# Tucson won't start, dash lights flashing **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** hyundai, tucson\ **Created:** [December 29, 2022, 1:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181 "2022-12-29T01:32:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 1:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/1 "2022-12-29T01:32:21Z")
Earlier today my wife told me her 2016 Tucson 1.6 wouldn’t start and that all the lights on the dash were flashing when she tried. I tried it myself and the various indicators flashed, accompanied by a rhythmic “thumping.” The “BSD ON” indicator was lit and the hazard flashers came on by themselves. We’re going to have it towed to our regular mechanic tomorrow but in the meantime I’d appreciate any input/insight. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 1:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/2 "2022-12-29T01:44:59Z")
My first thought is a weak battery or bad connection. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 2:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/3 "2022-12-29T02:15:45Z")
> **[5 Common Symptoms of a Failing Body Control Module (BCM) - Module Experts](https://moduleexperts.com/5-common-symptoms-failing-body-control-module-bcm/)** > > If your BCM malfunctions, you will notice a negative effect on the operation of your vehicle. Watch out for these symptoms. Tester ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 2:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/4 "2022-12-29T02:52:38Z")
Yeah, my first thought was a failed BCM but I’m holding out hope for a bad battery. Way cheaper that way. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 3:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/5 "2022-12-29T03:43:35Z")
We replace 20 to 30 batteries each week but no body computers. It has been 10 years since I replaced a BCM. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 3:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/6 "2022-12-29T03:49:37Z")
So what Nevada is saying is, It can’t happen. Yeah! Big mistake! Tester ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 3:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/7 "2022-12-29T03:56:44Z")
My take is, if it can happen it’ll happen to us. 🤦‍♂️ Still hoping for a bad battery but not holding my breath. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 4:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/8 "2022-12-29T04:25:58Z")
Do you own a simple voltmeter? It’s easy enough to check battery voltage while your wife is trying to start the car. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 4:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/9 "2022-12-29T04:57:20Z")
I have an old Radio Shack multimeter but I don’t know if it still works. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 5:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/10 "2022-12-29T05:47:49Z")
> [@davepsinbox\_157004](#): > > don’t know if it still works. Then I’d leave it alone and let the shop look at it. The only thing worse than no information is wrong information. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/11 "2022-12-29T14:37:27Z")
All it takes is a 9V battery to see if the multimeter is working reasonably well. ---
**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 29, 2022, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/12 "2022-12-29T21:32:59Z")
I’m guessing the problem is a simple one, weak battery. As a test OP might try charging it with a battery charger. Once this issue is resolved suggest to take photos/make notes on which dashboard lights turn on with key in “on” but engine not started, then what happens to dash lights after engine starts. I’m guessing the dash light symptoms are normal. One puzzle , this weak battery theory doesn’t necessarily explain the rhythmic thumping sound. That could be the starter motor trying to crank the engine, failing, then retrying. Or it could be something which normally occurs but isn’t heard above the sound of the engine idling; ABS self- testing, HVAC doors moving around, etc. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/13 "2022-12-29T21:35:42Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > it could be something which normally occurs but isn’t heard above the sound of the engine idling; ABS self- testing, HVAC doors moving around, etc. I think that HVAC doors thrashing around are a real possibility. However, the ABS self-test requires the vehicle to be moving, and from the sound of things, this vehicle is currently not capable of moving under its own power. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 12:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tucson-wont-start-dash-lights-flashing/188181/14 "2022-12-30T00:29:54Z")
It was indeed the battery. My assumption regarding the thumping was the car attempting to start but I could easily be wrong. Thanks everyone.