Automotive Forums  Where Car Enthusiasts Go to Discuss Cars Online

I have a 2006 Hyundai Sonata (I bought the car two years ago used), and recently the battery light came on as well as the ESC light. Then the power steering started to go out and a couple days later I drove my car to class and less than a minute after I parked the car, I tried to turn it on again (the CD player turned off while I was driving to class and I was suspicious). The car would not start. I got it towed to the auto shop I usually go to and they replaced the alternator and the battery. I drove it for one day and then had the same problems (ESC light on, battery light on, power steering giving out randomly on big turns); I took it back to the auto-shop. The guys at the shop replaced the alternator three more times, thinking they had put a defective alternator in my car, and still couldn’t figure out what was wrong with my car. So, four alternators and a new battery later (I only had to pay for one alternator), the guys at the auto-shop had the car towed to the dealership. After a week of talking with their engineers and Hyundai’s engineers the dealership finally called me and told me they were unsure of what’s wrong with my car but that the best option is to order new battery cables and see if that works. Has anyone had this problem before or heard of it happening? The first time I talked to the guys at the dealership on the phone they said that they were really puzzled and so were the Hyundai engineers as to what could be wrong with my car. I am a college student and I really can’t afford to spend any more money on fixing my car especially if the engineers don’t really know what the problem is. I just want someone to tell me what is going on and what is wrong with my car. Does anyone have any advice/knowledge about these kinds of situations? I don’t want to be mean to the guys at the dealership but my patience is running out. I really enjoyed driving my Hyundai and I really liked the car, up until this has happened.  

there are so many problems it could be...  including a burned out light bulb somewhere in the dash..

here is the wiring diagram for a 2005 model

http://repairguide.autozone.com/znetrgs/repair_guide_content/en_us/images/0996b43f/80/24/e0/63/large/0996b43f8024e063.gif


print this ...

take it to the shop....  if you don't have a digital volt meter.. there is a resistor inside the car.. you can see it in the blue area..

there is also the day time running light module.. if it is pulling to much current.. the alternator may not charge...

with this wiring diagram.. and some experience.. with digital volt meters...  it should be easy to pin point the problem...

post what you find..

i found the diagram on autozone.com.. for a 2005 sonata..  

Thanks so much Wayne, I'll post what I find as soon as I get any news back from them. They called me yesterday and said that they replaced the battery cables and that didn't solve the problem so now they've taken a 2006 hyundai sonata off their car lot and are taking all the parts out of it and putting them into my car to see what the problem is. I'll keep updating my post, I don't want any one else to have to deal with this same problem!  

This just happened to my 2006 Sonata. Did they ever figure out what was wrong with yours? I would like to know before I take it to the shop. I appreciate your help with this.

Matt  

Yes I would love to know what the solution is to the problem.  
I recently (about 2months) bought a 2006 Hyundia sonata V6.  I have been having similar problems, Lights shut off/flicker while driving.  Radio/cd player cuts out. AC shuts off.  sometimes car shuts of for about 2sec while driving.  Sometimes car wont start.  
I have been to the dealer ship about 4 times for this problem and so far they, replaced the break switch, replaced the inanition, replaced the battery and still not solution.  I left it at the dealership for about a month and called every week to see what was going on and they kept telling me it wouldn't act up for them.  so I picked my car up and after driving it for about 2min it acts up for me.... I know they are lying.

I would really like to know whats wrong with my car its unsafe to drive... I can only find post like this one online.... dead ends, no solutions.  I am really upset. I just want my car to be fixed.  

if you are in the greater los angeles/ hollywood ca area... let me know..  i would like to come and run these tests... as i would personally like to know what's going on..  around here the hyundai dealers are stocked with korean mechanics.. and they don't share much info..

ok.. this is a thread from last year that covers several model years of cars...

to find this problem is going to take at least a DIGITAL volt meter..    

digital volt meters start at 8 bucks.. a 15 to 25 buck version is all you will need... an 8 buck version will also work..


set the digital volt meter to 20 volts DC scale...

start engine and turn on headlights..

1. test between the positive battery post and the negative battery post....   14.1 to 14.8 volts is expected..

2. test between the negative battery post and the engine block...      0.04 volts is expected..

3. test between the negative battery post and the body of the car..   0.02 volts is expected..

4. test between the Engine block and the body of the car...               0.02 volts is expected..


print this...     buy a digital volt meter.. do the test... this is the first test.. and will find MANY of the problems... this is an easy enough test.. i got an 80 year old online friend to do it.. and he found his problem..   different car...

post results....  

there are MORE tests depending on what you find on these first 4 tests... please post results...  with the test number...

if you get 0.00 on test 2,3,4 change the meter setting to 2 volts DC ... try again..

if you get more than 0.02 or 0.04 volts..  on tests 2.3.4.. you have a bad ground between the parts where you measured the increased voltage...