Change belt now or move to California?

If I move to California can I delay replacing the timing belt on my
60.000mi. 2004 Sonata without losing my drive train warranty?

 

It would appear so. Of course, the powertrain warranty never becomes
invalid. It just doesn't cover timing belt failure (nor consequential
damage) caused by the owner's lack of maintenance (except for replacing
the timing belt in California, as you note).

If you have the 2.4L engine, do not delay in replacing the timing and
balance shaft belts. They'll never make it to 100k. I've seen several
strip prior to the 60k mark.

 

Huh. Mine's at 114k, and I don't think the previous owner replaced
it... you're scaring me

I have not been following this thread closely -- I assume there is no
difference between the timing belt in California or anything in the
engine that would make it last longer?

 

H/T, have you seen a lot of failures on the XG350 3.5 litre engines. I
guess the Santa Fe has the same engine. In order to stay cheap built, they
sure missed the boat (pardon the pun) going to a cheap assed belt that is
junk from a metal tried and true, timing gear. Why make an engine that will
last 200k miles that has a cheap assed belt that has to be replaced like
the old engines used to have to have a valve job every few thousand miles
that you have to dis assemble the whole front end of the car to complete
for the warranty to run the 100,000 miles. Had I been told of that
requirement feature when I made the purchase in 2002, Id have let it sit
on the showroom floor. Even though it has been one of the best cars I've
ever owned, that feature would have nixed me buying it.

 

No, there's no difference. I suspect this is a legal issue specific to
California. If you've got the V6, the belt will last longer than 60k. If
you've got the 2.4, you should be *very* scared.

 

I don't recall seeing a failure on a 3.5 (or the similar 3.0 in the '01
XG). I've heard of a couple, but I don't recall any being close to the
maintenance interval. I wouldn't be concerned that it'll break just over
the interval, but by the same token, the longer you go, the greater your
chances of having a problem.

As for the use of a timing belt, many well-respected manufacturers, such
as Toyota and Honda, use timing belts. I, too, would prefer a chain, but
insisting on one may pare away all the choices you find reasonable.
Beginning in 2006, the 2.4, 3.3, and 3.8 Hyundai engines all use chain.

 

I hear what you are saying, pal. I also have that 3.5L V6, though mine is
on a Kia Sedona.

But I also have thoroughly loved my Sedonas. And even though it annoys me
when the time comes to have to change the timing belt, that has not altered
my opinion of the vehicle or its powertrain. Even though that 3.5L has a
belt, and is not the greatest on fuel mileage, it has been one seriously
good powertrain on the vehicles I have had it on. And a friend who also has
it on his Santa Fe, thinks the same thing.

 

Add Nissan to that list, my 87 300Z turbo uses a timing belt.

Glad I dont have to worry about this on my wife's 07 sante fe.

 

What interval to change the timing belt on the 3.5L does Kia suggest??
Do they share the same engine that Hyundai uses??

 

60,000 miles for the interval on the Sedona.

As for, "Do they share the same engines?" my guess is, "yes," to some
extent. I know that the new 2.4L 4 that is in the Hyundai Sonata is the
same one found in the Kia Optima. Same for the new 3.8L engine that has
appeared in the Azera and Entourage (as well as the Sedona and Amanti), and
the 2.7L V6 found in all kinds of vehicles of both brands.

A question I have (maybe directed towards Mr. HyundaiTech) is regarding
Hyundai's new 3.3L V6, found (apparently only) in the Sonata and Santa Fe.
Why is this engine not used in more Hyundais and/or Kias? I like the 3.8L
V6, but it seems to be a tad thirsty. And from what I can tell, the 3.3
would be more than adequate for at least a couple of the applications that
currently have the 3.8L in them.

Thoughts??

 

The 3.3 has actually started appearing in low-line Azeras. I've noticed
the Kia Optima uses the 2.7 rather than the 3.3.

As to why, I suspect it's primarily driven by marketing and market demand.

 

I have another theory, HyundaiTech, but it would require some knowledge of
where all the Hyundais are built.

If I am not mistaken, the vehicles that have that 3.3L V6 are built at the
American Hyundai plant, which I believe is on the border of Georgia and
Alabama. That leads me to believe that the 3.3L is an American built
engine, and only used here, not in Korea.

That would explain its distribution, as I believe they are now also starting
to build some Azeras at that plant as well.

Personally, I like what I have heard about the 3.3 - very good power,
fuel-economy as good as you will get in the 2.7, and much better than you
will get in the 3.8, reliable, no timing belt. A good engine.

 

You may be right

I read the 3.3 was a product of a partnership with engineers from Chrysler,
Mitsubishi, and Hyundai. My Sonata has the 3.3 and it has plenty of power,
quiet, smooth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_Lambda_engine
The Hyundai Lambda engine family is the company's modern all-aluminum V6. It
is manufactured at Hyundai's HMMA plant in Montgomery, Alabama.



http://www.hmmausa.com/uploadedFiles/Our_Company/Tour.Brochure.pdf

Engine Shop

HMMA takes pride in having its own Engine Shop.

The Hyundai V-6, 3.3 liter engine, producing 234 horsepower is made here on
site in Montgomery.

Castings of engine blocks, heads and crankshafts are delivered from
suppliers and machined to HMMA’s

exact specifications. Over 150 computer-controlled machines perform
precision cuts to these engine parts. A

sophisticated test laboratory performs precision computer measurements to
ensure the machining process cut

and drilled the metal to proper specifications. After machining and
precision measurement testing, the parts are moved along

a conveyor system to engine assembly where Team Members follow detailed
procedures to assemble

pieces of the engine. All engines are first cold-tested for leaks, then
hot-tested, by starting

the engine to ensure it meets manufacturing specifications.

 

I know that the 3.3 in the Sonata and Santa Fe is manufactured in the
Alabama plant (by looking at the Monroney sticker). I haven't heard of
any Azeras being manufactured in the U.S., but I suppose it's possible. I
didn't think to look closely at the VIN of the one I noticed with the 3.3.

The 2.4 is the collaboration between Chrysler, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi.
To my knowledge, the 3.3 is a product of Hyundai only.

 

Since you mentioned that collaberation, isn't there a collaberative effort
(that may or may not involve Hyundai/Kia) with a transmission as well? I
want to say that it is a 6-speed automatic, but it might be only 5.

I also recently heard of a collaberative effort between GM and Ford (if I
heard correctly), again I am thinking for a transmission, but maybe it was a
whole powertrain. Now THAT would be a first.

 

Apparently, both of those engines (2.4L 4 and 3.3L V6) are turning out to be
very special.

I am told the four is good enough and powerful enough (especially when mated
with the five-speed automatic that is standard in the Kia Optima, though I
am not sure about the Sonata), that it is more than adequate for most
people. And pretty sparing on fuel as well.

The 3.3 is just one seriously good motor.

 

There's no transmission collaboration to my knowledge (which isn't much on
this front). Hyundai uses an Aisin Warner 6-Speed in the Veracruz. All
their other transmissions are Mitsubishi-related. Not sure about Kia;
they may still have some Mazda product. Purportedly, the Aisin Warner is
the same one Toyota has been using with nearly no troubles for some time
now.

Talk of a Ford-GM 6-speed automatic transmission venture began over 5
years ago. Not sure if it went anywhere, though.