Hyundai Sonata Won’t Start Clicking Noise (Solved!)
If your Hyundai Sonata won’t start and makes clicking noise, you’re probably puzzled by this strange occurrence. You could be wondering why this is happening and what steps you can take to resolve the issue. This guide will provide you with all the details you need to know about this problem.
Hyundai Sonata won’t start and makes a clicking noise is a common problem that’s usually attributed to a bad battery, failing alternator, corroded battery terminals, malfunctioning starter motor, faulty starter solenoid, failing ignition switch, a loose or damaged wiring, or a bad main ground connection.
Below, we’ll dive into more details about the issue of your Hyundai Sonata failing to start but making clicking noise. We’ll discuss all the likely causes behind this issue and offer you tips on how to diagnose and resolve your vehicle’s no-start problem.
Why Hyundai Sonata Won’t Start And Makes Clicking Noise
Here are the most likely culprits behind your Hyundai Sonata failing to start and at the same time producing a clicking noise:
Dead battery
One of the primary culprits behind your car failing to start and making a clicking sound is a dead battery. The clicking noise usually comes from your starter relay trying to engage but being unable to receive enough power supply from your battery.
Solution: You should test your battery to confirm if it’s the reason behind your car falling to start.
A multimeter set to DC voltage will make the most accurate test. Connects its red and black lead to your battery’s positive and negative terminals respectively. If it reads a voltage of around 12.6V, the battery is good.
If it reads a voltage below 12V, then your battery is dead or weak. If you have a dead battery, the best fix is to replace it with a new one.
Your battery terminals are corroded
If the battery is fine, then the problem could be lying in your battery terminus. Corrosion might have built up on them, affecting proper current flow.
This results in poor connections as well as other electric issues.
Solution: You’ll need to inspect your battery terminals for corrosion deposits. If there’s a buildup, then you’ll need to clean it with a wire brush and a solution of water and baking soda.
This will lead to improved electrical connection and probably make your Hyundai start reliably again.
Failing alternator
If your battery and terminal check out, then you may want to check if the alternator is functioning correctly.
This component produces the electricity needed to charge your battery. If it becomes faulty, it won’t provide adequate power to start the engine.
Solution: If you suspect a bad alternator is behind your vehicle’s starting problems, we advise you to get a mechanic to test it for you.
They’ll then recommend the necessary repairs or even total alternator replacement if it’s faulty.
Malfunctioning starter motor
The starter itself can be another culprit that makes the clicking noise and your car fail to start.
If the starter fails to function as expected, you’ll only hear a clicking sound from the starter solenoid as it tries to engage the motor.
A failing motor is easily identified by a loud clicking noise when you attempt to start your car.
However, sometimes you may also get no response at all from your motor. And in some cases, the bad motor may cause intermittent starting problems.
Solution: If you suspect a bad starter is behind your car’s starting troubles, have it inspected by a qualified auto mechanic and replaced as necessary.
Failing ignition switch
If the ignition switch in your Hyundai Sonata is failing, it may also lead to your car failing to start and clicking noise being produced.
This switch usually sends an electrical signal to your starter motor on turning the key. Thus if it’s unable to send this signal, the motor won’t engage and you’ll likely hear the clicking noise from the starter solenoid trying to engage the motor.
Solution: You can test the ignition switch by putting your car in brake mode (engage the parking brake) and then insert your car key into the ignition. Turn it into the “ON” position but do not start the engine.
If the dashboard lights don’t illuminate, the ignition switch is bad. Try turning the key in the start position and listen to how your engine responds.
If you do not hear a clicking noise, this further confirms your switch may be faulty.
Bad main ground connection
Poor ground connection is also a potential culprit when it comes to your Hyundai Sonata failing to tart and at the same time making clicking sounds.
The ground connection in your car simply completes the circuit and provides power to the starter motor.
Therefore, if this connection becomes damaged, loose, or corroded, it stops the starter motor from receiving the needed power to turn your engine over.
Solution: You’ll need to inspect your ground connection for loose or corrosion issues. If loose, tighten it using a wrench. If the ground is corroded, be sure to clean it using a wire brush.
You should also inspect the ground cable for signs of damage, such as fraying or broken, and replace it if necessary.
Wiring problems
Other wiring connections in your vehicle may be faulty and this disrupts proper electricity current flow, causing starting issues with your car.
The wires may become corroded, damaged, or loose over time due to factors like common wear and damage by rodents.
For instance, the cable that supplies power to the motor may become damaged due to corrosion or become loose, affecting the power supply to the starter motor.
This will lead to the starter failing to activate due to lack of power and your car will not start.
In this case, the clicking sound comes from the starter solenoid as it’s still under power since a different circuit serves it.
Solution: We advise you to examine all the wiring connections related to your starting system. Look out for loose connections, frayed wires, and other sorts of damage in your wiring. If you identify any issues, be sure to fix them as necessary.
Why Hyundai Sonata Won’t Start And Makes A Single Clicking Noise
The type of click sound you hear can help you further narrow down your problem for an even easier diagnosis.
If your car makes a single clicking noise, the issue could be due to a bad starter motor. When you turn the key on the ignition to start your car engine, the motor engages with the flywheel to turn over your engine.
If the motor is bad or isn’t receiving enough power, it will likely produce a single clicking sound and fail to start the engine.
When faced with this issue involving a single click, you should first check if your car battery is weak or dead and thus unable to supply the starter motor with the power it needs to start your engine.
If you test the battery with a multimeter and the voltage reads less than 12V, then your battery could be defective and needs to be replaced.
Next, you should inspect the connection between your battery and the motor. Ensure they’re tightened and corrosion-free.
Any corroded or loose corrosion may be disrupting the current flow, making the starter not receive sufficient power to turn over your vehicle engine.
If the battery and starter connections are good, inspect the starter solenoid. If this component isn’t functioning properly, it may also lead to failed start attempts and a single click sound will likely come on.
If you have checked all the parts above and the problem doesn’t seem to go away, get a reliable mechanic to diagnose your car further and identify the underlying cause.
The mechanic will then proceed to fix the issue and make your car start smoothly.
Why Hyundai Sonata Won’t Start And Makes A Repeated Clicking Noise
If your vehicle fails to start and you hear a series of fast-paced clicking sounds, this is your part. The primary culprits, in this case, include a bad battery or a faulty alternator.
The repeated sound comes from the solenoid as it repeatedly activates and deactivates while trying to engage the starter motor
When dealing with this problem, you should first check your battery. Your battery could be weak or unable and thus unable to provide power to power the starter motor, resulting in a failed start.
If you test the battery and its voltage is below 12V, then it’s dead and you’ll need to replace it.
Another possible cause for this issue is a loose or corroded battery connection or terminals. Inspect the battery terminals for corrosion and clean them to ensure proper current flow to the starter motor.
Also, ensure the connection between the cable and the motor is tight and secure.
If the battery is good, the other potential culprit to consider is a bad alternator. If it’s unable to function properly, it can’t charge the battery, leading to a lack of power to start the motor.
Have your alternator inspected by a qualified mechanic and replaced if faulty.
Why Hyundai Sonata Won’t Start, Makes Clicking Noise, And Lights Appear On The Dash
If your Hyundai Sonata fails to start, makes clicking noise, and the lights on your dah come on, the most common culprits to consider include a dead battery or starter. Below are some likely causes behind this issue:
- A weak or dead battery: if your battery is low on charge, it’s unable to provide the power needed to start the starter motor, leading to clicking sounds from the starter solenoid as it tries to engage the motor. The lights may also appear on your dash due to a bad battery. Try jumpstarting your car. If it starts, this shows that the problem was the battery.
- Bad battery connection: The battery itself could be good, but its connections are bad. This can be caused by loose connections or corroded terminals. This can interrupt power flow to the starter motor, causing clicking sounds. Inspect your battery cables and terminals for corrosion and loose connections and fix them as necessary.
- Faulty starter: If the starter motor is malfunctioning, it will also lead to a clicking noise and lighting coming on your dash while making your engine fail to start. In this case, you should get a mechanic to inspect your starter for the underlying issue and replace it if it’s faulty.
- Faulty starter solenoid: If the starter is good, then a failing starter solenoid might be the reason your car won’t start, makes a clicking noise, and lights appear on the dashboard. Have a professional mechanic inspect your starter solenoid as well and repair or replace it as necessary.
Conclusion
Now you know why your Hyundai Sonata won’t start and makes a clicking noise. When facade with this problem, the key culprits to consider include a dead battery, bad battery terminals, a faulty alternator, a bad starter motor, ignition switch problems, a poor main ground connection, and wiring problems.
We have discussed the ideal solutions to consider for each of these potential causes. However, before you do any repairs, have your vehicle diagnosed accurately by a professional mechanic. This will help find the exact problem behind the staring troubles and determine the best fix for the no-start problem in your Hyundai Sonata.
