so)
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 7:08 PM
Tiny
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PS-it is a trusted shop and where I bought my alternator too.
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 7:13 PM
Tiny
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PSS: Thanks so much for being car angels!
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 7:17 PM

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