2002 Sonata 4 cyl. Yellow Error Lite On, Won't Start....Help!

Help. The dash error lite came on. Car idled very rough but she drove o.k. I changed the oil and filter, it was time anyway. The lite went out for 75 miles. Then the lite came on again. Drove the car 65 miles and she died out. Won't start, just cranks. Car dash lite stays on. Car manual states exhaust problems. The manual doesn't goe into detail. MAY HAVE TO BUY A CODE READER. Need your help! Thanks, Brian....

If you're under 60,000 miles, aren't you still under warranty?

No such luck Ray. When my alternator went at 61,000 miles they wouldn't even talk to me. Money's their game. No such loyality. Thanks anyway.

I brought an OBD II TESTER. Code came up: P0340, Camshaht position Sensor A- Bank 1 Circuit Malfunction. Need help? What does this mean? Thanks, Brian....

It means you may've* gotten real lucky. The camshaft position sensor is a relatively easy changeout on the 2.4L I4 motor. It's at the rear of the engine (driver side). Accessing it will require removing the cam cover (aka valve cover). Go to HMAService (http://www.hmaservice.com/), register (free), and access the online service manual for your year and model Sonata I4 motor for instructions. Note, though, that in the upper engine teardown, what the book lists as the crankshaft position sensor off the exhaust camshaft is really the camshaft position sensor. I went round and round with that one until I looked up the schematic diagram in the emissions control system for the I4 and it properly identified the camshaft position sensor off the camshaft and the crankshaft position sensor off the crankshaft as a person of even minimal intelligence would've logically assumed in the first place. If you're uncomfortable delving into this type work, any competent mechanic should be able to handle it in less than an hour. Other than expendable shop materials, the parts list probably won't consist of anything other than a new camshaft position sensor and a new cam cover gasket.

*There is the possibility that the code only points you in the right direction and that your camshaft position sensor is healthy, but being blamed by the failure of some other electrically associated part. Camshaft position sensors are a known problem area in most cars, though - and your car is at about the right mileage. You're probably not looking at a major outlay.

Not to beat a dead horse, but are you the original owner? Hyundai's explicit 10 yr/100,000 mile powertrain warranty states under ENGINE:

Cylinder block/head and all internal parts, manifolds, timing gears and belt, timing cover, gaskets, and seals, oil pump, water pump, fly-wheel, oil pan assembly, and rocker cover and engine mounts.

I realize there may be interpretation questions about "all internal parts", but it still may be worth a question to a dealership's service manager. Good luck :)

Ray, I can't fine the specfic upper engine teardown on the HMAService website. I did get into the manual, engine repair, etc. The Autozone parts salesman where I ordered the part from stated he has had alot of calls for this Camshaht position sensor A part. He stated 90% of the time it is the sensor, if that doesn't work it is the pick-up (part that the sensor snaps into). He said no one has come back stating this didn't fix the problem. Also will the error lite go out on the dash board when the car starts? Thanks, Brian...

Ray, I can't fine the specfic upper engine teardown on the HMAService website. I did get into the manual, engine repair, etc. The Autozone parts salesman where I ordered the part from stated he has had alot of calls for this Camshaht position sensor A part. He stated 90% of the time it is the sensor, if that doesn't work it is the pick-up (part that the sensor snaps into). He said no one has come back stating this didn't fix the problem. Also will the error lite go out on the dash board when the car starts? Thanks, Brian...