Timing belt replacement and timing

Tiny
ROCKETMAN007
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
Is the timing belt and drive belt the same thing? Just now got my car back from the dealership to handle a power steering recall and they said that all Hyundais are supposed to get a new timing belt every 60,000 miles and so far they have no record of it ever being done. How does someone know when it is time to replace it? My car is at 85,000 miles and I don't know if I can afford to have it done. At the dealership they quoted $500. What are the consequences of waiting until it breaks to put in a new one? As of right now I haven't noticed any roughness in driving the car. I asked my mechanic and he says it would be tough to find someone who will do it for less than $500 around here. He says it's very involved and I should do it at the dealership to make sure it is done correctly and that most mechanics don't do timing belts for the sake that it slows business down and makes it tougher to address other customers. I just don't want a poor job done on it as that I pay a lot and it still causes an engine failure.
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Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 AT 5:27 PM

31 Replies

Tiny
ED-WEEZY21
  • MECHANIC
  • 248 POSTS
Just to add to this one because I work at a Hyundai dealership. On these models, for some reason, the belts all dry rot really fast especially the AC belt always starts to crack after about 30,000 miles. Typically when we see the drive belts really worn or really cracked, we recommend the timing belt as well. We use our best judgement when we recommend it not strictly based on mileage but also the age of the car. I've replaced these timing belts on these same exact cars with only 17,000 miles strictly because the car sits around a lot and nature does not stop for anyone so the environment continues to eat away at the belts. These timing belts on these cars are, in my opinion, the easiest timing belts I've ever done on any car. I can finish the entire job without rushing through it and put back together properly in around 45 minutes. My dealership charges about $425 I believe because it's typically charged at 3 hours labor because an inexperienced technician can take that long. I do them all the time so it's second nature. These cars have 2 drive belts and a timing belt. If you're a loyal customer to the dealership, most of the time they will try to hell you out and give you some sort of a discount. If you want to do it your self here is the instructions in the diagrams below. Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what happens.
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Wednesday, May 6th, 2015 AT 5:18 PM
Tiny
ROCKETMAN007
  • MEMBER
  • 39 POSTS
Well I've only gone there to buy the car and get a couple recalled parts installed so I don't know what counts as loyalty. 17,000 miles and the timing belt needed a change? That's only a little more than a year of driving. I Drive often which is part of the reason why I think I should do it soon. I was hoping if 60K miles is the norm I can have it changed once and be good for the rest of the car's life.
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Wednesday, May 6th, 2015 AT 6:10 PM
Tiny
ED-WEEZY21
  • MECHANIC
  • 248 POSTS
Yes only 17,000 miles but the vehicle was 8 was old. Hyundai recommends every 4 years or 60,000 miles. It's worth spending the money now if you plan on keeping the car, otherwise you risk replacing engine components or the entire engine. And no I'm sorry but only going to the dealership to get free work done wouldn't exactly count as a loyal customer.
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Wednesday, May 6th, 2015 AT 6:20 PM
Tiny
ROCKETMAN007
  • MEMBER
  • 39 POSTS
Could they install a timing belt designed for a different car as that it is higher quality and doesn't rot as quickly? Is there a good reference to the highest quality cars out there so I can start researching my next car now?
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Friday, May 8th, 2015 AT 6:58 AM
Tiny
ED-WEEZY21
  • MECHANIC
  • 248 POSTS
No you can not install a timing belt designed for another car onto yours. Timing belts are vehicle specific. The amount of teeth they have, the tension of the belt, and the length of the belt. You can't go based on which vehicles timing belts last longer because it all depends on the manufacturer that makes the actual belts. A timing belt dry rotting or wearing has nothing to do with the vehicle itself. It's based on mileage, age, weather conditions. For example, if you live in the northeast, the timing belts wear faster because of constant climate change. If you live in like Florida, it's almost always a constant temperature which helps prolong the life of the timing belt. Northeast is considered severe weather conditions.
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Friday, May 8th, 2015 AT 9:37 AM
Tiny
PTITLOO051
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
  • 444,000 MILES
I change the timing belt and water pump and tensionner 3 week ago and now look like the t-belt move out of the cam gear I remove the upper cover and the belt move
Any suggestion or idea what could be the problem cause now the car won ´ t start.
Thank you
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Was the tensionier replaced?
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PTITLOO051
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Yes the tensionner have be replace
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
If the engine was running smoothly before this happened again, I would double check the tensionnier to make sure it is good. It has to be allowing the belt to get lose and move.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PTITLOO051
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
The tensionner brand new from Hyundai
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
That is the part that keeps tension on the belt to prevent it from slipping.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PTITLOO051
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Ok I will change the belt and at the same time I will check the tensionner but I wondered if the lower cover could be the problem I saw a groove at the bottom exactely face to face of the crank gear
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Is the cover rubbing?
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BALONEYFEATHERS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 78,000 MILES
I had a new timing belt installed and now it makes noise at between 1000 and 1500 rpm. I had him also install a new water pump. The original serpentine belt was fine even at 78k miles. The tensioner was also fine. This is a 2007 hyundai elantra lim. Auto 2 liter. My mechanic previously installed only a belt on my 2001 sonata 2.4 liter auto and it did not make this whrrring sound. It does not happen within the first few minutes then "comes into being" you really don't hear itonce your in the 1600 plus range on rpm's. Car runs and idles fine. I have only 300 miles on the new belt and my mechanic who checked it out said maybe to put another 300-500 miles on the belt and we'll check it again. I have had good work from this guy over the years.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
I have had similar experiences with timing belts that I got a little too tight, that does not mean there is a problem, just a bit noisy. It may well go away as the belt gets some time on it.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEITH E FLEEGLE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 101,200 MILES
When trying to time engine, the cam chain aligned crank aligned, but the cam pulley is pointing at 7:00 rather than 1200.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
There are marks on both the chain and the gears to line up.

https://www.2carpros.com/images/external/110702120.gif
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ECARBONE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 86,000 MILES
I was told it was time to replace my timing belt and have conflicting information as to whether or not I need to do the water pump at the same time. As far as I know, there are no problems with my pump. The question is, Hyundai says I do not need to do the pump, but a local mechanic says it is a good idea to do both. What should I do?
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
It's called insurance, the question is, why tear the front off the engine and not pay the extra for peace of mind? If you like to gamble, don't replace it! If it was mine I would!
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RDARWINHAYES
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 145,000 MILES
I maintain my car diligently.

In December 2009 (one month ago) I had the timing belt replaced, a new radiator installed, and the valve cover gasket replaced.

My mileage on a subsequent trip decreased dramatically from 34 MPG to 28 MPG.

The garage that performed the work is honest and reliable.

Any thoughts on the cause?
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)

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