| Reader Question Thursday driving my 2001 | | | | engine jerk) from a worn out spark plug or |
| Hyundai Sonata GLS check engine light is on | | | | spark plug wire or something along those |
| and car sputters near my home. I take it home | | | | lines. If the engine has over 50,000 miles I |
| and checked & was low on oil. I take my | | | | would say have your mechanic check to see if |
| husbands car to go buy oil and put it in. I | | | | you need a tune up.If the engine miss-fires |
| tell my husband about it, he takes it to | | | | (from needing a tune up) the computer onboard |
| nearby store no problems, no check engine | | | | will signal the yellow check engine light to |
| light.Friday I drive it as normal; probably | | | | come on to indicate a problem has occured. I |
| about 30 to 50 miles for the day. No check | | | | am assuming you are talking about the yellow |
| engine light and no problems.Saturday ran all | | | | light not the RED engine light...correct?It |
| day from here to there no check engine light | | | | is perfectly normal for the yellow light to |
| and no problems, then I bring home the family | | | | come and go if there is an intermittent |
| and go out to finish some shopping when on my | | | | running condition, and low oil is usually not |
| way home I think I hear sputter again.Go to | | | | something that affects the YELLOW light to |
| turn down radio at which time car sputters | | | | come on. That yellow light is like an |
| again, then jerks check engine light comes on | | | | emission light, it is looking to see if the |
| again but I get it home without incident | | | | engine is running at peak efficiency, and not |
| after that. Decided would take it in after | | | | polluting the air with too much exhaust from |
| the holidays, moved it on Sunday from where | | | | running poorly.When an engine miss-fires or |
| it was parked started as normal. Husband said | | | | "misses" one or more of the cylinders did NOT |
| start it every so often. Next time maybe | | | | burn the fuel that was inside the cylinder so |
| Monday or Tuesday tried to turn over once | | | | that unburned fuel was pushed out the |
| then after that not much turn over.This | | | | tailpipe which as pollution and your computer |
| Tuesday jumped it with my husbands car. Was | | | | noted the problem and set the light to warn |
| hard to get jumped but finally did. Went out | | | | you of a potential problem. So, the yellow |
| couple hour later started again no problem | | | | light is doing its job of reporting a problem |
| and check engine light no longer on.Started | | | | with the engine.The next day you get in your |
| Wednesday no check engine light and no | | | | car...and it runs fine...no misfire and no |
| problem.Started today (Thursday) no check | | | | "jerk" is present so no yellow light is seen |
| engine light and no problem.Can this be as | | | | on the dash. The next time the engine |
| simple as a bad cell in the battery? I don't | | | | jerks...the light should come back on.I would |
| want to put a new battery in if something is | | | | start with checking to see if you need a tune |
| draining the battery. What is your opinion of | | | | up first, and see if the "jerking" and check |
| these symptons?Thanks for your help, | | | | engine light issue goes away. If not, then |
| | | | have your mechanic dig deeper into what is |
| JudyHi there Judy,Thanks for your email. I | | | | causing the light to come on, but with |
| really think you might have two | | | | intermittent problems like this your mechanic |
| problems...which was just coincidental. If | | | | will probably have to catch it in the act to |
| the battery was original to the car, it was | | | | be able to properly diagnose it for |
| time for a new one. Five years is the MOST I | | | | you...which might be easier said than |
| have seen out of the life of a car battery. | | | | done.Blessings,Austin DavisVisit my website |
| So you were probably past due there.The check | | | | and learn more about your car. Simple car |
| engine light issue, have you read my article | | | | repair tips anyone can use. Learn how to find |
| on that? I would suspect you might have an | | | | an honest auto mechanic and get the best |
| engine "miss" (since you said you felt the | | | | online auto repair manual on the Internet. |