Car randomly not starting until jumped

Asked by Guru94Y2Y6 Sep 08, 2020 at 07:33 PM about the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My Hyundai Santa Fe 2012 just began having an
issue of randomly not wanting to start. It could
have been working just fine and occasionally my
wet terrain light or incline lights will come on (not
on an incline nor on wet terrain) and stay on even if
I push button off. They go off eventually on their
own. I had a check engine light come on at random.
I have a new battery fully charge, new alternator
working excellently, great starter yet still randomly
not starting. I need jumped everytime this happens.
No mechanic seems to know what is happening.
Could it be electrical? Who knows! I'm so
frustrated! Does anyone else have this struggle?

2 Answers

101,585

Check your wire harness and battery cables, they may not be making a good electrical connection. A frayed end could be causing a loss of voltage. You will need a ohm meter to check for continuity along each cable. (You can get a decent meter at Walmart or any parts store for around $30.) Of course your problem may be more serious than an intermittent electrical connection, especially if your car was ever in a flood, you may have one or more bad computer modules, or a bad ignition module, that would require a dealer scan tool to look for, something a local mechanic shop might lack.

101,585

Just the fact that as soon as you jump it, it starts right up, is why I suggested a bad battery cable (when everything else is new; battery, alternator, starter)

Your Answer:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    me29
    Reputation
    6,550
  • #2
    JP1956
    Reputation
    2,810
  • #3
    SubaruTech5862
    Reputation
    2,020
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Hyundai Tucson
105 Great Deals out of 2,806 listings starting at $3,455
Used Kia Sorento
83 Great Deals out of 1,843 listings starting at $3,888
Used Toyota RAV4
132 Great Deals out of 3,048 listings starting at $3,900
Used Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
35 Great Deals out of 853 listings starting at $3,995
Used Honda CR-V
176 Great Deals out of 5,015 listings starting at $440
Used Toyota Highlander
41 Great Deals out of 814 listings starting at $7,498
Used Honda Pilot
41 Great Deals out of 933 listings starting at $1,230
Used Ford Explorer
58 Great Deals out of 2,040 listings starting at $6,990
Used Kia Sportage
70 Great Deals out of 1,909 listings starting at $5,499
Used Nissan Rogue
134 Great Deals out of 4,972 listings starting at $2,995
Used Hyundai Santa Fe XL
13 Great Deals out of 225 listings starting at $9,999
Used Hyundai Sonata
42 Great Deals out of 826 listings starting at $1,543

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.