Why Won’t My Hyundai Tucson Start?

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The Hyundai Tucson is one of the most popular SUVs today.

With its sleek design and advanced technology, it’s easy to see why this SUV has been a best seller for so long. It checks all the right boxes, making it an amazing SUV to consider.

We’ve all been there: the battery is dead, and you’re stuck in a parking lot trying to figure out what to do next.

Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to diagnose their vehicle problems and have no idea where to start.

But I am here to help. So, instead of wondering, why won’t my Hyundai Tucson start? You will finally be able to work towards a solution.

But first, let’s see what the possible reasons for Tucson not starting are:

  1. A Weak Battery
  2. Frayed Battery Cables Or Corrosion
  3. Gear Not On P
  4. Dead Key Fob
  5. Clogged Fuel Filter

You have nothing to worry about. I will not leave you hanging with just a list of these possible causes.

This article will discuss them in detail, so you can finally figure out exactly what is wrong with your SUV. Let’s get started!

What Would Cause A Hyundai Tucson To Not Start?

Let's diagnose what could cause a Hyundai Tucson not to start

You might be frustrated and in a hurry, but trust me that will do you no good.

You need to find the problems by reading this article and then you can easily fix them by reading the solutions.

I’ll explain these problems in details now.

1: A Weak Battery

If your Hyundai Tucson doesn’t start, the battery could be a problem. If you aren’t sure if your battery is dead, you can use a voltmeter to test it.

First, make sure your engine is cold. Then, connect the negative lead of the voltmeter to the ground and connect the positive lead to each terminal on your battery.

If there’s no voltage at any terminal, your battery has most probably reached the end of its lifespan.

This is common with batteries that are a few years old. They are not designed to last forever.

It must also be noted that your Tucson may not start if the battery is low on charge. This can happen if you leave the lights on overnight.

What Should You Do About It?

  • You can jump-start your Hyundai Tucson with another vehicle by connecting their batteries with jumper cables.
  • This will provide power from one vehicle’s battery to the other so that both engines can start simultaneously.
  • Make sure not to touch metal parts of either vehicle’s battery as they may be electrically charged and could give you an electric shock.
  • Now you should get the SUV to an auto-parts shop and replace the battery as soon as possible.
  • You should buy an AGM battery as it uses the latest technology and requires little to no maintenance.

2: Frayed Battery Cables Or Corrosion

Have you ever wondered why your Hyundai Tucson is not starting? It could be because of two very common problems: frayed battery cables and corrosion on the terminals.

Corrosion occurs over time as the chemical reactions inside the battery release vapors. They condense on the terminals to the point that they prevent current from passing through.

There is no proper connection, and the battery cannot send enough current to the electrical system, which is needed to turn over the engine.

The same issue can also occur due to frayed battery cables.

What Should You Do About It?

  • If you suspect your Hyundai Tucson is having issues with its battery cables, there are two things you can do:
  • Check your battery connections. Ensure they’re secure and don’t have any visible signs of damage. If you see any damage or corrosion, it’s time to replace the wires and connectors.
  • Don’t forget to check for corrosion if the issue is not with the wires. It is also pretty common.
  • For corrosion, you don’t need to replace anything. You must make a solution of baking soda and vinegar and pour it over the corroded terminals.
  • Then use a wire brush to clean it thoroughly. You should be able to break free all of the corrosion.
  • After doing all of this, then try to start your Tucson. Hopefully, it will start right up. If it still does not, there may be another part of the starting system at fault.

3: Gear Not On P

Your Hyundai Tucson is not starting because you shut down the SUV in the driving gear. Yes, this is a common oversight.

Fortunately, Hyundai has built a safety system, so if you try to start the SUV with the gear in drive mode, it will refuse to do so.

If you have a key, it will not turn, no matter how much you force it. I recommend not using too much force as you may risk breaking the key, which will result in additional expenses.

If, for example, this system did not exist, then Tucson would immediately start driving as soon as the engine started.

This would catch you off-guard and may result in a minor accident. So, the fact that Hyundai has included a system like this is great news.

The solution is rather simple, and I suggest you keep reading to find it out.

What Should You Do About It?

  • Well, it’s simple. Put the gear back in the park mode! Yes, that is the only thing you need to do.
  • This oversight is common, and it may have been the case with a few people who may have even replaced their batteries to get their Tucson’s started again, despite the solution being under their noses.
  • Other common things that people don’t look for in scenarios like this are:
    1. An empty fuel tank.
    2. A drained key fob.
  • So, always be aware of what could be the reason for your Tucson not starting. You could save hundreds of dollars on unnecessary repairs.

4: Dead Key Fob

The electronic key fob with your Hyundai Tucson is powered by a small battery that can sometimes die or lose its charge.

When this happens, you won’t be able to start your SUV without having the key fob with you.

Although the latest keyless entry systems are very convenient, they surely have not been designed with perfection in mind.

For those who do want to know about the lifespan of the key fob’s battery, it usually lasts for around 3 to 4 years.

As for the fob itself, they are usually designed to last longer than the vehicles they come with.

What Should You Do About It?

  • Try replacing the batteries in your key fob and starting your Hyundai Tucson again to fix this.
  • If this doesn’t work, check to ensure that your key fobs are also correctly paired with your SUV.
  • These settings can get messed up, especially when there was nothing to power the circuit for a couple of hours.
  • If they are paired correctly, try turning off all devices that use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi near where you’re trying to start your Tucson—this includes phones, laptops, tablets, and more.
  • There is a decent possibility that there may be too much interference. But still, this has a very slim chance of happening.

5: Clogged Fuel Filter

The fuel filter is responsible for keeping dirt out of your Hyundai Tucson’s engine, which can cause damage over time.

It’s located near the fuel tank and filters out dirt and debris so that they don’t get into the engine and cause problems.

If there is too much dirt in the filter or if it gets clogged with too much gunk, it’ll affect how well it starts up when you turn the key in the ignition.

It will not let fuel through, so the SUV’s demand will not be met. Even if you can start the engine without any issues, there is a high chance of the engine stalling while driving.

This is pretty dangerous, and if you see signs of something like this, you need to be on top of it. Continue reading to see what can be done to fix a clogged filter.

What Should You Do About It?

  • A clogged fuel filter is an easy problem to fix—you just need a new one.
  • You can replace it yourself if you’re comfortable with doing so, but if not, we recommend replacing it with a professional mechanic at a shop near you to avoid damaging anything else during the installation or removal processes.
  • Playing around with something that is highly combustible is not recommended.
  • You should not light a cigarette or any other thing that emits fire.
  • The fuel will catch fire instantly, resulting in a fatal outcome. So, if you feel like you are not the one for the job, please get it done by a professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why Won’t My Hyundai Tucson Start With New Battery?

When installing a new battery, it’s important to ensure that it’s charged up to full capacity before you try and use it.

Lastly, make sure the wires and bolts are connected properly.

Q2. Why Won’t My Hyundai Tucson Start Even With A Jump?

When your Hyundai Tucson doesn’t start even with a jump, it could be a faulty starter motor or faulty cable.

The first thing to check is the cables. If they are frayed, they need to be replaced. You may have a faulty starter motor if they aren’t corroded or frayed.

Q3. Why Won’t My Hyundai Tucson Start But Lights Work?

If your Hyundai Tucson is not starting, but the lights are working, it’s likely that the battery is close to the end of its lifespan.

Or it doesn’t have enough power to start the engine. You can connect a charger to the battery for a few hours and then start the SUV again.

Q4. Why Won’t My Hyundai Tucson Start But Cranks?

The cranking sound is emitted when the engine cannot produce a spark to combust the fuel.

So, if your Hyundai Tucson will not start but cranks, it’s probably because one of two things is wrong: the spark plugs are faulty, or the fuel pump is failing.

The latter is less likely to happen, but it is still possible.

Q5. Why Won’t My Hyundai Tucson Start Just Clicks?

The most common reason a Hyundai Tucson would not start is that the battery is dead.

Normally, people just replace it with a newer one, but you can also confirm by attaching a voltmeter to your existing one.

The battery needs replacing if the voltage shown is less than 12V.

Q6. Why Won’t My Hyundai Tucson Start In The Cold Weather?

If you don’t know what the CA stands for, I’ll let you in on the secret: it stands for “cold-cranking amps.”

The more cold-cranking amps your battery has, the better it will be able to start your vehicle in the winter.

And yes, this may be the reason why your current battery is not able to start up the engine of your Hyundai Tucson.

Q7. Why Won’t My Hyundai Tucson Start After I Get Gas?

The fuel filter may be clogged if you’re getting gas and your SUV is not starting.

Another common issue that could cause your Hyundai Tucson to not start after getting gas is a failing fuel pump.

The fuel pump pushes fuel from the tank to the engine. It has a low chance of failure but can give up at times.

Q8. Why Won’t My Hyundai Tucson Start But Radio Works?

If your Hyundai Tucson is not starting and the radio is working fine, it’s probably because the battery is low on charge.

To fix this problem, try charging your battery until it’s at least half full, then try starting your SUV again.

If this doesn’t work for you, call a mechanic and have them check out the battery for you.

Related: What Are The Worst Years For The Hyundai Tucson?

Conclusion

So, I hope you got your answer to the question, “Why won’t my Hyundai Tucson start?”.

The good news is that your Hyundai Tucson is a reliable vehicle, so if it isn’t starting, you can be sure there’s probably an easy fix.

Before you call a tow truck or the dealership to diagnose your problem, check out our list of potential causes for the problem.

If your vehicle has experienced any of these issues, or you think something else might be wrong with it, you might be able to fix it without paying for those absurd labor charges.