Hyundai Tucson Won’t Start (Causes And Solutions)
You turn the key in to start your Hyundai Tucson but you get no response. You try repeatedly but nothing happens. Then it hits you that your car won’t start. If this is the problem you’re experiencing right now, you may be desperate to know what could be wrong with your car.
Hyundai Tucson won’t start is mainly caused by a dead battery or failing alternator. However, there are many other potential culprits to consider, including poor battery connection, bad ignition switch, failed starter motor, and fuel delivery system problems.
In this article, you’ll discover everything you need to know about your Tucson no-start problem. We’ll explore all the common causes behind this issue and offer you helpful troubleshooting tips for each problem.
Why Your Hyundai Tucson Won’t Start
Below, we have discussed all the most likely reasons why your Hyundai Tucson may be having trouble starting:
Dead battery
One of the most causes of Hyundai Tucson won’t start problem is low battery voltage caused by a weak or dead battery. In this case, you may hear clicking noises or low cranking sounds when you attempt to start your car.
Possible reasons why your battery is dead include old age that causes the battery to degrade, leaving the lights and accessories on, or failing charging system. Additional signs of a dead battery to look out for include dim lighting and flickering dash lights.
Solution: To confirm whether your battery is the problem, you’ll need to test it using a multimeter. Connect the red wire of your multimeter to the positive terminal of the battery. Likewise, connect the black lead to the battery negative terminal.
If your battery is healthy, the battery should read between 12.5V and 12.7V. reading below 12V signals that something is wrong with your battery. If your battery is the issue, jumpstarting your car can be a quick fix. However, you’ll need to replace a dead battery with a new one.
This helpful video shows you how you can test your car battery with a multimeter
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Bad battery connections
Another issue that could lead to your Hyundai Tucson failing to come on is bad battery connections. This is usually caused by corroded battery terminals or loose cables.
Corroded terminals reduce flow of electricity from the battery to the starter as well as other electrical components in your car. This will then make the engine not start.
Solution: The fix here is to check whether your battery terminals have corrosion. If yes, you should clean them using a wire bush and then use baking soda and water mixture to clean any residue corrosion.
Be sure to tighten your battery connections afterward to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
Bad alternator
If your battery is fine and its connections are in good condition, then you may want to consider a failing alternator as another potential culprit.
The alternator’s job is to produce electricity and charge your battery. Therefore, if it’s malfunctioning, it won’t be able to charge your battery properly. The battery, in turn, will lack enough power to start the engine.
Key signs of a failing alternator include dimming headlights, battery light on the dash coming on, and grinding or whining noise coming from your engine.
Solution: If you suspect you have a failing alternator, have a reliable mechanic inspect it for you. They’ll be able to accurately diagnose it and recommend the best repairs.
Bad ignition switch
Hyundai Tucson ignition switch problems can also make your vehicle refuse to start. As you may already know, the ignition switch is tasked with sending power to your vehicle starter motor.
If it becomes faulty, therefore, your engine may fail to start. Some key signs of a bad ignition switch include intermittent starting issues or no response at all when you turn the key in the ignition.
Solution: Have your ignition switch inspected for signs of wear or damage. If it has any faults, it should be repaired or replaced as necessary.
Failed motor starter
Your Hyundai Tucson starter motor is responsible for turning over your engine when you turn the key in the ignition.
If this starter goes bad, it won’t be able to turn over the engine, and this is another possibility behind the engine failing to start.
On turning the key ignition, the motor engages with flywheel, which connects to the engine. This results in the engine cranking and running.
A faulty starter motor won’t be able to properly engage the flywheel, or may even lack enough power to turn over your engine.
Key signs of a faulty starter include clicking or grinding noise on turning the key but the engine failing to start.
In some cases, a bad starter may also cause the engine to behave intermittently—sometimes it comes on, but other times it refuses to.
Solution: Inspect your starter motor wiring and connections for loose or corroded terminals and tighten or clean them as necessary.
If the connections look good but the motor isn’t functioning correctly, it’ll need to be replaced by a professional mechanic.
Fuel issues
Yes, fuel problems may also be making your Hyundai not start. The engine requires fuel for ignition and running.
Thus issues with the fuel delivery system will make the engine not get enough fuel and it won’t be able to start.
Some of the fuel issues that will make your car refuse to start include running out of gas, clogged fuel filter, defective fuel pump, bad fuel injectors, or contaminated fuel.
Solution: Check the level of gas in your Hyundai Tucson fuel tank and refill it if necessary. Next, check the fuel filter for clogging and have it cleaned or replaced as necessary.
If you suspect your fuel pump is faulty, have it inspected and replaced if necessary.
Why Your Hyundai Tucson Won’t Start And Is Making Clicking Noise
A dead or weak battery is the most common reason why your Hyundai Tucson makes a clicking noise but won’t start. This is usually accompanied by a rapid clicking sound.
A bad battery can be caused by a failing alternator, slow drain, or an old battery that’s unable to hold charge.
Poor battery connection caused by loose connections or corroded terminals may also cause a clicking sound but no start. These usually produce rapid clicking sounds.
Inspect your battery terminals and clean any corrosion present. Be sure to tighten the cables as well.
If the starter electrical connection is faulty, then it may also make your Hyundai fail to come on.
If you hear a loud clicking noise, a bad starter motor is the likely cause for your engine not to start. You can try hammering it with a metal tool or something similar to see if that helps.
Why Your Hyundai Tucson Won’t Start Sometimes
You may also be facing Hyundai Tucson intermittent starting problems, where your car won’t start sometimes while other times it does so flawlessly.
In this case, one of the likely culprits to consider is a battery that is weak or dead. If the battery connections are loose or its terminals are corroded, it can also cause this intermittent issue.
A faulty starter may also cause your engine to start intermittently. Do you hear loud or repeated lick sounds when you turn the key? If yes, this is a key symptom of a failing starter that needs a replacement.
If the ignition is worn and failing, it will also cause the issue of your engine failing to start sometimes. Have it tested by a mechanic and replaced if it’s faulty.
When an alternator starts to fail, it may also be unable to charge your battery well consistently, resulting in intermittent starting problems.
Fuel delivery system problems can also lead to intermittent starting problems in your Tucson. In this case, you should check that your fuel tank is full and the filter isn’t clogged. Have a mechanic inspect your fuel system, for any potential issues and fix them accordingly.
Any corrosion present on the electrical connections like those of your battery, starter motor, ignition switch, etc., can also disrupt the electric current flow and lead to intermittent starting issues. Thoroughly clean these connections to see if the issue resolves.
Why Your Hyundai Tucson Won’t Start And Won’t Turn Over, And There’s No Sound Or Noise
If you try to start your Hyundai Tucson and it won’t start, turn over or produce any sound or noise, when you turn the key, there are several potential culprits to consider.
Start by checking if your battery is dead. A completely dead battery won’t be able to start you’re and there will no sound produced.
Also, check if the battery connections are tight and secure and that the terminals are clean and free of corrosion that may interrupt current flow. Try jump-starting your car to if it helps.
A bad starter motor will also not be able to start your car and won’t produce any noise. However, you may only hear a clicking noise, which could be due to the solenoid attempting to engage the motor.
If the ignition switch is failing, it won’t also be able to send power to the starter motor. In this case, you’re likely to experience this problem in your car.
You may also want to check if any fuse related to your starting system has blown and replace it to see if it helps.
If you’re unable to diagnose the above issues on your own, you should get a qualified mechanic to inspect the car for you and recommend the necessary repairs.
Why Does My Hyundai Tucson Start And Then Cut Out?
If your Hyundai Tucson starts then cuts, there could be issues with its fuel or electrical system. Common culprits behind this issue include a failing ignition coil, malfunctioning fuel pump relay, or failing mass airflow sensor.
Monitor your vehicle fuel levels and look out for any warning lights on the dash that may give you a clue about your vehicle being likely to die unexpectedly.
Why Your Hyundai Tucson Is Cranking But Won’t Start
If your Hyundai Tucson engine is cranking but won’t start, several culprits could be behind this problem. These include low fuel pressure, ignition system problems, security system issues, engine timing problems, or malfunctioning sensors
Conclusion
Many issues could make your Hyundai Tucson fail to start. The most common cause is a dead battery or a failing alternator. If these two issues check out, you should consider other factors like poor battery connection, bad ignition switch, failed starter motor, and fuel delivery system problems.
Now that you know all the likely causes behind your vehicle failing to start, you should be able to troubleshoot your car and identify potential solutions to the problem. While some issues are easy to fix on your own, others should be handled by professionals. So, be ready to hire a reliable mechanic where necessary.
