Car Help

[Buddhagirl]

I don't really know much more about cars than, "Put gas in. Change oil when you remember. Drive." My cars acting...strange. I'm not sure if it's just a normal older car thing, or what. Since I'm low on funds, I figured I'd ask you guys.

I have a 2001 Hyundai Tiburon. 82,000 miles on it and I'm the original owner. It's a 5 speed. No problems with it, really. Lately, right when I start to drive, it revs high. Like in the 2-3 rpm zone (I don't know if that's what you call it.). It continues to do it when I stop at lights. (It actually goes up/down on the revving.) After a couple of minutes, it drives normal.

Is this something I should have checked? I just had the alternator replaced a few months ago, so I hope it's not that. Does my car just need a warm up. It only seems to happen on the first drive of the morning. The rest of the day it's fine.

Any thoughts appreciated since I am broke.

[fyo]

You'll get a much better answer from one of the more knowledgable folks on the board, but I cannot see how it could possibly be the alternator. Likely candidates from my limited knowledge: idle control valve fault (anything from "busted" to "just needs cleaning") or faulty throttle position sensor.

[Buddhagirl]

Hmm...Ok. We'll see if I get any other answers. Also, is this something that the mechanic would maybe check if I just got a tune-up? I don't remember ever getting a tune-up. (Unless that was included in my normal maintenance.) I probably need a good tune-up/oil change/tire rotation.

[fyo]

I'm pretty sure a mechanic is going to know what number of things can cause the very specific symptoms you describe.

Cleaning the idle control valve takes less than 5 minutes if you know your way around an engine. This is something you could probably look up how to do yourself, but if you don't have the tools and some cleaner... well, if you have a mechanic you trust...

[Brian Fein]

Its not the alternator.

I don't know much (i.e. anything) about the Tiburon's engine.  But, it sounds like a sensor problem.  I would encourage you to go to a car forum (there's 30 tons of car forums, and almost definitely one dedicated solely to the Tiburon) and do a search for "high idle at startup" or something like that.  There's some really smart people on these car forums and often times they will tell you exactly how to fix it yourself for cheap.

[Buddhagirl]

Cool. I'll check out a Tiburon board to see if anyone has any ideas. Normally, I would just got to the shop, but I really don't want to. The car just has to last another year or so.

[Frimp]

It could also be something simple. I had a car idle really high once, and was scratching my head. It turned out that the floor mat had moved up, and over the bottom of the gas pedal and was holding it down.

EDIT...Nevermind...if it was the floor mat over the gas pedal, it would be doing it all the time.

[Brian Fein]

I had this problem on my Avenger and it turned out that the Idle Air Controller was not closing properly and getting stuck in the open position.  I replaced it for $30 and problem went away.

This sounds like you could be having a similar problem, because of how you described that it goes away after you've been driving it for a while.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

at Frimp's car troubles. 

[Buddhagirl]

Cool. At least it's not all doom and gloom like I was imagining. This thing needs to stay around until I can get my Honda Insight. Which hasn't been released yet. Plus I wanna wait a year for them to work out the kinks.

[bsfins]

Sounds like you've got a sticky Choke,using old school terms...More than likely it's a throttle body injection system...The first thing I'd do,is go fill my Tank with gas,then get a $5 bottle of Fuel injection cleaner,add it to your gas tank...See if that helps....

I'd do that before I go spend money on a full tune up...If it's a morning thing,Sounds more like a sticking Fuel injector/choke...

[Buddhagirl]

Sounds like you've got a sticky Choke,using old school terms...More than likely it's a throttle body injection system...The first thing I'd do,is go fill my Tank with gas,then get a $5 bottle of Fuel injection cleaner,add it to your gas tank...See if that helps....

I'd do that before I go spend money on a full tune up...If it's a morning thing,Sounds more like a sticking Fuel injector/choke...

I'm going to try this out first. I've never put any of that stuff in my car, so maybe that's it.

[run_to_win]

If only you knew some common working class guys irl.   

[Buddhagirl]

If only you knew some common working class guys irl.   

Nah. I'll just use a mechanic.

[Fau Teixeira]

don't the hyundais come with a 100000 mile / 10 year warranty on the engine? maybe call the dealer to see if that's the case