100% Free

No Scanner Needed

Carly logo

StephOtt

2001 Hyundai Dynasty Struggles with Cold Starts, Engine Noise, and Dim Headlights

Weird engine noise

Warning light in the speedometer of the vehicle

Weak battery when starting the engine

Dim or flickering lights

Longer cold start time

Car won't start

Hey! I'm kind of stressed out here with a problem in my 2001 Hyundai Dynasty. It's got a gas engine and around 114k on the odometer. Recently, it's had longer cold start times than usual, struggled to start at all sometimes and there’s this weird engine noise I've been hearing. Plus, the battery seems weaker when starting up and my headlights are looking dim, even flickering at times. To top it all off, there's some annoying warning light glowing on the speedometer. I'm guessing my old girl might be having trouble starting, but I'm no pro. Had a bad run-in with a mechanic last time, so I'm reaching out to this trusty forum. Anyone else had a similar issue? What did your mechanic say? Cheers in advance!

4 comment(s)


AndiBex

Hey, really sounds like you're dealing with a faulty starter motor. A near identical thing happened with my 2004 Hyundai Sonata not too long ago, and I gotta tell you it was one headache of an issue. The symptoms you described are seriously similar to the ones I experienced. Got a nasty surprise one morning when she struggled to start, even had these strange grinding noises coming from the engine. My battery seemed weaker too, just like yours, and I also had those dimming lights. The kicker was a pesky warning light that wouldn't go away. Got it checked out by my local garage and it turned out, sure enough, my starter motor was defective. It wasn’t a quick fix and a bit of a serious issue, as the starter motor plays a crucial role in starting your car. They had to get it replaced for me. Your symptoms might be a bit different, but they sure do ring some bells. I'd advise you to get it checked out just to be sure. It's always better to be safe than sorry. Good luck, and I hope it's an easy fix. Cheers!

StephOtt (Author)

Hey, thanks for the heads up! It’s a relief to hear from someone who's been through the same ordeal. I reckon I'll have get under the hood and see if it's the starter motor that's messing up. Out of curiosity, do you remember roughly how much that set you back? Also, once you got the motor replaced, did anything else give you trouble or has your Sonata been good since? Fingers crossed it's not gonna be a money pit. Thanks again!

AndiBex

Yo, no problem! Happy to help out a fellow Hyundai owner in a jam. As for your question, the whole spiel with the starter motor wasn't exactly cheap, if we're being honest here. It set me back a solid 565.00 €, but given the peace of mind I got in return, I’d say it was worth it. The best part is once I got the problematic starter motor replaced, my Sonata's been running like a dream! All that stuff - the intermittent starting troubles, odd noises, weak battery, dim headlights - vanished. It was like my car got a new lease on life! I think your old girl could benefit from some of that good mechanic magic too. Good luck and keep us posted!

StephOtt (Author)

A huge chunk of change indeed! But hearing how smoothly your Sonata's been running, it surely sounds worth it. After all, can't put a price on peace of mind, right? I sure hope my Dynasty gets such a lease as well! I'll try to get her to a trusted mechanic ASAP and can’t thank you enough for your advice. I'll definitely give you a shout once I get things sorted. Cheers!

Let our mechanics help you!

Want to find out more about your car?

Get the Carly Scanner and the app now

Check current offers
Mobile and adapter showcase
Car Brands
carly-logo

© 2024 Carly Solutions GmbH & Co. KG. All rights reserved