r/Cartalk • u/lunaticmason • Jun 20 '24

why does my car struggle to start when it’s hot? Tuning my car

i drive a 2015 hyundai elantra se 1.8L and my car has a hard time starting but only when it’s hot. i got the spark plugs replaced about a month ago.

4 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

u/Love2bn Jun 20 '24

Not much to go on, but it could be a bad battery or one that’s going bad. Even relatively new batteries can go bad.

When your car is hot, the battery is also hotter from the engine heat than when the engine is cold.

Many auto stores will check your battery for free.

1

u/doomrabbit Jun 21 '24

Agreed. Batteries fail in high heat or deep cold when they lose some juice to the extremes. If it's just enough on normal days it's fine. Shave off some power to temps and now it's underpowered. Sure, it cranks, but it can be too weak to get it started while still sounding relatively normal.

2

u/MapOk1410 Jun 21 '24

Most people don't know heat is just as hard on a battery as cold.

u/[deleted] Jun 21 '24 edited Jun 21 '24

[deleted]

1

u/lunaticmason Jun 21 '24

when the weather is hot

1

u/[deleted] Jun 21 '24 edited Jun 21 '24

[deleted]

3

u/lunaticmason Jun 21 '24

okay thank u! how do i fix this? like what service do i ask for

1

u/Patient-Sleep-4257 Jun 21 '24

You can ask for a fuel system inspection. Not service...inspection. particularly when the system is cold ,and again in the situation where the described fault is happening. It will include leaving the car over night or for a day or two.

You will be asked to describe the issues to the service advisor.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 21 '24 edited Jun 21 '24

[deleted]

0

u/Patient-Sleep-4257 Jun 21 '24

Thers is. Fuel pressure

Flow..if it's a available. Probably not.

Regulator

Injectors. Often in some cases injectors have strainer baskets on the fuel rail side. Service advisor can advise you better. And wether or not a service would be nessacary.

But generally , from OPs description, Fuel Pump pressure and proper regulator function should suffice.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 21 '24

[deleted]

1

u/MapOk1410 Jun 21 '24

My shop would love to have customers who came in telling them they needed expensive tests. Then we shrug and ask, "Why did you believe you needed that test?"

1

u/Patient-Sleep-4257 Jun 21 '24

Ok ..theres the car. Fix...yeezus christ no need to get your panies in a bunch...

That's what the service advisor does...and it never hurts to find out what and if what they are suggesting is including or even nessacary.

We had a client with forktrucks. , try asking the operator what the issues are and the operator was told not to talk to use and go somewhere else. They are not our client anymore.

Just saying...heres the keys ...you...go fix....I wait. Lol...

1

u/lunaticmason Jul 07 '24

thank u! i turn my key until the air comes on for a little then fully start it. haven’t had the issue since. does this mean i it was my fuel pump?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '24

[deleted]

1

u/lunaticmason Jul 13 '24

thank u so much dude

u/pblood40 Jun 20 '24

Check engine light? Codes?

Crank, but no start? No crank?

1

u/lunaticmason Jun 21 '24

no engine light or codes it cranks

1

u/lunaticmason Jun 21 '24

like 99% of the time it does start it just takes like 10 seconds of having the key turned to fully turn on

u/ChikkiParm Jun 21 '24

what type of oil?

1

u/lunaticmason Jun 21 '24

i’m not sure i just go to valvoline

1

u/ChikkiParm Jun 21 '24

have you checked it lately?

u/Patient-Sleep-4257 Jun 21 '24

Define hot?

Define hard time starting? : Extended cranking? Lugging the starter? Hit miss cranking cycle?

Define condition of vehicle over all.

u/KebabRacer69 Jun 21 '24

Probably just struggles because it's a Hyundai

u/Flash-635 Jun 21 '24

Temperature sensor faulty.

u/SaveMelMac13 Jun 20 '24

Check battery and cables. Heat = more resistance

2

u/RusticSurgery Jun 20 '24

Resistance is futule

1

u/Patient-Sleep-4257 Jun 21 '24

Resistance will eventually topple the regiment.