Hi, I have a 2001 Hyundai Accent which has been so utterly reliable for over 2 years (bought it used & it had 101,000 miles on it---I keep the oil in excellent shape as well, & do very little traveling in it) that I feel very lucky---but has recently developed an issue that I am not sure about. The car will die at an intersection, suddenly and without warning, after having run for 15-45 minutes (both oil & CE lights come on). When attempting to start it again, it cranks smoothly and the battery (which is just 2 years old) is strong...but it won't fire. Then, if I sit with it unstarted wherever it dies for about 10 minutes, it fires right back up, & runs smoothly (not roughly at all) for a day or more, then it will do the "stall at an intersection, or as I am parking" thing again.

It also had the squealing belt issue others have noted but the tightening of the belt system fixed that immediately...I just have to have the belts re-tightened maybe twice a year or it will squeal again.

Thanks for any advice you can give... this forum is wonderful!

 

Sounds like a fuel related issue, possibly related to heat. Is it warm where you are? Also, do you run the tank very low on fuel?

 

Actually, I live in Bozeman, MT, where we've had a number of subzero snaps this year and usually average around 20-ish degrees from November to April. My tank was just filled yesterday, and I had the stalling/15-min restarting problem while driving into work this morning. I usually keep the tank half full or better, just cuz it's too darn cold here so often, and annoying to have to fill up after hours standing out in the freezing weather! Could it have anything to do with the COLD? I do warm it up substantially on those very cold days, and most days in general as a matter of practice.

 

Sigh. Guess I will start with the usual: a new gas cap, fuel filter, & go up from there. Where is the fuel filter located, anyway, on my 2001 Accent?

I am pretty sure the issue is fuel-related, due to the fact that it just stalls with no warning, no CE light coming on, and has the feeling of running out of gas. No sputtering, no choking, nothing else. Then won't fire again for a bit, tho cranks perfectly. And JUST when I am making the last payment on the car next week, too! Wouldn't you know?