What does it mean when I have to pump gas pedal to start car?

ALICEA SWENKA

MEMBER
2007 HYUNDAI TUCSON
126,760 MILES

I have had my starter, alternator and battery checked and they are all good. But it still has a hard time trying to start?

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 AT 1:21 PM

1 Reply

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,959 POSTS

This sounds like you have a throttle body and idle air control valve that is dirty and needs to be serviced which is normal for the miles, what happens is the gunk or choking as they call it inhibits the operation of the throttle body and IAC. Here are two guides with diagrams below to show you how:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/idle-air-control-valve-service

Check out the diagrams (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.

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