Hyundai Elantra Won’t Start – What are the Causes and Fixes?

Hyundai Elantra wont start causes and fixes are essential if you are having trouble starting your car. There are several reasons why your Hyundai Elantra won’t come on, and one is a faulty battery.

It can be difficult to resolve your car refusing to start without knowing the specific problem. This article explains the main causes and solutions to help you troubleshoot this issue as soon as possible.

What Are the Causes of Hyundai Elantra Wont Start

The causes of Hyundai Elantra won’t start include having a faulty battery, a defective starter, or a bad alternator. It sometimes won’t come on due to corrosion, rodent damage, and a blown fuse. Whatever the case, these factors often hint at a problem with your vehicle.

– Faulty Battery

A faulty battery is one of the major reasons why your Elantra won’t start. If your battery is low on charge, it cannot produce the high currents needed to start your engine. Similarly, a battery damaged from wear, improper charging, or maintenance can cause your car not to start.

You may notice a clicking noise when you turn your key, but the engine doesn’t come on. Your dash lights will come on, but your engine won’t come on. Aside from this, you may also notice that your headlights are dimmer than usual.

Why would a Hyundai Elantra not start despite having power?

The Elantra refuses to start when it has power because the battery is weak or dead. It could also be that your alternator or cranking motor is faulty. Blown fuses or damaged circuits can sometimes cause this problem.

– Battery Corrosion

Corrosion on the battery is another common culprit that stops your Elantra from starting. When your battery terminals are corroded, it reduces the charge flow, and the engine won’t function properly. Although natural wear can corrupt the battery, exposure also plays an important role.

If your battery is exposed to moisture, chemical acids, and dust, its metal parts will get damaged. Improper charging can also cause your battery to get corroded. Lack of maintenance, especially regarding lubrication, also leads to battery corrosion.

– Faulty Key Fob Battery

If your Elantra comes with a push button, then a faulty fob battery is probably why your car will not move. A fob is designed to operate remote functions that activate features like your push buttons.

Hence, if your fob’s battery is weak or dead, your START/STOP button won’t work. In this case, your car will not get the signal needed for movement.

An obvious symptom of a faulty battery in your key is inconsistency in its operation. You may notice that you require multiple clicks to get it to work.

– Defective Starter Motor

Also known as a cranking motor, a starter is one of the most noteworthy components of an engine. It kickstarts the engine’s operation and starts the combustion process by rotating an internal combustion engine. When your cranking motor is bad, your engine won’t have enough power to start the combustion process.

A defective cranking motor is often caused by damage to the starter gear. Lack of coolant also damages your crank gear, leading to overheating. Corroded parts, a dead battery, or excessive use also contribute to a defective cranking motor.

– Bad Alternator

All vehicles come with an alternator. It performs the crucial role of converting mechanical energy to electrical power that charges your battery. If your alternator is faulty, your battery will lack the needed power supply to get your engine working. Having a bad alternator can come from several factors.

One of the most common is a problem with your drive belt. A drive belt connects and drives the alternator, water pump, AC unit, and other components together. An alternator can also get damaged when your bearings and voltage regulator aren’t working as they should.

– Clogged Fuel Filter

A clogged fuel filter also contributes to why your car won’t start. The filter keeps fuel running into the engine for its operation. Over time, dirt, grime, and debris can clog this component. When this happens, it’s only normal to expect a shortage of fuel in your engine.

Aside from your Elantra refusing to start, you may also notice other signs. One of the most prominent symptoms of a clogged petrol filter is that your car idles roughly. Other symptoms include unusual noise, engine misfiring, or car stalling unexpectedly.

– Malfunctioning Fuel Pump

Like a gasoline filter, a fuel pump delivers fuel to your engine tank. Similarly, this pump could malfunction if the filters are clogged. Your pump could also get damaged if there’s an insufficient amount of fluid flowing through the pump. Using contaminated fuel that contains debris and residual particles can also affect how the pump functions.

Your Elantra refusing to start is a symptom of a bad gasoline pump because it can’t get enough fuel to your engine. Other obvious signs include reduced fuel efficiency, a fuel smell in the cabin, and stalls.

– Blown Fuse

A blown fuse is another possible reason your car refuses to start. A fuse is an essential part of a car. It does the job of protecting vital engine components, especially under the hood.

A variety of factors are responsible for a blown fuse, and one is an overloaded circuit. Other common causes include damaged wires, electrical surges, and defective outlets.

– Worn Spark Plugs

If your car refuses to start, you may want to inspect your spark plugs. As inconsequential as they appear, these plugs play an important role in engine performance. They ignite the fuel-air mixture that gets your pistons running. A defective spark plug will surely affect your engine’s operation.

This is because they can’t produce the bolt of electricity needed to ignite combustion. The major causes of a worn spark plug are carbon buildup and overheating. At this point, your car will refuse to start, and you may also detect a rough idling. In other cases, your engine starts to misfire and accelerates poorly, coupled with poor gas mileage.

– Damage Caused by Rodents

Aside from households pests, rodents are also bad for your vehicle. If rats, mice, or squirrels find their way to your engine compartment, they can chew off the outer covering of your wire. Their chewing can expose the inner parts of your wires, leading to overheating in most cases.

When your wires are damaged, it will surely affect other components of your engine, especially your fuses. Since these components can’t perform optimally, you’ll notice lapses in your vehicle, one of which is the refusal to start.

– Engine Failure

Engine failure occurs when your engine stops functioning without warning despite sufficient fuel. There are several causes of engine failure, and the most obvious is overheating.

When your engine is stressed, it could lead to failure. Other common causes of engine failure are a broken timing belt and improper lubrication, which affects how smoothly your engine will work.

Once you notice your check engine light flashing on your dashboard, that signifies a problem. Some tell-tale signs of engine failure include refusal to start, stalling, unusual noises, and reduced mileage.

– Overheated Engine

An overheated engine also explains why your Elantra car isn’t starting. If there’s a buildup of heat in the engine compartment, it can cause overheating and serious problems. An engine might sometimes overheat due to low coolant levels or a broken cooling fan.

A defective water pump or damaged radiator fan also contributes to engine overheating. If left unchecked, this could lead to total engine failure.

– Electrical Issues

All engines require electrical power to function correctly. If your engine refuses to start, it may indicate an electrical problem. Sometimes, this electrical problem may result from a bad alternator or blown fuse.

It could also be that your fusible links, solenoid, or battery aren’t working optimally. In this case, your vehicle’s electrical system will start to fail.

– Malfunctioning Car Computer System

Finally, a malfunctioning car computer system could be why your car isn’t moving. Also known as the ECU, this system receives and uses information for engine operation. When your ECU is faulty, it cannot efficiently control the fuel-air mixture or timing belt.

In such an instance, your vehicle won’t start.A malfunctioning ECU also has other signs, including poor acceleration, engine stalling, and misfiring. A warning light will show on your dashboard, and you’ll notice a reduction in fuel economy.

How Can You Fix the Hyundai Elantra Wont Start Issue?

You can fix the Hyundai Elantra won’t start issue by jumpstarting the car. You can also use an error code scanner, clean the corroded battery, and replace worn spark plugs. But you should ensure you consult a professional mechanic before carrying out repairs.

– Use an Error Code Scanner for Diagnosis

An error code scanner is a handy device that helps vehicle owners take readings of their vehicle when it’s faulty. The scanner highlights different codes, which are then narrowed down to discover the specific problem.An Elantra has an On-board Diagnostics port (OBD II), which allows for easy connection.

Once your car refuses to start, connect your error code scanner to the diagnostic port. Input correct information about the car where required, and immediately, the scanner will highlight codes that will identify the problem.

– Examine the 12v Battery

If you are certain the problem is from your battery, it would be best to examine it to ensure there isn’t a voltage drop. An Elantra model comes with a battery that has 12 to 13 volts, and a multimeter should successfully display the correct voltage.

If there’s a drop or voltage increase, your battery is defective and needs immediate replacement. Replacing your worn batteries will effectively eliminate the problem of a slow or difficult start.

– Jumpstart Dead Hyundai Elantra Battery

In some cases where your battery is dead, the best bet is to jump start your car. You can jumpstart your weak battery using a battery booster or a well-charged battery from another vehicle. To jumpstart your vehicle, you need to connect one end of your red jumper cable to the positive terminal of your car.

Connect the other end to the donor battery. After that, connect the black jumper cable to the healthy battery’s negative terminal. Connect the other end to the metal on your engine’s battery and start both cars. When done, remove the cables in the reverse order of how you attached them.

– Clean the Corroded Battery

Cleaning your corroded battery is another quick to ensure your car moves. To do this, you may need pliers, especially if your pole clamps are tight. First, you must turn off the engine and disconnect the black cable from the negative terminal. Similarly, disconnect the red cable from the positive battery terminal.

 

Once the cables are successfully disconnected, you can take the battery out of its circuit and clean it properly. You can use the common ingredients baking soda and warm water to clean the battery. After cleaning, use a dry towel to dry the battery, then reconnect the cables.

– Use a Dead Key Fob Battery To Start Hyundai Elantra

If your fob battery is dead, you don’t need to panic. There’s a way to start your car even with a dead fob. You must place it close to your START/STOP push button and start the engine. Ideally, your engine should come on immediately after you do this.

However, if it doesn’t, it may mean that the fob wasn’t properly placed. In this case, you may need to consult your car owner’s manual to find out where the fob placement is located and repeat the process.

– Replace the Water Pump

A water pump is connected to an alternator and plays an important role in engine cooling. If your water pump is damaged, you should fix it immediately before it alters the performance of your alternator and engine.

Replacing your water pump makes coolant flow through your engine easily. Although replacing a bad water pump isn’t difficult, we recommend contacting a licensed mechanic to carry out this procedure.

– Replace the Worn Spark Plug

Another way to start your car is by replacing worn plugs with new ones. However, it would be best to inspect your plugs for visible damage. They most likely require replacing if they look chapped and are covered with soot.

After installing your new plugs, you should inspect your ignition coils to ensure they don’t require replacement. Replacing your spark plugs may be all you need to get your Elantra moving again.

– Repair or Replace Starter

If you have used your starter excessively, the best option would be to replace it immediately. Replacing a starter correctly requires high technical efficiency. Immediately after the starter is diagnosed as the reason your car refuses to start, you should visit a service center.

However, there is a temporary solution to a problematic starter, especially if the gears are misaligned. Your engine might start if you simultaneously turn your key and hit the starter with a metal.

– Replace Blown Fuses

Another solution to an immobile Elantra would be to replace your blown fuses. Since they no longer protect your engine’s components or produce an electrical charge, they need immediate replacement. You should take your car to an auto repair store if you’re not a tech nerd. However, this can be done without professional help if you have the right tools and the technical know-how.

– Replace Damaged Wires

It would be best to replace damaged wires immediately, no matter whether they are caused by natural wear or rodents. Since wires are important parts of your car’s electric system, replacing them will go a long way in resolving the problem of a difficult start.

Before replacing them, make sure you inspect them for physical damage. Take note that replacing damaged wires in a car should not be too expensive.

– Clean or Replace Clogged Filters and Pump

If your petrol filter or pump is clogged with grime and carbon buildup, cleaning them is a step in the right direction. To clean your filters, you have to locate the filter and disconnect the fuel lines, then remove the filters and spray carefully with a cleaner.

Leave the filter to dry for some minutes before replacing it in the same order you removed it.In cases where the filter has visible damage, you should consider a replacement. This process also applies to cleaning the gasoline pump.

Frequently Asked Questions

– What Are a Few of the Hyundai Elantra’s Problems?

A few of the Hyundai Elantra’s problems include engine stalling, dim headlights, and rough idling. Another common problem with the model is that no sound comes from its audio speakers.

The engine also makes an annoying and unexpected knocking sound sometimes.If you drive the Elantra Limited Edition, you’ll notice a problem with the AC unit, difficulty with its steering, and brake-related issues.

– What Causes the Hyundai Elantra To Cut Off Frequently?

A defective fuel system causes the Elantra to cut off frequently. If you have faulty fuel injectors or a broken pump, it can cause your Hyundai to cut off unexpectedly. A drop in fuel pressure also contributes to your Elantra getting frequently cut off.

– What Causes a Stalling Hyundai Elantra?

A faulty fuel and ignition system causes a stalling Hyundai Elantra. Another common cause of stalling in an Elantra is a defective IAC (Idle Air Control) valve. When these systems don’t work, you’ll notice your engine stalls more than usual.

Conclusion

If your Elantra doesn’t start, you don’t have to panic as long as you can identify the possible cause.

Here’s a recap of points discussed in this article:

• Hyundai Elantra wont start causes and fixes are important to diagnose and fix the problem as quickly as possible.
• The most common causes of an Elantra refusing to start to include a faulty battery, blown fuse, bad alternator, and worn spark plugs.
• You can fix this problem by testing or jumpstarting your battery. Replacing worn plugs, blown fuses, alternators, and other damaged components will likely resolve the problem of the car not starting.

Although the causes of your Elantra not starting are fixable, regular maintenance and timely servicing can prevent these problems from occurring in the first place.