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rzemanfl

(30,306 posts)
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 12:14 PM Oct 2021

Cross post from the lounge because I didn't know of this group.

Last edited Sun Nov 7, 2021, 07:55 PM - Edit history (1)

2010 Hyundai Accent I bought new, about 72K miles. The most reliable car I ever owned, now has a problem. Every month or two it will stall and refuse to restart until some time has passed, when it won't start it doesn't fire at all. After ten minutes or so it fires right up. It also sometimes starts a little hard, then the tachometer doesn't work. The tach works the next time I start it. I am thinking it is the computer failing. Since COVID hit it has been driven mostly on short trips although I did one trip of around 3K miles in the spring. Plugs and such should still be good. It mostly runs fine but I can't trust it and right now am unable to do much with it until I get some back surgery done in late December. Trading it on a new Hyundai is an option but I would rather avoid that. I need a reliable vehicle until my herniated disk is fixed and I recover from the operation.

Any thoughts or similar experiences, with or without results, would be appreciated.

ON EDIT- The problem was a defective crankshaft position sensor. It was replaced, the car runs really smooth now.

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Cross post from the lounge because I didn't know of this group. (Original Post) rzemanfl Oct 2021 OP
I will guess you need a pro estimate Tetrachloride Oct 2021 #1
I get to Wisconsin a lot. Moved here from there. rzemanfl Oct 2021 #2
On hwy 51, Stoughton Road south of Buckeye Road, Clausen Automotive Tetrachloride Oct 2021 #6
The car is in Florida. My daughter lives in Madison, near Middleton. I remember the only Waunakee rzemanfl Oct 2021 #14
I would start with a free reading from an auto parts store Kali Oct 2021 #3
Plus it is a Florida car, no rust. I might trade it in on a Kona or a Elantra. They no longer make rzemanfl Oct 2021 #15
Dig deep on the internet. IbogaProject Oct 2021 #4
I have no anti-theft electronics that I am aware of. n/t rzemanfl Oct 2021 #13
Do you have a door clicker or a plastic thing around your key? IbogaProject Nov 2021 #20
I don't have a door clicker. The top of the key is plastic. I am about to post what seems to be rzemanfl Nov 2021 #21
So what did you find out? discntnt_irny_srcsm Nov 2021 #22
The problem was a defective crankshaft position sensor. It was replaced, the car runs really smooth rzemanfl Nov 2021 #23
Glad to hear that. discntnt_irny_srcsm Nov 2021 #24
I would think about... 2naSalit Oct 2021 #5
It could be an overheating fuel pump. I had a Subaru doc03 Oct 2021 #7
I always keep it at least 1/4 full. At the time of the most recent incident it was over 3/4. rzemanfl Oct 2021 #12
Those intermittent problems can drive you nuts. On another car I had a similar problem but it was doc03 Nov 2021 #17
Thanks. rzemanfl Nov 2021 #19
I've had good luck with Dunedin Garage on Douglas.. He came recommended from a friend. nt mitch96 Oct 2021 #8
Thanks. Hope you are doing well. I am not but it is fixable. It is hard to schedule surgery rzemanfl Oct 2021 #11
Things to listen for after it stalls: discntnt_irny_srcsm Oct 2021 #9
Timing belt was replaced at around 50K miles (although it is supposed to last 90,000). rzemanfl Oct 2021 #10
Sounds computer (ECS maybe) or electrical. discntnt_irny_srcsm Nov 2021 #16
Check your battery & starter. IbogaProject Nov 2021 #18

Tetrachloride

(8,485 posts)
1. I will guess you need a pro estimate
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 12:27 PM
Oct 2021

Try to get 2-3 free estimates ?

I presume you are still in the fruity state south of Georgia.

If you were in Wisconsin, i can advise a lot easier. previous job took me to a lot of mechanics.

rzemanfl

(30,306 posts)
2. I get to Wisconsin a lot. Moved here from there.
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 12:33 PM
Oct 2021

One daughter and the youngest of my grandchildren, who, as of yesterday is now an adult, live in Mad City. But I am not old or anything like that....

Tetrachloride

(8,485 posts)
6. On hwy 51, Stoughton Road south of Buckeye Road, Clausen Automotive
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 01:27 PM
Oct 2021

west side frontage road, there’s a well known mechanic Clausen Automotive.

If the West Side or Middleton or Waunakee, I would ask my brother.

rzemanfl

(30,306 posts)
14. The car is in Florida. My daughter lives in Madison, near Middleton. I remember the only Waunakee
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 08:53 PM
Oct 2021

in the world.

Kali

(55,876 posts)
3. I would start with a free reading from an auto parts store
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 12:40 PM
Oct 2021

autozone, oriely's and see what they say. then maybe pay for a diagnostic at a mechanic. not the battery, right? that can cause some wacky starting issues.

72K is nothing on a modern car, whatever it is is probably worth getting fixed.

rzemanfl

(30,306 posts)
15. Plus it is a Florida car, no rust. I might trade it in on a Kona or a Elantra. They no longer make
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 09:02 PM
Oct 2021

the Accent. Battery is about six months old.

IbogaProject

(3,776 posts)
4. Dig deep on the internet.
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 12:59 PM
Oct 2021

Dig deep. These problems are not uncommon.

One possibility is the electronics on your starter may be overheating specifically a solenoid may not connect as a control circuit may not engage until cool enough. That solution is a shield to reduce heat gain.

Another area is the anti theft electronics may be getting confused. For that there may be a reset combo to retry w/o the wait.

IbogaProject

(3,776 posts)
20. Do you have a door clicker or a plastic thing around your key?
Mon Nov 1, 2021, 06:28 PM
Nov 2021

Do you have a door clicker or a plastic thing around your key? If yes to either there may be a control module that can get confused, there may be a reset combination of actions and buttons to clear and let the computer check everything with out waiting 10-30 minutes.

The other thing to check is your battery connection to your starter and any electronics between the two. What could be happening is a solenoid (a electronic switch) may get stuck the wrong way until things cool down. I have seen reports of a custom heat shield for some cars for that issue.

And again googling your problem may at least give you some leads, you're the only one caring about your car 24-7, so put in a little effort and you can save yourself some time and money before you go to the mechanic. I'm not suggesting doing your own work, just the research and troubleshooting.

A lot of these modern ghost like automobile problems are the automatic controls and their feedback to the computers.

rzemanfl

(30,306 posts)
21. I don't have a door clicker. The top of the key is plastic. I am about to post what seems to be
Tue Nov 2, 2021, 02:21 PM
Nov 2021

the problem.

rzemanfl

(30,306 posts)
23. The problem was a defective crankshaft position sensor. It was replaced, the car runs really smooth
Sun Nov 7, 2021, 07:56 PM
Nov 2021

now.

2naSalit

(93,444 posts)
5. I would think about...
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 01:22 PM
Oct 2021

Taking it to a shop where it can be diagnosed on a computer which will probably correctly determine the issue. It sound electronic and could be an essential component.

You could look on Google and see if there are service announcements about it, could be a recall and a free fix. Worth it to look.

doc03

(36,957 posts)
7. It could be an overheating fuel pump. I had a Subaru
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 02:06 PM
Oct 2021

Justy a few years ago the same thing happened. It would be running fine then just stop. I had it towed to the dealer twice and it started right up when they went to work on it. The second time when I was taking it home it quit running a couple hundred yards from the dealership that's when they found it was the fuel pump. The fuel pumps are located in the fuel tank. That is why you shouldn't run your gas tank nearly empty the gas cools the pump.

rzemanfl

(30,306 posts)
12. I always keep it at least 1/4 full. At the time of the most recent incident it was over 3/4.
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 08:49 PM
Oct 2021

The fuel pump doesn't explain the hinky tachometer, but I could have two problems, I'm lucky that way....

doc03

(36,957 posts)
17. Those intermittent problems can drive you nuts. On another car I had a similar problem but it was
Mon Nov 1, 2021, 08:10 AM
Nov 2021

the coil that was opening up when it got hot. Now days most cars have a coil on each plug instead of one
for all of them though. Good luck.

mitch96

(14,767 posts)
8. I've had good luck with Dunedin Garage on Douglas.. He came recommended from a friend. nt
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 03:07 PM
Oct 2021

rzemanfl

(30,306 posts)
11. Thanks. Hope you are doing well. I am not but it is fixable. It is hard to schedule surgery
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 08:46 PM
Oct 2021

because of COVID. People put things off.

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,599 posts)
9. Things to listen for after it stalls:
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 06:37 PM
Oct 2021

Turn the key to on (that's on not start) can you hear a short whine, hum or low buzz? If not might be the electric fuel pump or maybe yours is just too quiet to hear.

When you turn the key to start, can you hear the normal sound of the engine cranking or is the sound much higher like it's running faster than it usually would when starting? If it's higher, the starter may not be engaging.

In the past that number of miles might have also warranted checking the timing belt.

Mostly this sounds electrical.

I agree with others here that suggested having the OBDII scan and paying for diagnostic check up.

Good luck.

rzemanfl

(30,306 posts)
10. Timing belt was replaced at around 50K miles (although it is supposed to last 90,000).
Sun Oct 31, 2021, 08:44 PM
Oct 2021

No unusual noises. It just doesn't fire.

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,599 posts)
16. Sounds computer (ECS maybe) or electrical.
Mon Nov 1, 2021, 05:38 AM
Nov 2021

Diagnostics probably best course.
Did this start after having some any work done?

IbogaProject

(3,776 posts)
18. Check your battery & starter.
Mon Nov 1, 2021, 10:02 AM
Nov 2021

Lookup your symptoms along w model. See what years the car was the same to be able to search each of those model year combos. These problems are not uncommon.

One possibility is the electronics on your starter may be overheating specifically a solenoid may not connect as a control circuit may not engage until cool enough. That solution is a shield to reduce heat gain.

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