Hyundai Repair: Hyundai does not want to start : has a mind of its own, hyundai elentra, crank shaft


Question
Thank you so much for the reply back.  My car is a Hyundai Elentra 2000.  Since this post I went out and started my car.  Fired right up as I knew that it would.  The check engine light is on.  I will take it to Auto Zone for a diagnosit test.  With that test find all that is wrong even if it could be fuel related?  Well as far as watching it when it does this?  No ryme or reason, nothing to do with cold or rain.  Even on nice sunny days it will do this.   Thanks again! This site is great and I apreciate it.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I was just reading a post similar to what I am going through.  I have had the car in the shop but it does not act up when its there.  The car will crank but acts like its out of gas.  I can let it sit for a bit then it will fire right up.  Sometimes it wil do this 1 day then not at all for a bit.  I have replaced the crank shaft sensor, and another sensor.  After I replaced the crank shaft sensor the car didn't do it for a month and come to think about it, the samething with the other sensor.  Its driving me nuts!  Check engine light is not one. Now the other day it did this and the light was on, I was on my way to Auto Zone to get it tested but they were closed.  I am running out of things to try and also money trying to get this fixed.  Everyone says its something else.  Timing belt was checked, one mechanic said it was a wire under the hood?  What more can one person do?  I have been reading it could be the compression?  How about a ignition module?  Please help someone?  LOL
-----Answer-----
Hi, Michele.  The difficulty with problems like yours is that there are a large number of possible causes.  Without being able to duplicate the issue, the shop cannot even determine what sort of problem you have (e.g. lack of spark, lack of compression, electrical issue, etc.)  

One key to being able to find the problem can be your ability to tell the shop what's necessary for the car to not start.  For example, does it only happen after the car sits for a certain period of time?  Is it only in cold temperatures?  Only when wet/rainy?  

If you follow up with the year and model of your car, I may be able to give you information about common things that happen with your year and model that could be causing the issue.

Answer
Definitely read the codes and report back, even if the check engine lamp goes back out.  The code should still remain for a number of drive cycles even after the lamp goes out.  This will probably be the largest hint to what's happening with the cranks-but-will-not-start issue.  The diagnostic trouble codes will report to us anything abnormal seen by the engine control module (ECM).

The only things I can think of that are reasonably common issues with your car are air flow sensor connector issues and crank sensor issues.  Since you've already replaced the crank sensor, that's not likely to be the issue.