My mothers 2008 Santa Fe Awd 93,000 for months most of the time it starts but it won’t start at times both cold and warm. Whenever it didn’t start there would be no crank or nothing after 3-5 times it finally starts and then after that it always starts right up. Battery and alternator tests good. The mechanic replaced the starter and still occasionally does not start after 3-5 times. However since the new starter it keeps cranking and cranking but doesn’t start before there was no crank. The mechanic scanned the car and no codes came up since then now the car always started right up and I just tried it right now it just right now it cranks and cranks again and no start. It’s been to 3 shops nobody can figure out the problem. For years The gas gauge only goes to 3/4 so I thought that may have something to do with it but If not does anyone know what it is?
Well actually that's a classic sign of either an electrical short not sending power to the car. Like a bad ignition switch or a fuel pump on a way out
If it was a bad ignition then could it still crank and still be power in the rest of the car like radio, power windows, lights, etc? Because when it doesn’t start there’s still power and now it cranks since the starter was replaced.so if that’s not it could it be a fuel related problem? even though Fuel pump was replaced around 3-5 years ago however as I mentioned gas gauge only goes up to 3/4 filling up.
If it was a bad ignition then could it still crank and still be power in the rest of the car like radio, power windows, lights, etc?
It depends on the design of the switch. I had a similar problem once that turned out to be the ignition switch. (Of course it may not be your issue, just saying it's possible. I'd say it's more likely a deeper electrical or computer issue.) The gas gauge issue is probably an unrelated problem.
When it doesn't start you could try the steps outlined in the no-start section of the FAQ to try narrowing down the cause. A quick-and-dirty test is to spray some starting fluid into the intake. If the engine briefly fires up you know you have spark but no fuel. If it doesn't fire up you have no spark.
