99 Elantra Starting Problem

Hello all,

I have a problem and need some advice to rule out that this is a distributor problem. Let me give you a brief story as to what I have changed
on a previous issue. About a month ago I changed the spark plug wires and spark plugs when it seemed that one of the cylinders was not getting
voltage. I replaced the wires with lifetime wires from autozone and Boshe platinum plugs.
About a week ago my sister noticed that she had difficulty in starting the engine....it would need excessive cranking before it would start.
After she started it however the symptom never occurred again until today. Today I had a very hard time getting the car to start. Finally I left it
for a while and came back and the problem went away! I have read a few google posts about this and it looks like it is a common problem throughout the
entire Hyundai line. I don't think that its the wires/plugs as the engine runs ok once it starts up. Does this seem like a failing distributor?

Thanks for you help in advance,
Nick

 

It's not a failing distributor, Nick. The car doesn't have one. Almost all
(if not all) modern automobiles today use distributorless ignition systems.
The ECM (Electronic Control Module) monitors crankshaft and camshaft
positions that tell the ECM when the piston is at the correct firing
position and adjusts spark advance and retarding based on many different
factors including knock sensors, emissions control, etc. The firing of each
cylinder spark plug comes from coil packs that develop very high voltage
required for today's fuel efficient and cleaner burning engines. Unless you
are technically inclined, troubleshooting the ignition system is best left
to professionals, since it requires sophisticated and expensive diagnostic
equipment.

By the way, I would suspect a fuel delivery problem, perchance. Could be a
clogged fuel filter or a fuel pressure problem which can be checked at the
fuel rail with the proper fuel pressure test equipment.

Hope this helps, sorry about the bad news for the distributor---

distributor problem. Let me give you a brief story as to what I have changed

spark plugs when it seemed that one of the cylinders was not getting

engine....it would need excessive cranking before it would start.

Today I had a very hard time getting the car to start. Finally I left it

google posts about this and it looks like it is a common problem throughout
the

runs ok once it starts up. Does this seem like a failing distributor?

 

Thanks for the info! I'm going to troubleshoot the fuel delivery issue as I was thinking of it more and more that this could be it. I'm not certain if
it is a dirty fuel filter yet as the car should be showing some signs of trying to cut out, same thing with the fuel pump. I don't like taking the car
to a dealership as I have found that they tend to not put back all of the screws from one thing or another. Case in point, prior to knowing how to
change my transmission fluid, my sister had the dealership change it and she is almost up for her next changing now and I was inspecting the area to
see how to remove the pan, and there are 3 screws missing from the plastic guard that needs to be removed to get to the pan. So you see my trust in
the dealership is like asking a mechanic to do plastic surgery.

Thanks,
Nick

 

My guess is the crank sensor.
(just an inside tip or thought)

distributor problem. Let me give you a brief story as to what I have changed

spark plugs when it seemed that one of the cylinders was not getting

engine....it would need excessive cranking before it would start.

Today I had a very hard time getting the car to start. Finally I left it

google posts about this and it looks like it is a common problem throughout
the

runs ok once it starts up. Does this seem like a failing distributor?

 

I have had the same problem with both a '94 Excel and a 2000 Lantra (what
the called them here in OZ) both times replacing the main battery solved the
problem.
There is a low current relay/cut out that will drop out the ECU totally if
the battery voltage drops too low, this protects the ECU from damage,
however both times the engine would still crank over. Try putting a set of
booster cables and another battery on the next start to see if this indeed
the culprit.

distributor problem. Let me give you a brief story as to what I have changed

spark plugs when it seemed that one of the cylinders was not getting

engine....it would need excessive cranking before it would start.

Today I had a very hard time getting the car to start. Finally I left it

google posts about this and it looks like it is a common problem throughout
the

runs ok once it starts up. Does this seem like a failing distributor?