2006 Sonata Intermittent Electrical Problems
 

I bought a used 2006 Sonata last May that is giving me fits with an intermittent electrical problem. These problems manefest themselves usually when the gas is not being applied, but not necessarily when the brakes are being applied. The headlights will go off and then come back on; the radio sometimes will go off and then come back on; the A/C fan sometimes sounds as if it has turned off and then comes back on; several times I noticed the ESC light and ABS light come on when the radio and lights and AC turned off and then came back on. All these happenings have been reported to the Hyundai service department but they say they can't get it to repeat the symptoms or find a problem. I can believe they can't find the problem, but I can't believe they haven't experienced what I do every day. Has anyone out there experienced similar things with their Sonatas? According to the factory they have never heard of anything like this before and don't have a clue as to what is happening.

RE: 2006 Sonata Intermittent Electrical Problems
 

Sounds like aground or short issue.I'd suspect the wiring harness ordamage behind a fuse panel. One of the battery cables usually grounds to the block or frame....it maynot be seated 100%. Those are my best guesses. Have you Carfaxed your Sonata?

RE: 2006 Sonata Intermittent Electrical Problems
 

The exact same things have been happening to mine. We took it into the dealership and they checked it out for us and found problems with the timing belt and the alternator. They fixed the timing belt and replaced the alternator and the problems didn't resurface for about a week until recently. The lights have continued to flicker on and off along with the AC, radio/stereo and the ESC and ABS on the dash. So basically, the dealership misdiagnosed the problems, so I have no idea what it may be if the Hyundai service people can't even explain it. Any suggestions?

RE: 2006 Sonata Intermittent Electrical Problems
 

How many miles are on your car? I have approx 28,000 and I don't have those issues, but now I'm going to really pay attention to it thank you for the post..[8D]

RE: 2006 Sonata Intermittent Electrical Problems
 

I have approximately 48,000 miles on my car right now. I wouldn't worry too much about your car starting to do that as of yet but as soon as it starts to do that flickering off and on with the lights or radio I would quickly take it into someplace to get it checked out; even though fixing the timing belt didn't completely cure whatever is wrong with my car they did find some problems with it anyway and a messed up timing belt is not good at all.

RE: 2006 Sonata Intermittent Electrical Problems
 

Did they fix your car under warranty? That should be covered under the 5 year, 60,000 mile warranty, even if you weren't the original owner.

RE: 2006 Sonata Intermittent Electrical Problems
 

timing belt on a 06 Sonata? wow. anyway was your car in any accident? like one person posted it seems like it's a groung issue. the dealer should check all ground distributions.

RE: 2006 Sonata Intermittent Electrical Problems
 

You must be confused. The 2006 Sonata was only available with 1 of 2 available engines: the 2.4L Theta 4-cyl or the 3.3L Lambda V6. Both engines have timing CHAINS, not belts. Are you sure the dealer didn't changeACCESSORY DRIVE belt and not the timing belt?

RE: 2006 Sonata Intermittent Electrical Problems
 

I have little things going on like when I lock or unlock the car, the locks squeak once in a while, not every time. Stupid nonsense like that I have with mine. I'm almost at 30,000 miles..

RE: 2006 Sonata Intermittent Electrical Problems
 

Hello,

I'm having the exact sames problems with my 2006 Sonata. I was wondering if you were able to find and correct the problems.

Thanks

That the oldest one in the NF Sonata handbook... replace the positive battery cable assembly...

91850-3K111 $139.44 + applicable local sales tax... (this is the new number on the cable assembly), take you maybe an hr to replace it, all done from top..

Thanks I appreciate the fast response. Evidently the Hyundai dealership I do business with has never heard of this issue, or how to resolve it. I bought a battery from them yesterday. They said the CCA should be 770, but was only pulling 154 and that was the problem.
So now I guess I'll take care of this myself.
Thanks again.

Forgot to mention, while the battery is out, look at the frame rail right there by the battery tray..... see that cable/plate bolted to frame and heads off to the transmission... unbolt the cable, and scuff the paint to bare metal for the plate to bolt back to frame rail.. Just smear some anti-seize to cover the bare metal and prohibit rust.

Look at where the short negative battery cable bolts to fender, scuff paint to bare metal so that plate sits on bare metal, smear with antiseize prior to re-assemble cable to fender.

My Sonata had this exact issue a few months ago.

Turns out, one of my taillights had burned out and caused a short. As soon as i replaced the tail light, situation fixed.

So check to see if any of your taillights are out (or any lights at all). If one is, you probably found your problem.

Old GM cars used to have the same issues.

my 2007 sonata is having the same issue... my head lights get dim and its hard to see, i am almost scared to drive at night but i have to with my job,

Same problem
 

My wife's 2006 Sonata just started displaying similar symptoms. Sad thing is that my 2009 displayed similar stuff last winter.

Well...knock-on-wood i have had none of those issues with my 06 3.3.

Electrical System Issues
 

I have a 2006 model and 2 years ago, I had this electrical issue come up.. The dealer ship said it needed a whole new wire harness but wouldn't cover it under warranty due to the fact that a Car Starter was installed (& not installed by there preferred provider).. The speedometer was out, The company that installed the Car Starter was nice enough to spend the day figuring it out and fixing the issue. But recently the electrical is all screwy. Radio going off, blower stops, all the lights flash on/off like the Car has been turned off.? While I'm going 45/50Mph.. Gotta be a short somewhere, but can't seem to have Hyundai touch it without paying $1200+ for a harness? :mad: Any one got advice on What's the best route to take? Can't drive the car in the dark, cause the headlights cut off..

Replace the positive battery cable assembly as called out earlier in the thread... oldest one on the '06-07 book..

Radio - audi stops, but station stays set, HVAC fan up/down speed, lights dim when stopping,,,,, right ??

2006 Sonata Intermittent Electrical Problems
 

I have just test driven my son's 2006 sonata - 76k miles, and it does exactly the same (blower cuts out, radio, esc light on, lights flicker--all intermittently). we also had it into the dealership this week because the air bag light wouldn't shut off. the dealer told us it had a low voltage code and reset it.

anyway, is the positive battery cable assembly a reasonable "fix"? don't want son in harm's way! other than this, the car runs and rides great.:confused:

2006 Sonata Intermittent Electrical Problems
 

Originally Posted by sbr711 https://www.hyundaiforum.com/forum/i...s/viewpost.gif
That the oldest one in the NF Sonata handbook... replace the positive battery cable assembly...

91850-3K111 $139.44 + applicable local sales tax... (this is the new number on the cable assembly), take you maybe an hr to replace it, all done from top..


VA_Bob,

This fix per sbr711 worked for me. He was a little off on the price though. I was charged $450.00. Everything works great. Had the work done in September, no problems.

Now if they could only fix the sun visors.

Regards

What all did you get done for a $450 price tag ?? Retail on part is the price I gave unless dealer jaked the price over retail,, and Warranty labor is 1.2 hr, so customer pay labor would maybe fall in at 1.8hr at shop rate..

NO WAY a battery cable should run $450...

Please line out the jobs on your invoice for review,, concern, cause, repair as written on your ticket/invoice..

raabates & sbr711,

I appreciate your help in responding. I have a local mechanic who is going to check out -- any specific guidance I can give him is appreciated!

I have the part# & sbr711's procedure as in the thread. if we need to do anything else to be on the safe side, please let me know.

I suspect this is what contributed to the blown bulbs by the license plate and the front fog light (driver's side). I will let all know how it goes.

va_bob

2006 hyundai sonata electrical update
 

kudos to sbr711 for his fix! we had to order the positive cable assembly from hyundai --it was $139.44. our local mechanic installed at 1.5 hours and the total bill was $240.

the best news: the car is driving like a dream!

i am very grateful to the members of this forum for your advice & experiences. otherwise, i am sure we would have been swapping out expensive parts, hoping for a solution.

please note the threads: this appears to be a common sonata electrical issue, and this fix will save you much time and money!

va bob

Having a similar problem with a 2006 Sonata V6. What happens is while driving the heater fan almost cuts off. What I mean by this is it will be blowing smooth but for about a split second it almost shuts off. Headlights dim at the very same instant. Also had a fog light go out. Suggestions? Theories? Thanks in advance

And while listening to radio the audio goes away while the radio dispaly maintians current station when audio starts back up...

As per the many posts on up the line, replace the positive battery cable... look at tag on your current cable... new cable sports a -3k111 suffix I think it is (not had to replace cable in a while, think most have been taken care of by now..

Any thoughts on getting Hyundai to replace this now that I'm out of warranty? I could prove I brought it in for this issue when under warranty and had other work done to try to fix it.

Then you need your prior documentation of repair attempts, and ask for them to call their DPSM and ask for coverage,,, as the battery cable been an ongoing event for couple yrs.. Have XEROX copies to leave them, and have originals in hand as proof, but do not leave originals with dealer.. they go home witih you.. they're your legal documents.

If they aint got it on the shelf, they aint worth beans, as it is known problem part.. getting them to repair, sure, for price of cable, add maybe 1.5hr shop labor, they be glad to take the job as customer pay repair.

Thanks. DPSM?

D = District

P = Parts

S = Service

M = Manager

Hyundai Rep that visits dealers to check up on claims, resolve issues with claims, sign off on parts damaged, check up furhter on claims Hyundai deems odd/validity, customer issues on dealer level, look at customer car and authorize/deny repair, authorize my extra labor claim beyond warranty pay, make sure we playing by Hyundai Policies

Thanks.

2007 lots of problems with starting
 

My son has a 2007 hyundai sonata. It wouldn't start. We took it to a mechanic who said it was the spark plugs. $230.00 ...car still wouldn't start. Then new coils $500.00 still wouldn't start. Finally they said "Inspected fuel delivery circuit and found green power wire to fuel pump was loose in connector". "Vehicle started and ran". In about a week it started the same thing...wouldn't start in mornings. Didn't take it back to mechanic as feared they were just draining money and not fixing it. Recently, he burned out the starter by trying to get it to start. Dealership replaced Starter $400.00. Today, after having a new starter installed last week...it won't start again. We are at wits end. I've read this forum but can't find this exact situation, so wondered if anyone has any ideas?

How many miles are on his 2007 Sonata? Too bad the mechanic you went to is taking you for a ride. Sounds like he doesn't have a clue how to troubleshoot a starting problem. Seriously, he is just throwing your money at the issue hoping he gets lucky.

Did you explain the problem and have the dealer check it out? They at least have much more knowledge of the specific car and any common problems and tendencies. I haven't heard of a problem like this before with this generation of Sonata. They have been very reliable. Maybe this particular car has a history that is causing some problems now such as being in a wreck, flood damage, etc.

In any event, you need to have a qualified, experienced person go through a proper troubleshooting procedure checking for air/fuel/spark and then following the source of the problem to it's origin.

It has about 62,000 miles. I didn't mention that it also had a mass air flow sensor put on in August and it DID go to the dealer. It acted differently though as it would start but chugged and then stopped.

The starter I mentioned was put on by the dealer and "they checked everything out" as I had read them all the details of prior work done on the car and the diagnosis from the "mechanic".

Even though I disputed the charges, my credit card company sided with the merchant and I lost.

I'm on this forum because my son is trying to work and I'm the "ride" until this gets resolved. It's been very frustrating.

PS: Thanks for your post.

So I have a slightly similar electrical issue... two of them actually...

I have a 2006 Sonata 33k miles had owned it for a while and then one day I locked it via the remote door lock two clicks and it locks the front door then on the second click starts the car and the head/tailights and radio start flashing on and off intermittently and I can't unlock the car with the remote unlock the drivers side door with the key hitting the brake shuts the car off. To my knowledge the car is not supposed to have a remote starter in it.

So this doesn't happen again until a month later happens twice in a row. Then nothing for another few months. Once more. Now two nights in a row it has happened 3 times (including when I tried to lock the rear door with the key not the remote it would lock the drivers door then instead of locking the rear doors the car would start) and twice with the remote the following night. Locked the car on the third attempt.

Any ideas?

Other issue would be hitting a puddle with all the melt that has been occurring and loosing voltage and power steering should this be considered normal? Or have I lost insulation allowing a water induced short somewhere? Happened two different days now.

Thank you for your time

I think the previous owner must have installed a remote starter in the car but the remotes didn't make it to you when you bought the car. The wiring that was done to install it was not done very well and is now causing you problems. I don't see how the car could start using the factory key fobs unless someone has been messing with the wiring.

For your second issue keep in mind the power steering is a hydraulic system so you shouldn't lose the power assist unless the engine stops or the serpentine belt is no longer turning the power steering pump. You mentioned 'losing voltage'. Did the engine stall? Maybe the water got onto the alternator and power steering pulleys causing the belt to slip.

So I spent a while poking around my engine compartment with a flashlight eventually found a sticker saying the car has been equipped with a DEI remote starter system I'll have to chase that one down.

On hitting puddles the voltage indicator light on the dash would come on for a bit and moving the steering wheel would become physically difficult but not impossible. So yes it sounds like your hypothesis of a slipping serpentine is correct as that refers to the alternator no longer charging the battery correct? (Engine never stalled)
Thank you good sir!

Look for the crank pulley to be seperating/seperated from center hub... I assume we is playing with the V6...

my 2006 is doing same thing have replaced alt, multifunction switch, brakelight switch in electrical shop now for past week and guess what everything working perfect cant get lights or radio to cut out like does on me. did you ever figure out what is causing this weird function?????????

intermitten electrical problems
 

my 2006 sonota has lights dimming, abs,esc,brake warning light on dash, radio going off, been to dealer 4 times in 3 weeks replaced battery, alt, brakelight switch multifunction switch and still doing same thing.its at electrical shop now for past week and wont act up for them, has anyone figured out what causes this driving me crazy.