Timing belt, etc. -- questions/costs -- 2004 Santa Fe

I have a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Utility 3.5L Auto FWD 6 Cyl 4 Doors with
68,000 miles on it. I bought it used almost 4 years ago. It is in good
condition and it runs well, but I have done none of the scheduled routine
maintenance on it. All it needed while under warranty was a new digital
clock shortly before the warranty ran out. Since then, I just recently had
the battery replaced and had new front brake pads put in at Pep Boys.

I like the vehicle and I am trying to decide whether to keep it another year
or so or buy a newer one now -- maybe a 2008 or 2009 -- that is still under
warranty. Consumer reports says the value of my car now is around $6,500
(trade-in value) to about $8,500 (retail value). I am in Southern New
Jersey (USA), in case that matters

My question is about what to do if I decide to keep this one a little
longer. What scheduled maintenance should I be doing now and about how much
would it cost? For example, I think the recommendation is to change the
timing belt, maybe flush the transmission, etc. And, I guess the choices
are whether to have the dealer do any of those or get them done elsewhere.

Any thoughts, suggestions, rough cost estimates, etc. would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

My question is about what to do if I decide to keep this one a little

..
Regarding the timing belt, you may already know the recommended interval is
60k. I had the belt replaced on my Elantra for about $500. I suggest you
check around. I don't know that there's any advantage to having the dealer
do it.

 

http://repairpal.com/estimator

 

The timing belt should be changed at 60,000 miles. You also have an
interference engine.
http://www.gates.com/part_locator/index.cfm?location_id=3598
What that simply means, if the timing belt goes, you replace the engine as
the valves will smash into the pistons.

No personal experience, but that is a $400 to $500 job. The dealer is
usually higher priced than a good independent shop and no, I'd not take it
to Pep Boys for that type of work.

As for other work, you can check the manual for recommendations. I'd not do
the transmission flush as done wrong, some do more harm than good. Maybe
change anti-freeze. Most spark plugs are good for 100k these days.

If you are going to trade the car, I'd do nothing and dump it this week. If
I was going to keep it or sell it private, I'd do the timing belt for peace
of mind, better resale value, and not having the buyer come after me late at
night after the engine is trashed.

If you buy a newer Santa Fe, the 3.3L engine has a chain or gears, no belts
to change. The 2.7L is interference also, a cost down the road. You m ay
find a really good deal on a brand new one also. Remember that the 100k
mile warranty drops to 60k for the second owner. If they are trying to
clear the present models for the 2011 the deals will be very good You can
get $2500 rebate on an 09 if you can find one still around. I got 0%
financing on my 2010 Sonata.

 

Thanks. Interesting link. It said the estimate for replacing the timing
belt ranges from about $550 to $700 in my area -- plus more if water pump
etc. are done at the same time.

 

Thanks. That's a lot of good information. That's interesting about the
newer 3.3L engines not having belts. I'll have to give it all more thought
before deciding whether to keep this vehicle longer or get a newer one. In
the meantime, I'll probably start checking out prices on newer models.

 

Service intervals on 2004 Santa Fe that may be of interest:

Coolant: 2 years/30,000 miles
Spark plugs: 4 years/60,000 miles
Timing belt: 4 years/60,000 miles
Transmission fluid: 7 years/100,000 miles.

I'd recommend replacing the coolant by time, the plugs and
transmission fluid by mileage, and the timing belt by either.

The timing belt and spark plugs are going to be expensive for this
vehicle.

 

Honda calls for 105,000 miles or 7 years on their timing belts -- Pilot for
example. Why 60k on Hyundai.

 

Because every car engine is different.

 

I don't know, but maybe it's due to the type of engine that the 2004 3.5L
Santa Fe has. It's an "interference type" engine (or something like that)
which means that if the timing belt breaks major damage to the engine can
result. On other types of engines when the timing belt breaks the engine
just conks out suddenly but the engine isn't damaged. So I assume that
Hyundai needs to proactively prevent the timing belt from breaking and
ruining the engine by replacing the belt sooner.

That's actually a dilemma that I am facing now -- whether to push my luck
and keep the vehicle a little longer and hope the timing belt doesn't break
and ruin the engine, or get the timing belt replaced now, or trade in the
car now and get a newer Santa Fe.

 

So, the design of the Hyundai V6 is such where timing belt life is less than
Honda, Toyota and so forth. Given the other comments vis plugs and so
forth, the maintenance costs for the Hyundai must be quite high
comparatively.

 

Not true.
Less than some, the same as many others. Gates, the largest timing belt
maker recommends 60,000 miles for many cars. As for maintenance cost
overall, in 67000 miles on my last Sonata, my only cost of maintenance was
oil changes and two tires. It has been the lowest maintenance cost car I've
ever owned. Most of the newer engines no longer have belts so that cost is
eliminated.

You can check here:
http://www.gates.com/downloads/download_common.cfm?file=428-1466_web.pdf&folder=brochure

Note that some Honda models are 60k, a few Toyotas are 60k, many are 90k
normal, 60k severe.

 

Not 'quite high', almost the same, as long as you compare same type of
car of same year as another brand, and as a plus you get 10 years
drivetrain warranty and a much lower initial cost ... does Toyota or
Honda give you anything comparable ????

 

Well, I guess it depends on how you define "life". It just cost
me $800 to have an independent shop replace my belt, waterpump,
serpentine etc. because I didn't feel up to the challenge at the
time. I'm the second owner of the car, and I have the records. No
sign of the timing belt being done, so I presume it lasted 7
years and 104K. I didn't feel like finding out exactly *how* long
it would last. I don't think I'll do it again, if I get 7 years
out of this one, I think it will be more practical to take my
chances.

Dealer quoted me $400 for a "tune up"(plugs and wires). I'll do
it myself, it's not often I make $300 in one afternoon <g>.

2002 Sonata LX, 2.7L

 

Just had the timing belt package (water pump, seals, gaskets, all drive
belts -- such as ac and so forth, coolant change, inspection brake clean)
replaced on our 03 pilot at 90k miles. It hit the 7 year mark for change.
Price with a 10% discount at my local Honda dealer was $631.23. Thought
that was a reasonable deal.

 

That's excellent deal!

 

Got a nice dealer, keep him, not too many of these around.

 

Thanks again for all of the feedback.

I called the dealer today and got prices for various work. In case anyone
else is interested, the costs were:

$590 for timing belt replacement
$ 97 more if it needs a new Tensioner
$ 79 more for two regular belts if it needs them
$109 for transmission service/flush
$ 72 for radiator flush

So, from $590 to $947 depending on what it needs and what I decide to get
done.

Plus sales tax (7% in New Jersey)

 

And no one seems upset by this.

Is this common for ALL Asian brand cars ?

Other than fluid changes, I don't remember
this "50K-mile bite in the ass" from any American made cars.

 

I remember back about 25 years when I was still working, a lot of
employees had Ford Escorts as company cars. There were cases where a
timing belt broke and destroyed the engine.


---MIKE---