Timeing belt question

[hywman]

How long have you folks went wiyhout changing the timing belt? = miles/months/years?
The reason I ask maitenace book says 60000 miles on our 2005 gt.

thanks

[lowsonoma1999]

You can usually go longer than 60k without changing, however, if you don't change it, and the belt breaks after 60k miles, no warranty. It is an interference motor, so if the belt breaks, you are going to be bending some valves. So if you don't change it, the new motor is on you, not Hyundai.

[hywman]

Originally Posted by lowsonoma1999

You can usually go longer than 60k without changing, however, if you don't change it, and the belt breaks after 60k miles, no warranty. It is an interference motor, so if the belt breaks, you are going to be bending some valves. So if you don't change it, the new motor is on you, not Hyundai.

Thanks
lowsonoma1999 for the good info and time appreciated

[Wa jang chang]

Originally Posted by lowsonoma1999

You can usually go longer than 60k without changing, however, if you don't change it, and the belt breaks after 60k miles, no warranty. It is an interference motor, so if the belt breaks, you are going to be bending some valves. So if you don't change it, the new motor is on you, not Hyundai.

My 2001 Elentra is due replacing timing belt. What is a good price to have someone done this? I don't want to get ripped off.

[jeff11214]

I have a 99' Hyundai Elantra GLS Sedan. Have 99,000 miles already and haven't had the timing belt replaced yet but I plan on it. I think it's a good idea to go to the Dealer to have the work done there only because it's a big job and the dealer is more equipped and familiar with your car. Job takes about 3 hours to do. I priced around at 3 different Hyundai Dealerships and they all gave me different prices. Doesn't surprise me though. I just bought a part that I needed from the dealer and also got 3 different prices. It definitely pays to shop around. For my car, the lowest price to have the timing belt replaced is $400.00. The other 2 prices were $500.00 and $650.00. Huge difference!! And these are all Hyundai Dealerships in NY. So for that much money you better make sure you're going to someone reliable.

[Wa jang chang]

Definitely you should shop around (let your fingers do the work). Calling few places myself saved me a lot. One of local refutbable shop quoted me between $850 and $1200. I asked why so expensive, the man replied that they would not just replace the belt but they do the whole nine yard (replacing water pump and belt tensioner among other things) and guarantee their work for 3 yrs. I called another shop that quoted me $275 plus tax. Then I called the local Hyndai dealership that quoted me $269 plus tax. I dropped the car off this morning 8 am and it was ready for pick up at 1230 pm. Itemized bill shows: Replacing belt labor $245; Belt $72.53; Labor Discount -$50; Sales Tax $3.63. I paid total $271.16. The Hyndai service guy told me that unlike other vehicles you don't have to touch the water pump at all to replace the timing belt. So if someone charges you for replenishing radiator coolant for doing the timing belt, you have been ripped off.

[toocrazy2yoo]

If it hasn't broken yet, I'd have it done at the dealer. I bought my 92 with 88,000 on it just after the guy before me replaced the engine owing to a broken/slipped belt. His belt failed at 70MPH (about 4000 rpm by my count on the tach), and the destruction of the valve train, pistons, and crank was quite complete. Total replacement.

Have them replace the water pump and tensioner, too. They're cheap parts, and are behind the belt, so if they fail, you get to do the belt over again anyway. Most of the cost is labor after all. Total cost for mine was a hair over 650.00. Fairfax Hyundai in No. Va. has always done mine. They seem to snoop out other stuff that needs doing, too, such as worn front end parts and so on, so these timing belt replacements are a good time to fix other stuff, too. The proof is in the pudding, the car has 228,000 on it, and is still in great running shape, just came back from a 1000 mile trip to Massachusetts, and it never skipped a beat.

Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Not a ton, just the important stuff. It's been a great little car.

[Hyundaifan]

I own a '99 elantra wagon and I have a little over 103,000. I haven't changed the timing belt yet. I bought the car from the first owner when it had 62000 miles on it. He told me that the timing belt was not changed. Just bought timing belt today. Paid $54 at the Hyundai dealer in Queens and will have it replaced by my mechanic (good friend of mine) for $100. You can't go cheaper than that!!

If you think that is high mileage, I used to work at a collision body shop in Brooklyn and one of our fellow customers was an older woman who drove a '97 elantra wagon. One day my boss asked her, "when did you change the timing belt?" she asked him back, "what is a timing belt?" We looked at the mileage of her car and it read 148,792 miles. And guess what?? She was the original owner!! We made her come back asap to change it and two days later she did. She's really happy with the wagon...

[Anozira]

I was about to post a similar posting here (asking about timing belts) I have a 2000 elantra with 95k on it. never replaced the belt yet but getting ready to here real soon, cant afford to do but but really cant afford to replace her engine more so.

[Hyundaifan]

You know it's hard to find the time and money to change a timing belt and I know that because I haven't done it myself yet. (I plan to do it this Saturday). I kept on driving and driving and I totally forgot what could happen when that darn belt just snaps in half. Just the thought of it made me buy a belt yesterday and I have to replace it. See the good thing with the Hyundai is that the timing belt does not run the water pump so all you have to change is the belt itself. A lot of people change the pulleys because they think they have to. If your engine isn't making any cricket noises when started and it runs smooth then the only thing you would have to change is the timing belt. A friend of mine has an Elantra and he had idling problems with his engine. He also experienced a lot of cricket noises from his engine. As soon as he changed his timing belt and the pulleys the problem went away. So try to find the time and money now because later you'll be hitting yourself over the head.