Hyundai Elantra Won’t Start – Why, and How To Fix The Problem?

Depending on the trim level and model year of your Hyundai Elantra, there are several ways to start your car. Of course, the most common ones include a push-button start or remote start. But what happens when your Hyundai Elantra won’t start?

When your Hyundai Elantra fails to start, it can be due to battery issues, such as loose or corroded terminals. Sometimes, starter issues, a faulty alternator, fuel system issues, and defective spark plugs can cause starting problems. Other causes are blown fuses and faulty crankshaft or camshaft sensors.

So, how do you diagnose a Hyundai Elantra that won’t start? Check out our guide below to find out. 

Reasons for Hyundai Elantra Not Starting and Solutions Table

Don’t have the time to go over the entire article? Check out this summary table for the causes of Hyundai Elantra Starting issues and how to fix them.

Reasons	Solutions
Starter Problems	Hammer the starter motor Replace the starter solenoid, relay, or motor
Battery Issues	Jumpstart your carClean the corroded battery terminalsTighten any loose connectionsReplace the battery
Bad Alternator	Install a new alternator
Fuel System Problems	Repair leaking fuel lines and hosesInstall new fuel pump relayReplace the fuel pumpClean the injectors, fuel rail, and filterReplace worn-out injector sealsClear blockages in the fuel linesReplace the fuel pressure regulator
Faulty Spark Plugs	Install new plugs
Bad Crank or Cam Position Sensors	Replace the faulty sensors
Damaged or Blown Fuses and Relays	Replace the fuses and relays without voltage

Why Hyundai Elantra Won’t Start

From battery to starter motor problems, and electric faults, your Hyundai Elantra may fail to start for many reasons. Let’s find out what these reasons are and how to diagnose them.

1. Starter Issues

A starter motor is responsible for turning over your Elantra’s engine during ignition. However, the motor, starter solenoid, and starter relay may fail over time due to faults with the electrical connectors, causing starting problems.

For example, according to a 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT owner, his car would not turn over on the first attempt. While trying to start the engine, he would hear a clicking sound, and the headlights and radio would turn on.

Generally, this issue occurred in colder weather despite the battery and alternator being in good condition.

Diagnosing and Fixing the Problem

Apart from your Elantra not starting, you can diagnose starter issues by listening for a clicking noise when you push the start button. 

Based on other Elantra owners who had experienced the same issue, replacing the Hyundai Elantra starter helped fix the problem. A temporary solution would be to hammer on the starter motor for a few minutes. This works when the parts inside the motor are stuck together.

If the issue is with the starter solenoid or relay, there is no need to replace the entire motor. Instead, you only repair the specific parts. 

2. Battery Problems

Another common cause of the Hyundai Elantra not starting is issues with the battery. The battery could be weak or dead, and the connections could be corroded or loose.

With a dead battery, your Elantra may not crank over, but the radio can come on, as mentioned by a Hyundai Elantra owner. Sometimes, the Hyundai Elantra battery could be charged but dead, causing your car not to start.

Diagnosing and Fixing the Problem

To start with, try jump-starting your Elantra. If your car does not start, check all the battery terminals for corrosion and clean the accumulation. You can use baking soda and water or a commercial battery terminal cleaner. 

Also, check the terminals for loose connections and tighten up the screws. Alternatively, use a voltmeter to check the battery’s voltage. If it measures anything less than 12 volts, replace it. 

3. Bad Alternator

The Hyundai Elantra alternator is responsible for charging the battery and providing power to all the electrical components in the car. However, the alternator generator can fail from normal wear and tear.

Generally, when the alternator is faulty, the battery will be depleted, causing the Elantra not to start. According to a 2005 Hyundai Elantra owner, her car would not start despite having a good battery.

However, she could unlock the car using the key FOB in the morning, but in the evening, the FOB would not work. Also, the dash and courtesy door lights could not light up.

Diagnosing and Fixing the Problem

A bad alternator will not recharge your Elantra’s battery. To confirm if the alternator is really faulty, turn your vehicle’s engine off. Then, use a voltmeter to test the voltage of your car battery. 

If you get a reading of less than 12 volts, the alternator is the problem. Therefore, you must replace it. To do this:

• Step 1: Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
• Step 2: Pop up the engine cover.
• Step 3: Unfasten the electrical connectors.
• Step 4: Remove the serpentine belt to access the alternator.
• Step 5: Remove the faulty alternator from the engine by unscrewing the two bolts securing it.
• Sep 6: Install the new alternator in reverse order.

For a more detailed explanation of how to replace the alternator, watch the following video: 

4. Fuel System Problems

From my experience, an issue with the fuel system can cause your Hyundai Elantra not to start. After all, the fuel pump’s job is to deliver fuel to the engine, allowing your car to start.

Generally, fuel system problems range from a clogged fuel filter to faulty fuel injectors, a blown fuel pump relay, and blocked fuel lines. Sometimes, it could be a defective fuel regulator causing low fuel pressure.

According to a 1997 Hyundai Elantra wagon owner, his car had trouble starting. However, it would immediately fire up whenever he tapped underneath the gas tank while turning the key. 

Diagnosing and Fixing the Problem

There are several ways to diagnose and fix fuel system issues in Hyundai Elantra. These include:

• Check the fuel lines and hoses for leaks and seal the leaking sections or replace the parts if damaged.
• Get a digital multimeter and measure the fuel pump relay voltage. If you get a reading of less than 12 volts, replace the relay.
• Spray some starting fluid in the throttle body. If your Elantra does not start, the fuel pump is faulty, and you must replace it.
• Remove the fuel rail, fuel filter, and injectors. Then, clean them using a carb cleaner and replace worn-out seals on the injectors.
• Check the fuel pressure using a test gauge. If the fuel rail is losing pressure, check for blockage in the fuel lines and clean or replace them. Also, replace the fuel pressure regulator. 

5. Faulty Spark Plugs

Spark plugs ignite the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber, providing your car the power it needs to start. When the plugs are worn out, your Hyundai Elantra can experience incomplete combustion. As such, you may have trouble starting your car.

Diagnosing and Fixing the Problem

Inspect the spark plugs for signs of damage like cracks or corrosion. If they are corroded and dirty, use a wire brush to clean the buildup or a spray-on plug cleaner.

However, if the plugs are worn out and cracked, the best solution is to replace them. Simply:

• Step 1: Take off the engine cover.
• Step 2: Pull out the spark plug ignition coils and remove the spark plugs.
• Step 3: Install the new plugs.
• Step 4: Check that the spark plug gap is correct.
• Step 5: Reinstall the ignition coils and the engine cover. 

6. Bad Crank or Cam Position Sensor

A crankshaft position sensor determines the rotational speed (RPM) of the crankshaft. Conversely, the camshaft sensor helps determine the position of the crankshaft drive.

If any of the sensors are faulty, your vehicle’s engine will not get data from the ECU or ECM. As a result, the ECM will switch off fuel and spark delivery, causing your Elantra not to start.

According to a 2000 Hyundai Elantra 2.0 owner, his car would crank but not start. This is despite the battery, starter, coil pack, and fuses being good. Also, his vehicle’s cam signals were good. However, after replacing the crank position sensor, it solved the problem. 

Diagnosing and Fixing the Problem

To diagnose a bad crank or cam sensor, you can use an OBDII scanner. Using this tool, you can check for diagnostic trouble codes related to the sensors. If the crank sensor is bad, you should get a P0335 error code. Similarly, if the camshaft sensor is bad, the error code will be P0340.

So, to fix the problem, simply replace the sensors. To replace the crank sensor, which is located between the motor and the transmission:

• Step 1: Remove the bottom engine cover to access the sensor and disconnect the wiring harness to the sensor.
• Step 2: Remove the bracket bolt securing the sensor.
• Step 3: Pull out the faulty sensor and install the new one.
• Step 4: Secure the sensor with the bracket bolt and reconnect the wiring harness. 

To replace the camshaft sensor:

• Step 1: Remove the engine cover and locate the two cam sensors. They are positioned at the far-right edge of the engine, down low.
• Step 2: Disconnect the electrical plug.
• Step 3: Unscrew the 10mm bolt on each sensor and pull out the sensor.
• Step 4: Install the new sensors and secure them with the bolt.
• Step 5: Reattach the electrical connector and engine cover.  

7. Damaged or Blown Fuses and Relays

Electrical problems such as blown fuses and relays can also cause your Hyundai Elantra not to start. This is because if a fuse is blown, the power needed to provide a spark and ignition will not reach the starter relay. 

When a fuse blows, your car will crank but not start as mentioned by one Elantra owner in a Hyundai forum. In the forum, he cited that the issue did not go away even after changing the fuel pump, spark plugs, and ignition wires.  

Diagnosing and Fixing the Problem

To start with, switch the ignition on. Then, use a voltmeter to probe the two test points on top of each fuse. The fuse box is in the engine compartment.

While checking the fuses, pay attention to the ECU, ignition system, and fuel pump fuse. If you find no voltage in any fuses or relays, replace them.

Facing challenges with your Hyundai Elantra not starting can be frustrating. But, it’s worth noting that start-up issues are not limited to just one make or model. If you’ve had a battery replacement recently and find that the remote start isn’t working, our comprehensive guide on remote start not working after battery change offers insights and potential solutions. Similarly, Nissan Pathfinder owners have experienced troubles with their remote start system. Dive into our detailed examination of the Nissan Pathfinder remote start not working to learn more about common issues and their remedies.

FAQs

Before we conclude, let’s check out these frequently asked queries regarding Hyundai Elantra that won’t start.

Outro

Regardless of which Hyundai Elantra model you have, starting problems are not uncommon. This can happen due to battery, electrical, starter, spark plugs, or fuel system problems. Fortunately, many possible fixes for a Hyundai Elantra that won’t start to exist.

However, proper diagnosis is very critical. Therefore, it is important to invest in an OBD-II scanner and digital multimeter. With that said, adhering to a strict maintenance schedule can help prevent some of these issues. Consequently, you may not have to deal with starting problems every so often.