2005 Hyundai Santa Fe Idle is very jumpy

ERIN32

MEMBER
2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
6 CYL
AWD
AUTOMATIC
32,000 MILES

We just purchased our 2005 Santa Fe a month ago. Shortly after, we returned from a two week vacation to find the car to be acting up. The idle was very jumpy at first, as if the engine was cutting out. The problem would stop after it got going for a bit. The problem happened again after not driving it for one day.

3 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,740 POSTS

Hi:
I need to get some general info from you. Has the check engine light come on? It sounds like a bad throttle position sensor or idle air control valve, but I can't be sure without a code.

Let me know.

Joe

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Thursday, July 30th, 2009 AT 8:43 PM

ERIN32

MEMBER
2 POSTS

No, the check engine light was not on. I took it to a mechanic and he said it was the coil pack. Could this be right? I don't know anything about the codes. How to get that information?

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Friday, July 31st, 2009 AT 11:28 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,740 POSTS

Hi:
Usually when the something electrical is wrong, the check engine light will come on. From that point, mechanics use a scanner to retrieve a code from the car's computer that identifies where the problem is. If you had no light, then there wouldn't have been a code.

To answer you question, yes a coil pack can cause a bad idle. However, confirm with him that he actually checked the coil and knows for sure it is bad. He may be guessing that is the problem which leads to not having it fixed, and you still get stuck with the bill. Maybe ask him to guarantee it will fix the problem.

Let me know what you find or if you have other questions.

Joe

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Saturday, August 1st, 2009 AT 2:15 PM