Seeking Troubleshooting Advice for 2013 Hyundai Sonata Diesel Engine Issues: Black Smoke, Engine Failure, and Cold Start Problems

Hey there! I'm no mechanic pro, but I've got some experience under my belt with a similar problem on my 2011 Hyundai Elantra diesel. It was acting crazy, almost the same as what you're experiencing right now, really frustrating. Given my low experience, I took my car to a local workshop a recommended and it turned out to be a damaged fuel filter heater wiring harness/connector. Yeah, it's a mouthful, I know, but apparently, it's important stuff. They sorted it out to the tune of 110€. You should totally check out if you've got a similar issue. Can you share more details? Like, have you noticed any weird noises when starting the car or changes in the fuel consumption? More info could help me guess better. And anyway, getting a pro to take a look at it is never a bad idea. Hope this helps a bit and best of luck with your Sonata!

Hey, appreciate your response! That's intriguing, it never crossed my mind that a wiring harness could be the culprit. About the details, there's no unusual noise when I try to start the car, it's mostly the struggle to get it ignited that's stressing me out. And yeah, now that you mention it, I have noticed a slight increase in fuel consumption lately. I've rolled about 66,736 KM up till now and last got it serviced a few months back. Think I'd better hit the garage sooner rather than later, still would love to hear if anyone else has had this experience though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Really helps!

Hey, glad I could provide a little insight! Just remember I'm not a certified mechanic, but based on what you've told me, if the fuel consumption has gone up slightly and the difficulty with cold starts, it does sound like we're on the right track with the fuel filter heater being the potential problem. This could totally explain the smoke and the engine cutting out - if your diesel isn't atomizing properly because it's not heated up enough, it's going to cause all sorts of problems. On my Elantra, they had to do some testing on the wiring harness to pinpoint the issue, but once it was done, it was like a new car. I'd definitely suggest getting your Sonata to a good mechanic sooner rather than later. Issues like this could cause more damage the longer they're left unchecked. Also, try to remember this is just my best guess, based on what happened with my car. Don't underestimate the value of a good professional diagnosis. Best of luck to you, hope all gets sorted soon! Anytime you want to chat about Hyundai diesel issues, I'm here.

you've been more than helpful! Your guess and explanations make sense, especially considering the symptoms my Sonata has been showing, pretty enlightening. Thanks for the heads up about the potential additional damage if I don't sort this issue out soon. I'd hate for this to become a bigger problem than it already is! I'm gonna book an appointment with my local professional straight away now. Your advice gave me great directions. Thanks again, it helped a lot. I'll pop up again if I have any more queries regarding Hyundai diesel issues. Cheers for the help, have a good one!