Every car is a machine that could easily develop a fault especially if there is no proper maintenance. Therefore, even though Hyundai Elantra is an affordable and reliable car with great features that would ensure you have a comfortable ride, it can also break down. And this could be a result of some factors such as a weak battery, an empty fuel tank, and a poor battery connection.
Aside from these reasons, there are still other reasons why your Hyundai Elantra won’t start but makes a clicking noise and I will be sharing them with you in this article and also possible techniques you can apply to fix these issues.
1. Dead Or Weak Battery
When your battery is weak or dead, you will not be able to start your car. This is because your car engine can not run without a battery except if it’s an automobile that has an alternator that is large enough to handle all the electrical areas.
Usually, Hyundai batteries last between 3-5 years, however, your battery lifespan would depend on the type of battery, how you handled the battery, and also the weather condition. Corrosion of the contacts of your car battery leads to loss of contact and reduced current flow, which means that your engine can no longer start properly.
If your Elantra refuses to start, you can perform a 12v battery test to verify if the problem is actually from the battery and if the battery is dead, you can jump-start the battery.
12V Battery Test
This test helps you to measure the voltage between the poles and find out the condition of the battery. This test is performed with a Multimeter.
Usually, a healthy car battery should be 12.6 volts but when it is above 14 or below 11.5 volts’ then you might need to replace it.
When measuring the voltage of the battery with a multimeter, you need to ensure that the vehicle has been sitting for at least an hour to enable you to get the accurate “resting voltage”.
Jump Start Your Hyundai Elantra
When you perform the test and you discover that the reason for the breakdown is a dead battery then, you can easily jump-start it using jumper cables and a healthy battery from another vehicle. To jump-start your Elantra, you need to ensure that your vehicle donor is parked close to yours so that you can be able to perform the following steps:
- Identify the negative and positive terminals of your car battery and ensure it is clean.
- With the jumper cables, connect the red cable to your battery’s positive terminal.
- Hook the other red cable to the positive terminal of the donor vehicle.
- Connect the black cable to the negative terminal of the healthy battery.
- Connect the last cable to the bare metal in your car’s engine bay.
- When you have properly connected the cables, you can start the donor vehicle and also your Elantra.
- Then carefully remove the cables from both batteries starting from the last cable to the first and keep your engine running for at least 10mins.
Read: What Does The C and H Mean in a Car
2. Poor Battery Connection
A car battery is the power source of every vehicle and it converts chemical energy into electrical energy to enable the electrical parts of a car to function properly. Therefore, if your battery cables are not connected to the right terminals then your car won’t start.
To connect your battery properly, you have to connect the positive battery terminal first and then connect the negative battery terminal. To disconnect your battery appropriately, you have to do so in the reverse order –disconnect the negative battery terminal first and then the positive terminal.
Read: Mazda Vs Hyundai
3. Clogged Fuel Filter
Your Hyundai Elantra fuel filter can become blocked with so much dirt and this will make the filter clogged. When this happens, your engine will no longer function the way it is designed to function and your car will fail to start when this happens. At this point, the only way to fix the issue will be by replacing the filter.
4. Broken Starter
A broken starter is another common issue that can contribute to your car’s breakdown. The purpose of a starter is to start your engine and get your vehicle moving but when it’s broken, you won’t be able to enjoy a ride in your Elantra.
One of the ways to identify if you have a broken starter is that you will always hear a clicking sound when you turn on the engine of your car. You don’t need to worry about this because a broken starter can be replaced.
Read: Clunking Noise When Braking
5. Failed Alternator
An alternator is a generator that generates energy. If your Elantra’s alternator fails, it will be unable to produce energy and the battery will be unable to charge.
As a result, even if you replace the battery, it will always run out and the engine will not start because the alternator is what generates the energy. Your car alternator can fail as a result of how long you have used it. And the only option for such an issue is a replacement.
6. Fuel Pump Failure
Does your Hyundai Elantra engine jerk sometimes? Perhaps you have the traction control light on and car is jerking? Then, you might need to check your fuel pump. If your car’s engine occasionally breaks down, the car is difficult to start, or the engine performance declines, then your fuel pump could be faulty.
If your fuel pump fails, the engine will not start. The pump generally guarantees that the correct amount of fuel is transferred from the tank to the engine’s injection system under sufficient pressure.
Read: Hyundai Vs Toyota Reliability
7. Rodent Damage
Another reason why your Hyundai Elantra won’t start is rodent damage. The creatures creep beneath the car and feed on the cables and wires. This can affect your car and cause it not to start especially if it’s huge damage. You can take it to a car workshop for it to be fixed.
8. Weak Key Fob Battery
This is another common reason why your Elantra might not start. If you have a weak key fob battery, you might not be able to start your car using the start/stop button of your car.
If you have a model of Elantra that only has a key fob with a start/stop button and no place to insert a key, you can use the back or end of the dead key fob to push the start button while pressing the brake.
Conclusion
Hyundai Elantra is indeed an excellent car but you need to understand that it can also break down like every other machine. So, you don’t have to panic when you experience a breakdown because it can always be fixed. Also, it is necessary to always take your vehicle to a car workshop for proper checkups and fixing.