2003 Hyundai Terracan Experiencing Difficult Cold Starts and Power Loss

Hey! I really feel you, been in similar shoes, not funny at all. I also had a Hyundai, a 2006 Santa Fe though, and I can tell you, I've seen that pesky check engine light that wouldn't quit. Same symptoms, sluggish acceleration, guzzling fuel, and that annoying jerking... it's like déjà vu. When I got it checked up, turned out that my intake channels were heavily contaminated, seemed like the bad guy was messing up air-fuel mixture. The mechanic said it was blocking stuff up, restricting airflow, and making the engine work harder than it needs to - hence less power, bad starts, more fuel consumed, and pretty much every issue you mentioned. Getting it fixed wasn't a picnic. They had to pull everything apart, clean the channels, sometimes even replace parts if they were too fouled up. A word to the wise though - don't dismiss a potential problem with your intake channels. Could save you a bunch of headaches down the road. Getting it in for a thorough check's definitely worth it. Good luck!

Hey, appreciate the reply! Gotcha, intake channels contamination it is, then. I reckon I should've thought of that. Feels like deja vu cause I've dealt with some similar nasty business in another car before. Definitely not looking forward to a repeat, but hey, better tackle it before it gets worse, right? Now, to the juicy part, do you mind me asking approximately how much it all cost you in the end? And since getting it fixed, did you come across any other issues related? I'm just trying to brace myself for when my mechanic hands me the bill! Cheers and thanks for your help, really appreciate it!

Hey again! Couldn't agree more! It's always better to nip these things in the bud before they spiral out of control. Now, regarding the costs, I didn’t get off lightly, to tell you the truth. The whole cleanup job on the intake channels ran me about €425. Yup, not cheap. But since getting it done, my Hyundai's been behaving like a proper champ, no more stubborn cold starts or rodeo bull jitters. And, thankfully, that bothersome smooth running control's finally right as rain, so it was totally worth it in the end. Touch wood, I haven't seen any fresh buttock-clenching issues related to this yet, so fingers crossed it stays this way! Hope your mechanic doesn't hit you too hard! Let me know how it goes!

Well, alright then! €425 sounds pretty rough, but if it means the end of these constant headaches, I figure it's a worthy investment. I'm certainly relieved that you've had a smooth ride post-repairs, and I'm hopeful my Terracan will show the same commendable behaviour. Appreciate you sharing your experience! It's added some steel to my resolve. And for sure, will keep you posted on how it unfolds with my mechanic. Cross your fingers for me and here's to hoping my nightmare ends soon. Cheers!