If your Hyundai Sonata won't start, the problem is related to the battery, the battery terminals, the key fob battery, the starter, the alternator, the fuel filter, the fuse, the spark plug, or the engine.
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Hyundai Sonata is one of the top-ranked midsize vehicles that attract tons of customers every year. As a Hyundai Sonata driver, you need to be ready to deal with starting issues and yourself with some workarounds solutions to get your Hyundai Sonata going again.
Starting problems can be related to multiple reasons. Some of the reasons might be simple and can be resolved with minimal repairs that you can do by yourself. In contrast, other reasons might be more complicated and requires immediate attention from a professional mechanic.
This article lists all possible reasons when your Hyundai Sonata won't start. We provide you with some tips and tricks to help your Hyundai Sonata gets going temporarily. However, you need to take a second step and follow the permanent solutions to resolve and prevent any future issues with your Hyundai Sonata starting system.
10 reasons my Hyundai Sonata won't start
We understand how it feels when you turn the key in the ignition switch, and all that you hear from your Hyundai Sonata is just clicking noises. Sometimes Hyundai Sonata starting issues are more complicated as you want to see any vehicle response to turning the key in the ignition switch.
Within the long list of possible reasons behind your Hyundai Sonata starting issue, we list the top ten reported possible causes that you can resolve temporarily or permanently:
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Faulty battery
Any problem with your Hyundai Sonata starting system starts first with the battery. The battery is responsible for sending the initial charge to get your vehicle going and help the starter send its signal to the engine and get it to crank.
If the battery does not have any charge for any reason, your Hyundai Sonata won't start. Sometimes batteries become old enough, so they can't hold a charge, or maybe they fail over time of use.
Whatever the reason for your failed battery, you need to get it replaced by installing either a decent used battery or a brand-new battery.
Before you install the battery, you need to confirm that the problem is coming from the battery. To do so, you can perform a voltage test or jumpstart your car. If your vehicle moved and started after the jumpstart, the problem is related to the battery.
Remember that automotive experts do not recommend using jumpstart as a permanent solution for your batteries problem because it might introduce some problems to electrical components, especially if you're driving a modern vehicle.
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Corroded battery terminals
The second thing you need to check is the battery terminals. Battery terminals are susceptible to corrosion which prevents any electrical current from passing to the engine.
Therefore, you need to take a closer look at these terminals, and once you see any signs of corrosion, the next step for you is to clean them up.
If you don't have the mechanical skills to do so, you might need to better reach out to a personal mechanic and have him do the job for you.
If he decided to clean up your battery terminals, you need to make sure that the battery is detached from the vehicle and follow certain safety procedures to prevent getting risks of electrical shocks.
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Weak key fob battery
Another simple problem when your Hyundai Sonata won't start is related to the key fob battery. Maybe the key fob battery is out of charge, or it's not holding any charge anymore.
Thus, it might be worth testing starting your Hyundai Sonata using a different key fob or using the physical key that is usually inside the fault.
If you've determined that the key fob is the faulty components, you might need to purchase a new key fob or rely on the physical key to start your car.
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Faulty starter motor
Assuming that the battery, the battery connections, and the key fob are in good condition, you need to look at the starter motor.
The starter motor is responsible for receiving the electrical current from the battery and sending it to the engine.
If the starter is not doing its job, your Hyundai Sonata won't start.
Unfortunately, if your Hyundai Sonata starting issues are coming from a bad or faulty starter motor, your only option would be to purchase a new one.
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Bad alternator
Your Hyundai Sonata alternator is responsible for continuously providing the electrical current to your electrical system as you're driving the car.
If the alternator goes bad, it will deplete the battery's charge as it is not designed to charge the alternator continuously.
When the alternator goes bad, you need to install a new Hyundai Sonata alternator to resolve the problem.
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Completely clogged fuel filter
The fuel filter is responsible for filtering out any contaminants and making sure that they don't reach the engine or the cylinders.
Over time of use, the fuel filter can get partially or completely clogged.
Of partially clogged fuel filter should not prevent your vehicle from starting. However, when the fuel filter gets completely clogged, the engine will not receive any fuel, and therefore, your vehicle won't start.
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Failed fuel pump
Like the fuel filter, if the fuel pump gets damaged or wears out, your engine will not receive any fuel, and therefore, your vehicle won't start.
There are plenty of faulty or bad fuel pump symptoms that you might need to keep an eye and ear to prevent dealing with starting issues.
Usually, these symptoms are obvious and will show way before dealing with starting issues in your Hyundai Sonata.
Those, if you missed some of these major symptoms, you would suddenly deal with your Hyundai Sonata won't start.
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Damaged fuse
Another possible reason for your Hyundai Sonata won't start issue is related to the fuses. Look at the fuse boxes and make sure that there is no sign of burnt or damaged fuses.
If you notice any damaged views, you must get them replaced immediately. Otherwise, you will keep dealing with your Hyundai Sonata one-start issue.
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Bad spark plug
The spark plugs are responsible for providing the required spark at the right time with the right frequency to burn the air-fuel mixture.
Once the spark plugs wear out, your vehicle will not provide or create any energy, and therefore, you will not even get it started.
Symptoms of a bad spark plug are more obvious, and you will realize them immediately before reaching the stage of your Hyundai Sonata won't start situation.
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Failed engine
While it's obvious that when your engine fails, your Hyundai Sonata won't start, some people might miss major symptoms of a bad or failed engine.
Therefore, you need to capture and keep an eye and ear ready for any symptoms that might indicate a faulty component in your car.
Unfortunately, if your hand is not, I won't start because of a failed engine; you are in a tough critical situation where you might need to install a new engine to get your vehicle going.
If you reach that stage, you need to rethink your situation and make sure that it's worth the repairs.
For instance, if you notice that installing a new engine in your Hyundai Sonata requires more than 75% of your vehicle's value, it might not be worth fixing this car, and thus, you are advised to sell it and use its value towards a better vehicle.
Hyundai Sonata won't start clicking
If your Hyundai Sonata won't start and make some clicking noises, this indicates a drained battery. Sometimes your battery might have enough charge to make the clicking noise, but this charge depletes immediately after the starter requests some electrical current.
Hyundai Sonata won't start, but the battery is good
If you have confirmed that your vehicle's battery is in good condition and still your Hyundai Sonata won't start, you might need to check other items like the starter, the battery cables, the alternator, and sometimes the engine.
Take a closer look at the fuel system and ensure that all components are working properly to resolve the problem.
Hyundai Sonata won't start: certain model years starting issues
There were some reported starting issues with the Hyundai Sonata associated with certain model years. Let's look below at what could be the main cause for each model year starting problem:
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2012 Hyundai Sonata turns over but won't start?
A good number of reported complaints about 2012 hundred Sonata starting issue: most of these complaints indicated that the vehicle would have working lights but not starting.
Based on the expert’s response to these complaints, most starting problems for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata were resolved by either checking the battery itself or confirming good battery cables.
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2013 Hyundai Sonata won't start
In 2013, Hyundai Sonata vehicles also reported some questions and complaints from several customers dealing with starting issues. Most of these starting issues were related to defective starter kits.
All customers were advised to return to the dealership and check whether their starters were within the defective remote starter kits installed into some of these 2013 sonatas.
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2014 Hyundai Sonata won't start
Newly installed batteries to the 2014 Hyundai Sonata caused some starting issues. A good number of customers were frustrated about dealing with Hyundai Sonata not starting because of their batteries.
According to the expert's replies, it is expected for new batteries not to perform on their full capacity initially. At some point, these batteries will reach the full capacity and perform properly.
If the battery is new and the vehicle starts or cranks slowly, there is hope for the problem to resolve over time. However, if the vehicle does not start at all, customers were advised to check the battery and the crankshaft position sensors.
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2015 Hyundai Sonata won't start push button
Starting issues with the 2015 Hyundai Sonata were most likely related to the battery or the battery cables. Experts advised customers to perform a voltage test to ensure that the battery is performing properly.
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2020 Hyundai Sonata won't start
With very limited data about the 2020 Hyundai Sonata, starting issues were not consistent among all customers. However, most of these customers resolve their problem by checking the battery and confirming that the battery connections are not loose.
Hyundai Sonata won't start: final thoughts
Despite the Hyundai Sonata's amazing features, customers continuously had to deal with starting issues with their vehicles.
Starting issues were not consistent with certain model years because online platforms were filled with questions and complaints about starting issues among almost all model years of the Hyundai Sonata.
In general, any Hyundai Sonata starting issue might be resolved by either checking the battery, the starter, the alternator, the battery cables, the fuel system, or the engine itself.
If you have a Hyundai Sonata and the starting problem is not resolved or requires very high repair costs, it might be worth the right time now to sell it and use its value towards a better vehicle that does not have any starting issues.
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