Timing Belt

[A&F 01 GLS]

Do you have to change your timing belt every 60k? 01 GLS

[JacksonJ]

It's a Nylon belt that can stretch and break. Yes you have to change it. The recommended interval is 60,000. Take your chances if you like or get it done.

[A&F 01 GLS]

do they usually cost 300 dollars?

[bikerPA]

$300 to get it changed, including labor and parts, sounds pretty good to me.

[A&F 01 GLS]

would i not be capable of doing it myself?

[elantra_ON]

if your not sure might as well get the pros to do it. its for your own peace of mind.

[korai9989]

timing belts can be tricky to change, very very meticulous

[JacksonJ]

I do just about any Weekend Mechanic type work to my car, but the timing belt is something that I would not do myself. If you accidently moved the cams after removing it. Your timing would be off and would have some considerable affects to your performance. Also it's roughly around 2 hours for a trained technician to do it in, where I would see myself as taking 4-6 hours to do because I would have to hunt around for the right tools and refer back to instructions to do it.

I know it sounds like a lot of money, but the timing belt is like the backbone of your car.

[BobMs_wht2k2]

Actually to do it right with the w/p it's about a 3-4 hour job for a trained mechanic. I'll be doing 3 real soon. I have mine at 51k now, wife's friends elantra at 59k and best friends boyfriend has 55k on his 04. Guess what I'll be doing soon!

[05xd]

they are not hard to do as long as you take your time.the beta engines timing belt is one of Hyundai's easiest(sp) ones to do next to the alpha engine

[sherimon]

I just got a quote for $240 for the timing belt and labor for my 2001 Hyundai Elantra...maybe you should ask some friends for a referral to a reliable and reasonable mechanic..I'm in San Diego.
p.s. All the other shops wanted $300 plus.

By the way, anybody know if its okay to use a Kragen or Napa timing belt part or should I stick with genuine...there's a huge difference in cost.

[DAILLESTWUN]

I have a question. My car is at 91,000. I've never changed my timing belt lol. Would I notice some small power increase/better performance by changing it? I'm going to do it anyway but just wondering...Thanks

[sherimon]

Its supposed to be changed every 60K.... If it breaks and your going over 30 mph it can actually cause major engine damage.

[BobMs_wht2k2]

If it breaks at idle it can cause major damage.

As for aftermarket belts, don't waste your time. Hyundai has a "unique" shape to the teeth that the aftermarket belts don't have. Plus an OE belt is very reasonably priced.

[evan938]

yeah, the OEM belt is only like 50-60$. that belt ever snaps while the car is running, youre probably going to bend your valves, and end up having to replace the whole head, because you didnt want to replace the belt. trust me, its worth the peace of mind to spend the 3-400$ to replace the belt. and more than that, if you dont (or didnt) replace it at 60k say bye-bye to your powertrain warranty. thats considered regular maintenence and like oil changes, if you dont do it on time, no warranty

[sherimon]

What is a OE belt and a OEM belt...I saw belts for my car at Kragen for $32...the dealer wants $101...whats up?
Sher

[ricerrx7]

OE is original equipment, OEM is original equipment manufacturer. Get the belt from the dealership, the teeth have a special shape. And aftermarket belt won't last because of the shape of the teeth.

[HatchetMan]

Did you notice in the manual that it is required every 60k except in Cali?
The * in my manual refers to it not being required there, always wondered why. Maybe it's warranty work covered by the dealers?

[Doohickie]

Cali cars are considered SULEV, right? It might have something to do with that.

[HatchetMan]

Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle... so what does that mean, that it doesn't have a timing belt???

[golfino]

A lot of cars have a longer recomended interval on cali cars, it is due to the weather, and environmental exposure. they consider the chemical and humidity affects on the belt, and temperature fluctuations. Since these are less likely in Cali the interval is longer, and theoretically the belts should last longer. Had a Mazda Millenia S with the same thing and also I think our Trooper has the same thing.

[bikerPA]

I'm pretty sure that Cali has stronger warranty & consumer protection laws than the rest of the country, so that probably plays into it somehow.

[Bnystrom]

A lot of cars have a longer recomended interval on cali cars, it is due to the weather, and environmental exposure. they consider the chemical and humidity affects on the belt, and temperature fluctuations. Since these are less likely in Cali the interval is longer, and theoretically the belts should last longer.
That makes no sense at all. Depending on where you live in California, you can encounter the same type of weather as in any other part of the country. Additionally, the horrendous smog in LA and Orange counties would certainly not be less damaging to the timing belt and other rubber products than cleaner air elsewhere. The heat in So. Cal. would also be detrimental to engines and rubber parts in general.

California has significantly different emissions standards and warranty laws than the rest of the country. That is almost certainly the reason for the difference in the warranty. It would be interesting to know if CA-spec SULEV cars actually have a different timing belt or simply a different warranty on the same part that the non-SULEV cars have.

[korai9989]

Humidity should actually be a good thing for the belts, considering it keeps the rubber moist and conditioned where as the lack of humidity dries them up, thus they crack. California does have one of the largest ranges of weather patterns across the state.

[golfino]

SULEV cars aside , you are saying there are different types of timing belts installed on cars that are registered in california than the rest of the country? how does someone in Korea building these cars know whether it is going to be registered in california or not? If I purchase a car in tennesse, and move to california does that mean that the life of my timing chain is automatically extended when I cross the border? how is this controlled on the warranty or assembly side???

[Bnystrom]

SULEV cars aside , you are saying there are different types of timing belts installed on cars that are registered in california than the rest of the country? how does someone in Korea building these cars know whether it is going to be registered in california or not? If I purchase a car in tennesse, and move to california does that mean that the life of my timing chain is automatically extended when I cross the border? how is this controlled on the warranty or assembly side???
There is a difference in spec between cars SOLD in CA and those sold in other states. Where you register it is another matter entirely.

As for the timing belt, I don't know if the SULEV engines use a different belt than the standard CVVT engines or if only the warranty is different.

[golfino]

Theres a different timing belt?

[jp_recon]

:(

I just dropped my car off at the dealership this morning for the Timing Belt replacement and to have the A/T transmission flush.

$504 before any taxes or service fees........ *sniffle/cry :(


*Edit*
BAH!! Dealer just called, it's another $83 to replace the accessory belts too.

$587 before taxes......baaaaah.

[bikerPA]

Theres a different timing belt?I don't know if the SULEV engines use a different belt than the standard CVVT engines
You would probably do better to learn about California consumer protection, warranty issues, and whether or not you can even register a non-SULEV Elantra in CA from these folks (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/) than you would from anybody here.

[menallychllngd]

so i live in jersey and we have similar emissions requirements. my car came with a california cat installed does that mean i can put off changing my timing belt because i have one of these sulev engines?

[bikerPA]

so i live in jersey and we have similar emissions requirements. my car came with a california cat installed does that mean i can put off changing my timing belt because i have one of these sulev engines?I'm pretty sure the owner's manual maintenance recommendation says that the 100k interval is for "California," not "California & Jersey." I'd go with 60k.

[menallychllngd]

new jersey is kinda kaliforniaish. yeah i better get on that.

[Bnystrom]

You would probably do better to learn about California consumer protection, warranty issues, and whether or not you can even register a non-SULEV Elantra in CA from these folks (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/) than you would from anybody here.
Sure. I can just imagine the blank stare you'd get if you asked them if there's a difference between the timing belts in SULEV and CVVT Hyundai Elantra engines. :confused:

We already know there's a difference in the warranty.

[sherimon]

You guys are gonna love this one!! I just checked my California owner maintenance book and found out I dont have to change the timing belt for the first 150K (maybe higher, 150K is just as far as the book goes). Thanks guys you bailed me out again. Now I can spend the $$ on all sorts of other things I need for my car. Thats not to say I wont get the timing belt changed eventually, just not now :)

[bikerPA]

you still probably want to get it changed around 100k, when your powertrain warranty dies - it's relatively cheap, compared to a new engine if it snaps.

[sherimon]

Will Do...Thanks BikerPA!!