QuestionI just recently aquired my Mom's 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe when she passed away. So far I LOVE this vehicle, except for a couple interesting quirks. I'll be completely upfront with you, I have not taken it in to the dealer yet myself but htought I'd try a 'net search first to see if they were just model-specific-quirks instead of real problems.
1) ABS light frequently on - interrmittant, no real pattern. I know my Mom did have ABS checked out and A-ok
2) When the defrost is on and the temp is set to warm and you turn the fan on, the AC light automatically comes on. Mom added an after-market starter; but you still have to run out and turn OFF the a/c!
3) It happened 2x while my aunt was driving it but so far only once to me - you're driving and all of a sudden the radio shuts off. Comes back on. Shuts off. Comes back on. You park, turn off the vehicle, go to run an errand, come back and NOTHING - no click, no start. Go for a coffee, wait a while, return to your vehicle and t starts up like a dream.
Any help you can provide would be gratefully accepted. I will eventually get her into the dealer for a checkup but thought I'd ask a few questions first!
Answer1. Your ABS lamp should come on for a few seconds when you start the vehicle. This is to make you aware that the warning lamp is working properly. If it stays on or comes on while you're driving, then there's a problem. The first step is to have the ABS codes read to determine the nature of the problem. I did look at one where the lamp was off and the code was already gone, but a visual inspection showed that one of the front tone wheels (the ring that the wheel speed sensor reads) was cracked.
2. The air conditioning comes on when the defroster is on to help remove humidity from the air. It greatly improves defrosting. If you want the vehicle to defrost when you start it, you should leave the climate control on in the defrost position, and not turn off the a/c.
3. It sounds like you've got two problems here. The issue with the radio is just that-- a problem with the radio. I've seen it several times before across almost all of Hyundai's products. The easiest way to repair it is to replace the radio with whatever you'd like from wherever you'd like to purchase a car stereo. A factory radio is way overpriced and in my opinion has a horrible reputation for quality.
As for the not cranking, the first thing to check would be the battery and connections. Make sure the battery is in good condition and the terminals are tight and free of corrosion.
What you describe is the typical complaint for a starter issue, but Hyundai has almost none of those. It could also be an issue with the remote starter. To find the cause, the shop will probably need to test it when the condition is occurring.
