Automotive

Elantra accelerator briefly stopped working on the freeway

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  • Aug 13th, 2017 11:14 pm
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Aug 12th, 2017 5:38 pm
omaroz92 [OP]
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Jul 12, 2017
16 posts
5 upvotes

Aug 12th, 2017 5:38 pm

Elantra accelerator briefly stopped working on the freeway

Hi. While I was driving my 2013 Elantra on 407 today, the car swerving light by my odometer started to flash and my accelerator briefly stopped working and then worked right after. It did this a few times until I pulled over to the side, turned off my engine and turned it back on after a minute. I tried going through the Hyundai forums but no one seems to know anything about it. Did anybody else have this issue? I'm going to take the damn car back to the dealer and thankfully I'm still under my warranty. This is atrocious. These stupid Elantras come with so many problems.

But yea if anyone knows anything about this sort of problem, I'd like to learn more.
30 replies
Aug 12th, 2017 5:45 pm
warpdwhim
Sr. Member
Dec 25, 2006
674 posts
626 upvotes
Winnipeg

Aug 12th, 2017 5:45 pm

Something is wrong with the car's anti-skid/traction control/vehicle stability control. Could be g-sensors, abs sensors or any number of things. Good luck getting it fixed if it isn't happening when you take it in to a shop.(unless there's a repair/recall bulletin on it)
People will believe what they want to believe whether fact or fiction.
'tis most frustrating when they aren't open to see and/or learn which is which.
Aug 12th, 2017 5:53 pm
jzmtl
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Jun 14, 2008
4247 posts
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Montreal

Aug 12th, 2017 5:53 pm

Does that year have drive by wire throttle or still cable linked?
Aug 12th, 2017 5:57 pm
vkizzle
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Aug 22, 2011
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Aug 12th, 2017 5:57 pm

Traction control is kicking in.
Turn it off, for the time being.
Aug 12th, 2017 6:06 pm
omaroz92 [OP]
Newbie
Jul 12, 2017
16 posts
5 upvotes

Aug 12th, 2017 6:06 pm

And then do what? Am I not able to drive it? You think I should have it towed to the dealer?
Aug 12th, 2017 6:13 pm
morpheus_1987
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Jun 19, 2009
1031 posts
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Toronto

Aug 12th, 2017 6:13 pm

Was there a patch of water or something that you hit at high speed that may have triggered the light indicating traction/stability control? You should be able to turn it off and continue to drive it without any issues. The traction/stability control system just won't kick in to assist you anymore in case of any traction loss to apply brakes/cut throttle for you, which shouldn't be much of a problem since's not winter. It is best you get it looked at though.
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Aug 12th, 2017 6:23 pm
omaroz92 [OP]
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Jul 12, 2017
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Aug 12th, 2017 6:23 pm

There was heavy rainfall in Toronto.
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Aug 12th, 2017 6:26 pm
morpheus_1987
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Aug 12th, 2017 6:26 pm

If it came on because you hit a patch of water that was deep enough to drag one side of your car enough to cause the light to turn on then it is functioning fine and you just need to read up about the safety systems of your vehicle.
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Aug 12th, 2017 6:31 pm
booblehead
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Jul 30, 2007
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Toronto

Aug 12th, 2017 6:31 pm

Hydoplaning and/or due to balding tires ?
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Aug 12th, 2017 7:06 pm
sickcars
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Mar 13, 2004
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Aug 12th, 2017 7:06 pm

So this happened while you were driving in heavy rain today?

if so then the car is working fine, it cut power because your tires were slipping & had no traction (probably in deep water like a puddle). You may have cheap or worn out tires which would cause this, does not sound like there is an issue with the car.
omaroz92 wrote: ↑ There was heavy rainfall in Toronto.
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Aug 12th, 2017 8:02 pm
morpheus_1987
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Toronto

Aug 12th, 2017 8:02 pm

Cars with AWD systems still have traction/stability control systems so no it would not be any different. AWD is more for redistributing power to wheels that have traction while stability/traction control is all about cutting power to maintain control.
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Aug 12th, 2017 8:32 pm
milolai
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Dec 24, 2005
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Aug 12th, 2017 8:32 pm

[..]

sounds like you slipped, lost traction and your car corrected and saved you without you noticing.
Last edited by MrDisco on Aug 12th, 2017 8:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: No need for that
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Aug 12th, 2017 8:37 pm
omaroz92 [OP]
Newbie
Jul 12, 2017
16 posts
5 upvotes

Aug 12th, 2017 8:37 pm

No. [..]. None of that happened.
Last edited by MrDisco on Aug 12th, 2017 8:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: No need for that
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Aug 12th, 2017 10:10 pm
warpdwhim
Sr. Member
Dec 25, 2006
674 posts
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Winnipeg

Aug 12th, 2017 10:10 pm

milolai wrote: ↑ [..]

sounds like you slipped, lost traction and your car corrected and saved you without you noticing.
I guess you didn't actually read his original post. It happened multiple times until he pulled over and cycled the ignition.
Last edited by MrDisco on Aug 12th, 2017 10:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Quote edited
People will believe what they want to believe whether fact or fiction.
'tis most frustrating when they aren't open to see and/or learn which is which.
0
Aug 12th, 2017 10:12 pm
milolai
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Dec 24, 2005
5766 posts
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Aug 12th, 2017 10:12 pm

warpdwhim wrote: ↑ I guess you didn't actually read his original post. It happened multiple times until he pulled over and cycled the ignition.
there was heavy rain.
he was probably hydroplaning
[..]
Last edited by MrDisco on Aug 12th, 2017 10:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: No need for that
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Aug 12th, 2017 10:40 pm
engineered
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Aug 12th, 2017 10:40 pm

OP, sounds like you were driving in the rain through puddles and either you were going too fast for the conditions or your tires are low on tread. If you have the same issues in the dry, then maybe your ABS sensor is failing or the tone ring it senses is damaged.
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Aug 12th, 2017 10:40 pm
trixstar
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Jun 11, 2005
13589 posts
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Toronto

Aug 12th, 2017 10:40 pm

the car was designed to do that. That's why you couldnt find any info on it. lol. Sort of like asking why my ABS kicks in when I'm braking in heavy snow.
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Aug 13th, 2017 1:33 am
sk1001
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Nov 28, 2013
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London, ON

Aug 13th, 2017 1:33 am

like others have stated the esc kicked in, and you somewhat lose throttle response .
happens in snow too, and the car corrects itself.. while it is correct itself you sometimes lose input so your car doesn't go crazy
Aug 13th, 2017 3:07 am
vaportech
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Jun 26, 2007
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Aug 13th, 2017 3:07 am

The indicator you saw was the stability control indicator that kicked in. Stability control cuts off all power by electronically deactivating the throttle. The design is so during limited traction events where the abs wheel speed sensors detect high amounts of traction loss through sudden delta of wheel speed on one wheel compared to other wheels, it will cut power so the wheel doesn't get more power and continue to slip more. By cutting off engine power the wheel will reduce in speed and come back into the range of traction capable from the tires for the current condition.

Based on what you have said, it's quite possible that a hydroplane situation was occurring.

Contrary to popular belief you do not have to hit large puddles to hydroplane.

As long as there is more water than the tire is able to displace then a hydroplane condition will occur.

Simple formula is this.

Amount of water : Tires ability to displace water : Speed

This is what happened to you:

More speed + condition of tire = less amount of water displaced = no traction

Have your tire tread depth checked, if it's below 4/32nd it's ability to displace water at higher speeds is greatly reduced from even 6/32nd. Tire wear vs performance is not linear it is exponential. That means if tire tread is at 50% of its new life, does not mean operates at 50% reduced performance. It's closer to 70%
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