# 2003 hyundai station wagon acting up **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [December 12, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-hyundai-station-wagon-acting-up/88343 "2014-12-12T23:39:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tequila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@tequila](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tequila)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-hyundai-station-wagon-acting-up/88343/1 "2014-12-12T23:39:00Z")
So i bought a used hyundai station wagon last winter. Amost right away it started acting up. Sometimes it starts, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s a standard transmission, so I can jump start it when it fails, so I’v not been to concerned about getting it fixed. It’s in first gear, Clutch and brake in, turn the key, there’s not a sound but lights, music, dash all light up.if it won’t start… Next i put in in reverse, clutch and brake in, turn key again…if I keep the key turned all the way it sometimes starts after 5-10 seconds, sounds like nothings wrong. Next i’ll try to put it in neutral, clutch in, try turning the key again…sometimes it will start…if not… Next I get my son to push, as soon as the car gets a Nudge it starts up… bizare!! any ideas??? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-hyundai-station-wagon-acting-up/88343/2 "2014-12-13T04:31:37Z")
What do you mean by “it won’t start”? Does it make that rrr-rrr noise indicating the starter motor is cranking the engine, but it won’t catch and run? Or do you mean the engine isn’t cranking? If the latter, do you hear any sounds at all when you turn the key to “start”? ---
**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-hyundai-station-wagon-acting-up/88343/3 "2014-12-13T04:41:28Z")
How old is the battery? Are the battery connections clean and tight? I would replace the starter if the battery and connections are good. ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-hyundai-station-wagon-acting-up/88343/4 "2014-12-13T19:54:01Z")
Hyundai, like many others, uses a safety switch to prevent the starter from operating unless the clutch pedal is fully depressed. The switch is very similar in operation to the brake light switch. It’s located right near the clutch pedal. That switch can sometimes act up or fall out of adjustment. Make sure it’s working properly. You could even bypass it as a diagnostic step. Some prefer to leave it bypassed. ---
**Author:** ![tequila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@tequila](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tequila)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 4:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-hyundai-station-wagon-acting-up/88343/5 "2014-12-14T04:06:53Z")
Does it make that rrr-rrr noise indicating the starter motor is cranking the engine, but it won’t catch and run? Or do you mean the engine isn’t cranking? If the latter, do you hear any sounds at all when you turn the key to “start”? does not make a sound. cables tight battery new ---
**Author:** ![tequila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@tequila](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tequila)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 4:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-hyundai-station-wagon-acting-up/88343/6 "2014-12-14T04:09:04Z")
That switch can sometimes act up or fall out of adjustment. Make sure it’s working properly. You could even bypass it as a diagnostic step. Some prefer to leave it bypassed. thanks! i will try that first.