It could be quite concerning if you want to drive your Hyundai Veloster, but it won't start—and all it does is make a clicking noise. This issue can also be frustrating, especially if you need to get somewhere in a timely fashion. So what could be wrong with your car? We have taken the time to research for you to answer this question.
If your Hyundai Veloster is making a clicking noise when you try to start it, it could be due to the following:
- Bad starter motor or starter solenoid
- A faulty ignition switch
- Dead battery
- Faulty alternator
- Issue within the electrical system
- Sticky or corroded battery cables
- Bad connection at the starter motor
- A bad car ground
- Faulty anti-immobilizer
- Bad starter relay
As you can see, so many mechanic parts go into a vehicle that could cause a clicking noise when trying to start your car. That is why we'll explain the functions of each of these parts and why their malfunction can cause this issue. In addition, we will discuss how much to expect to pay for a new starter in your Hyundai Veloster, so read on!
Hyundai Veloster Won't Start (But There's A Clicking Noise)—What Could Be Wrong?
The starter is the engine component that starts your Hyundai Veloster. It does so by engaging with an ignition switch to turn it on, which causes enough power to engage the starter so it can begin powering up the vehicle.
However, if you try to start it and all you hear is a clicking noise, several things could be going on. Let's take a look at each of these culprits below:
Bad Starter Motor
The Hyundai Veloster's starter is located in the front of the vehicle. If it is damaged or dying, you may start to hear a clicking sound trying to engage when starting your car. This would be due to the ignition switch not providing enough power for the starter motor input. A click is all the starter motor able to produce.
A Starter Solenoid
The Hyundai Veloster's starter solenoid is the connector that gets power from the ignition switch and sends it to the starter motor. So when you start your car, if all the connections are good within this part, you should hear the solenoid click and then engage.
Faulty Ignition Switch
If the wiring harness to the starter motor has been severed or damaged in any way, then you may experience clicking when trying to start your car.
This will be due to the power not getting to the starter solenoid and then to the starter motor. The ignition switch is responsible for this connection, and if it no longer works properly, there is a problem that would need to be fixed.
Dead Battery or Faulty Alternator
If the battery is dead or has a low charge, then you will not be able to start your Hyundai Veloster. If the battery is older, it may need replacement, regardless of this problem.
As for the alternator, if it has gone wrong or is about to go bad, you will also have voltage issues, which makes it unable to start your car (since the battery will not hold power long enough). So if you have a bad alternator, make sure to replace it quickly before your battery becomes depleted.
Issue within the electrical system
If you have a bad connection somewhere in the wiring system, that could cause the clicking noise when trying to start your Hyundai Veloster. Corroded or loose battery cables can also cause this issue.
Sticky or Corroded Battery Cables
If the battery terminals are either corroded or dirty/sticky, they may not make close enough contact to create a proper connection.
This can cause clicking noises when trying to start your car if the battery is mas making poor connections with the starter motor, which will send it back through the rest of the wiring system.
Bad Connection at Starter Motor
If you have a bad ground or some other issue within the ring around the starter motor, that could cause a connectivity issue and click when trying to start your car.
Faulty Anti-Immobilizer System
If you have some anti-theft system fitted on your Hyundai Veloster, this could cause a clicking noise when starting your car.
Most vehicles equipped with an anti-theft system will be able to do so thanks to a coded key system. If you are not using the original key that came with the car, this could cause your clicking noise.
Bad Starter Relay
The Hyundai Veloster's starter relays are responsible for sending a signal from the ignition switch to the starter motor, which is needed to start up. If you have a bad relay, there will likely be an issue with the starter motor not receiving this signal.
How do you tell if it's your starter or your battery?
There are several ways to know if your problem may be with the battery or starter motor/relay.
The quickest way will be to see if any of your lights or other electronic accessories are working correctly. If there is still power, this tells you the battery itself is fine and connected to the starter.
You could also jump-start the car, which should do the trick if your battery fails. If you have another vehicle that can give you a jump, this will let you know whether or not it's the battery and, if so, whether or not it needs replacing.
Another way would be to listen for any clicking coming from within the engine compartment. If you can hear a clicking sound, it may be a bad connection or corroded battery cables inside the engine bay.
If you have tried all of these and still cannot figure out what is wrong, you would need to have your vehicle looked at by a mechanic specializing in diagnosing electrical problems.
How do I know if my immobilizer is bad?
Car immobilizers are devices built into or onto a car's ignition system. The immobilizer design prevents battery draining if someone tries to steal the car.
This usually happens by preventing your car from starting until someone presses the brake pedal and inserts the coded key into the ignition. This helps prevent thieves from driving away with your car and prevents them from quickly hot wiring.
If you have a faulty immobilizer, you should first check if any of your locks or windows are not working correctly. If so, this can tell you that your vehicle's immobilizer may be the cause. In addition, The most common signs are if the doors won't lock or unlock.
If none of the locks are working, you can test the anti-theft system by trying to start your car. If it doesn't start, this is a tell-tale sign that your immobilizer is bad and needs replacing.
If it's already too late for either of these things, but you still hear clicking coming from the engine bay when you try to start your car, this is another indication that the immobilizer may be the cause.
Another common sign, as mentioned above, is if the car won't start. Lastly, see if your car alarm will work, and if it doesn't, that is another tell-tale sign that there is an issue with the immobilizer.
Can I jump-start a car with a bad starter?
No, jump-starting a car that has a bad starter isn't going to help your situation. Jump starting a car will only work if it has a bad battery or an issue with the starter motor not receiving the signal from the ignition switch.
If your vehicle does not turn over when jump-starting, then you have no choice but to tow it in for repair.
How much does it cost to replace the starter?
Mechanics will usually charge you over $200 to replace the starter. If the costs go up, it can cost upwards of about $300 or more to have your car fixed.
The price may vary depending on what exactly is wrong with your vehicle and if any other components are acting up at the same time.
If you have a mechanic do the work for you, it could also take around 1 to 2 hours to have them replace your starter motor. Keep in mind that you would need to have your vehicle towed in if it is not working.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Hyundai Veloster is a fun car to drive, that's if you can get it started. If you run into starter issues, you can do your own diagnostics. Start with inexpensive checks, such as seeing if the battery is dead or at a low charge. From there, you may have to go see a professional for help.
If you like this maintenance guide, then you should also check out:
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