2002 Hyundai Sonata Electrical Problems

After starting your car and driving out of a parking lot, you noticed a burning smell. When you opened the hood, you saw smoke coming from the air filter housing, which then caught fire. Someone used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. The issue likely involves an electrical or engine component creating excessive heat near the air intake system.

HEADLIGHT WIRE HARNESS ON DRIVERS SIDE IS MELTED. PICTURES TAKEN AND UPLOADED.

MY 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA RADIO COMES ON AND OFF WHEN EVER IT WANTS TO AND I NOTICE WHEN IT RAINS IT MAKES A REALLY LOUD NOISE. I HAVE TO REPLACE AN ALTERNATOR 3 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 3 YEARS. NOT SURE WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS BUT IT IS VERY ANNOYING. PLEASE HELP! *TR

ALL THREE REAR BRAKES LIGHTS ON WHEN IGNITION IS SHUT OFF AND SMELL ELECTRICAL WIRE BURN. EVERY DAY NEED TO REMOVE NEGATIVE TERMINAL FROM BATTERY TO SHUT OFF THE THREE REAR BRAKES LIGHTS. *TR

MY CAR STARTED GETTING ERRATIC IDLING AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO TURN ON. I GOT THE SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES REPLACED AND THEN IT MILD DOWN AFTER AROUND 1WK AFTER, THEN THE ERRATIC IDLING WHILE ON DRIVE OR ON REVERSE STARTED AGAIN. LEFT IT LIKE THAT THINKING IT WAS MAYBE THE FUEL PUMP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. HAD MY BROTHER THAT IS A MECHANIC CHECK IT AND SAID HE FOUND THE SPARK PLUG WIRES OUT OF SEQUENCE, BUT AFTER HE MADE SURE ALL WERE THE CORRECT ORDER THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN, SAME ERRATIC IDLING AND THIS TIME IT REALLY DID FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES LOOSING POWER. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THEN THAT I WAS DRIVING, DON'T RECALL THE MPH, BUT IT MUST OF BEEN AROUND 50 - 60 MPH CAUSE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. THE WHOLE ENGINE SPORADICALLY, IN LESS THAN A SPLIT SECOND, TURNS OFF THEN ON. ALL THE ELECTRIC PANEL AND THE FRONT DASHBOARD AND THE WHOLE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TURNS OFF/ON IN A "BLINK OF AN EYE". IT MADE THE CAR MAKE AN ERRATIC AND SUDDEN STOP, LIKE IF I HAD PUT THE BRAKES COMPLETELY OR THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED THAT SPLIT SECOND. THEN IT WENT BACK ON AND STILL DRIVING. AFTER THAT IT DID IT ABOUT 2 MORE TIMES LIKE AROUND THOSE MINS I WAS DRIVING, ABOUT MINS APART. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, IT'S BEEN GETTING WORSE AND NOW THE POWER SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY AND I HAVE TO DRIVE TO THE SIDE WITH NO POWER ON CAR. THEN SUDDENLY GETS POWER AGAIN AND I JUST START IT AGAIN. I'VE CHECKED THE CABLES OF BATTERIES AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME I CAN'T GET THE CAR CHECKED FOR CODES CAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS GETTING RESET SINCE IT LOOSES POWER COMPLETELY AND THEY CAN'T GET ANY CODES UNLESS THE ENGINE LIGHT IS LIT UP. SOMETIMES TURNING SIGNAL OR PUTTING THE BRAKES OR LIGHTS ON MAKE IT STOP OR LOOSE POWER COMPLETELY. *TR

SPEEDOMETER ON 2002 HYUNDAI IS DEFECTIVE, THE DIAL JUST STOPS WORKING DROPPING TO ZERO FOR PERIODS OF TIME - I SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP IF MY CAR HAD UNDER 65,000 MILES THEY WOULD FIX IT FREE (WHICH SEEMED TO BE AN AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE IN MAY CAR & OTHERS). *TR

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR ON HALLOWEEN 2007, MY 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I WOULD PUT THE WIPERS ON AND MY RADIO WOULD TURN ON. MY ALARM RANDOMLY GOES OFF AND I CAN'T DISCONNECT IT BECAUSE IT IS TIED IN WITH THE MAIN COMPUTER FOR THE VEHICLE ( I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC). THE DOORS USED TO LOCK BY THEMSELVES, NOW THEY JUST DON'T WORK ALTOGETHER. THE RADIO CUTS OUT AND RANDOMLY TRIES TO PLAY A CD REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS ONE IN IT. FROM THE TIME I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, THE BACKLIGHT ON THE RADIO NEVER WORKED. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, IT ALL OF A SUDDEN BEGAN WORKING AND WORKS TO THIS DAY. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM FOR THESE REASONS AMONG OTHERS, AND HE REFUSED TO FIX THEM BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW. *TR

THE BATTERY IS OFTEN DRAINED AND CONTINUES TO DO SO ALL THE TIME I'VE RESEARCHED IT ON THE INTERNET AND MANY OWNERS OF THE 2002 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, POSSIBLY THE IGNITION SWITCH RELAY. MANY HAVE REPLACED BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND PROBLEMS CONTINUE. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY DRAINING AND DYING ALL THE TIME I HAVE PURCHASED A JUMP STARTER FOR MY CAR. I HAVE TO JUMP MY CAR EVERY TIME I USE IT. *TR

DOORS LOCK REMOTE WONT UNLOCK CAR IF I USE THE KEY TO THE DOOR ALARM GOES OFF AND I CANT SHUT IT OFF. *CN

MY 2002 HUNDAI SONATA BLK 4 DOOR AUTOMATIC. I STARTED TO GET IN THE CAR THURS MORNING 2/15/07 AT 4AM. THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WOULD NOT GO IN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. HE DID ADVICE TO PUT A NEW BATTERY IN THE CAR. HE SAID IT WAS TIME FOR A REPLACEMENT. I HAVE BEEN GOING TO HIM FOR SOME TIME. AND FIND HIM VERY REPUTABLE IN THE AREA. HOWEVER, THE TOW MAN ALSO COULD NOT PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR AT HIS SHOP THE KEY WENT IN. BATTERY WORKS GREAT. SO THE NEXT MORNING 2-16-07 THE IGNITION WOULD NOT GO IN AGAIN. I CALLED MY DEALER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THERE. THEY SAID IT DIDN'T DO THAT FOR THEM THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. THEY TRIED THE KEY ALL DAY. THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE IF THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT THE TIME OF TESTING THE SITUATION THERE. THE CAR IS UNDER A POLICY OF WARRANTY FOR 60,000.00 MILES. HOWEVER, I COULD GIVE THEM $160.00 TO OPEN UP THE IGNITION TO THE TUMBLER. I FEEL THAT IF ITS UNDER WARRANTY THAT THEY SHOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THERE ONLY SUGGESTION WAS TO TOW IT AGAIN IF IT PERSISTS. I SAID WHAT IF I GET STRANDED, AND YES, I HAVE NO CELL PHONE. THEY SAID JUST CALL THE 800# ANWAYS FOR TOW. SO I WASN'T SATISFIED AT GRAPPONIES IN CONCORD NH. SO I ASKED AUTO FAIR IN MANCHESTER, THEY SAID THE SAME THING. I THINK THAT ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE TOW MAN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS MYSELF. AND THAT WE HAVE TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS FOR THEM, THAT THEY WILL REPAIR AT NO COST AT THAT TIME. WHEN ITS' UNDER THE WARRANTY. MY FEELING IS THAT BOTH DEALERSHIPS THAT ARE LOCAL DON'T WANT TO EAT THE PART FOR INVENTORY, IF THERE IS NOTHING WRONG W/THE CHIP IN THE TUMBLER. SO I GUESS I HAVE TO JUST CROSS MY FINGERS TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. GRAPPINE DID MAKE ME A NEW KEY FOR THE IGNITION. SO I'M A FRUSTRATED CONSUMER IN MANCHESTER, NH. *JB

DT: THE SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTINGLY STOPS WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER SAYS SHE HAS TRIED TO SEE IF SPEED OR DISTANCE AFFECTS IT. SHE SAYS THERE IS NO REASON THAT SHE CAN SEE TO MAKE IT STOP WORKING. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE 5TH TIME TODAY. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. SHE SAID OTHER ELECTRIC COMPONENTS ARE NOT WORKING AS WELL. THE DOORS, WINDOWS, AND CLOCK ARE SLOWLY GETTING WORSE. THE CONSUMER HAS CONCERNS THAT IT MIGHT LEAD TO SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS, LIKE A FIRE. *JB

ONSUMER STATED EVERY TIME SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE SHE WAS BEING SHOCKED. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, BUT HDS NOT DETERMINED WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. *AK

I HAVE A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN APRIL OF 2002. AS OF MARCH OF THIS YEAR AT 27,700 MILES, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT 5 SEPARATE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IT SHOWED AN OXYGEN SENSOR. WITHIN THE NEXT 100 MILES IT WAS ON AGAIN, THIS TIME IT WAS AN EVAP CODE AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP SEAL SO THEY TIGHTENED IT. WITHIN ANOTHER 100 MILES IT CAME ON AGAIN AND WAS ANOTHER OXYGEN SENSOR. IT CAME ON AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS (AND AROUND 9,000 MILES) AND THIS TIME IT WAS THE EVAP CODE AGAIN AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE FUEL CAP. THIS HAD TO BE ORDERED AND I CALLED BACK AFTER THREE WEEKS AND SOMEONE HAD FORGOT TO ORDER IT SO IT AFTER ALL TOOK 3 MONTHS TO REPLACE IT. IN THE MEANTIME THE CAR WAS DETAILED AND THE COMPANY UNHOOKED THE BATTERY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH (THE LIGHT WAS ON WHEN IT WENT TO THE DETAIL COMPANY). SO THE FUEL CAP WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WITHIN 100 MILES AFTER. THIS TIME IT WAS 3 DIFFERENT CODES. ONE FOR ANOTHER OXYGEN SENSOR, ONE FOR A THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR, AND ONE FOR A FUEL INCREMENT SENSOR. I AM AT 47,800 MILES NOW AND I AM TOLD THAT IT COULD TAKE A FEW MONTHS TO GET THE OXYGEN SENSOR DUE TO HYUNDAI UPDATING THE SENSOR DUE TO A DEFECT. BY THE TIME MY CAR IS FIXED, THIS TIME THE WARRANTY WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE UP OR CLOSE TO IT AND ALL I CAN GET FROM HYUNDAI IS THAT THEY WILL FIX IT UP TO THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY AND IF THE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THAT IT IS MY PROBLEM. THEY SAY IT IS NOT A CONCERN DUE TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY TIME. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ALTERNATOR FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE.*AK HOUSER DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE AND CONFIGURATION. ANOTHER DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND DRIVE BELT. ALL WORK WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *PH *JB

RIGHT FRONT SPEAKER POPS ON AND OFF AT A STOP OR MOVING. WHEN YOU USE THE AC BUTTON, WINDSHIELD WIPER, WINDOWS, AND TURN SIGNALS THE SPEAKER EITHER SHUTS OFF OR TURNS ON. THE RADIO WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE SPEAKER TWICE AND THE WIRING AND WIRING HARNESSES WERE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP WITH AND WITHOUT REPAIRS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST 12 TIMES. THE PROBLEM STARTED THE FIRST NIGHT WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN OCTOBER OF 2001. THE CAR HAS HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOW MOTORS, BATTERY, AND REMOTE DOOR LOCKS. I FEEL AS THOUGH I HAVE SPENT MORE TIME AT THE DEALER TRYING TO GET THE CAR FIXED THEN ACTUALLY ENJOYING THE CAR. I HAVE FILED CASES WITH THE HYUNDAI CORPORATE OFFICE, A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE LOOKED AT THE CAR, HEARD THE PROBLEM, IN FORMED THE DEALER ON HOW TO FIX IT. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL 6 DAYS LATER SAYING THE CHIEF MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO HE DID NOT TOUCH IT. EVEN THOUGH THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE HEARD THE PROBLEM AND TOLD THEM WHAT TO FIX. I HAVE TAKEN THE FIRST STEP IN THE LEMON LAW, I HAVE SENT A CERTIFIED DEFECT COMPLAINT TO THE DEALER. THE RECEIVED IT APRIL 11 2003 AT 12:00 PM. I AM JUST WAITING ON THERE RESPONSE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE TO MY SELF AND MY FAMILY. TWO VISITS AGO THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR ONE WEEK. WHEN I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK, THE CAR WAS COVERED WITH AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE (MAYBE TREE SAP) ALL OVER THE HOOD, ROOF, AND TRUNK. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION WHILE THE FACTORY REP WAS THERE. THE REP TOLD THEM TO COMPOUND THE CAR OUT AND RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, THE CAR WAS WASHED BUT THE SUBSTANCE WAS STILL THERE, NOW WITH SWIRL SCRATCHES IN THE PAINT WHERE THEY TRIED TO UP THE SUBSTANCE OFF THE CAR. DEALER AND CORPORATE WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. THIS WILL BE THE FINAL CASE FOR MY LAWYER AGAINST HYUNDAI. *NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

COMPUTER FAILED THREE TIMES. MECHANICS COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. FINALLY WAS REPLACED.*AK