2002 Hyundai Accent Check Engine Light

2002 HYUNDAI
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MARSINTENN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
approx 72,000 miles
so my car has been off lately. not sluggish or anything, just feels like it's running rough. have noticed a slight decrease in gas mileage, but i have been lax on changing my air filter and that may be the gas mileage culprit. also, i've noticed that the steering the last few days has not been as easy (like my power steering is not so power). and i have suspected that one or both on my ball joints (think that's the right name) may be slowly going for a while now. and of course, i've been putting off the breaks till i get my tax return due to lack of funds, so they're not horrible, but they're not great either.

now, yesterday my check engine light came on when i started my car after taking my roommate out. it has come on and stayed on each time i started the car since. could this be related to a sensor in any of the areas that i previously mentioned? or does mean that something else is going wrong (and hence the rough running feeling)? after reviewing things, i realized i never did have my timing belt checked back at 60,000, could this be part of the issue?

i'm just dreading going to the mechanic and having even more wrong than i previously planned to pay for.
Jan 24, 2006 at 4:57 AM
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BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 16,542 POSTS
Hello

Timing belt would not be the issue here. You should have the codes read for the engine light and this will probably point you in the proper direction for diagnosis. The rough idle is probably due to a faulty sensor, Mass Airflow (MAF) sensor for example, which will be one of the engine codes present.


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Mar 4, 2009 at 2:33 AM

Suggested Repair

Have the check engine codes read to diagnose the rough running. The timing belt is not the likely cause; a faulty sensor such as the mass airflow (MAF) sensor may be indicated by the codes.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 2002 Hyundai Accent with about 72,000 miles reported rough running, slightly reduced fuel economy, heavier steering, suspected ball joints, and deferred brake work, plus a check engine light that stayed on. They also wondered whether a timing belt not checked at 60,000 miles could be involved. The expert said the timing belt was not the issue and advised reading the diagnostic codes, noting that a faulty sensor such as the MAF sensor could explain the rough idle.

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