Replace timing belt if no repair history?

Just picked up a 93 Elantra 5-speed cheap. Learned that regular
replacement of timing belt is crucial to the maintenance schedule.

The vehicle has only has 114,000 kms. But..no maintenance history. I'm a
little paranoid about not knowing whether the previous owner did or didn't
replace the timing belt.

Should I just get it done? And be done with it? If it has in fact been
done is there a sticker or something that might have been affixed
somewhere in the engine compartment?

Thanks,

rib
******************************

 

It's possible that a sticker was installed.

When these vehicles were introduced, I saw numerous failures at about 25k
miles (40k km). My advice is that if you can't tell when the timing belt
was last replaced, replace the timing belt, the balance shaft belt, and
the timing belt tensioner. And be sure to stick to the guidelines after
that -- every 4 years or 100k km at the latest. Some people even do it at
80k km just to be safe with this engine. And it WILL bend your valves.
I've seen many failures, and about two managed not to require replacement
of the valves. Many required new heads. And some required complete
engines.

 

Take no chance, get new belt and avoid much sorrow and expense.
Seamus J. Wilson
...

 

I'm going to follow up on this advice and just 'git 'er done' as Larry the
cable guy would say.

I'm curious, though, if you've got an opinion on the root of what looks
like a design issue. Is it possible that engineers had more clout than
marketers? I suggest this possibility under the assumption that engineers
might have prioritized design and performance over owner commitment to
maintenance...and won out?

In short, is the timing belt design just fine if it's replacement interval
is not neglected? Or is the design inherently flawed from the get-go?

***
rib

Bob
Ashley
******************************

 

So it is written, so it shall be done.

Thanks, beefing up support for this prescription.

***
rib

Bob
Ashley
******************************

 

My personal opinion is that there's an inherent design flaw. (Actually,
this is a Mitsubishi - designed engine. They had the same problems with
very premature failure. They even had a recall.) If you look at the
timing belt on the camshaft sprockets, you'll see that the timing belt
only wraps about 1/4 of the way around each sprocket, thus distributing
the entire load of turning the camshafts over a small number of timing
belt teeth. How the belt fails is that the points where the teeth attach
to the backing begin to crack and the teeth strip off the belt.

To my knowledge, Hyundai (and Mitsubishi) have done their best with
revising the timing belt construction to minimize this issue, but failures
are still significantly more frequent than the engines which only have one
camshaft sprocket.

 

My personal opinion is that there's an inherent design flaw. (Actually,
this is a Mitsubishi - designed engine. They had the same problems with
very premature failure. They even had a recall.) If you look at the
timing belt on the camshaft sprockets, you'll see that the timing belt
only wraps about 1/4 of the way around each sprocket, thus distributing
the entire load of turning the camshafts over a small number of timing
belt teeth. How the belt fails is that the points where the teeth attach
to the backing begin to crack and the teeth strip off the belt.

To my knowledge, Hyundai (and Mitsubishi) have done their best with
revising the timing belt construction to minimize this issue, but failures
are still significantly more frequent than the engines which only have one
camshaft sprocket.

 

Okay, so now I'm a wee bit jumpy about this vulnerability. Besides,
sticking to the replacement interval guidelines, can certain driving
habits help to minimize this vulnerability? I'm thinking about gear
shifting and clutching or possibly braking actions or cold starting on the
part of the driver. Would aggressive downshifting put strain on the timing
belt for instance?

Can or should the timing belt be "babied" on a day-to-day basis? I'm
already pretty conservative.

Thanks for any tips.

***
rib

******************************

 

I just bought a 2005 Elantra, are the timing belts any better on the newer
models???


thanks,
Chris.

 

Well crap, my 1998 Elantra has over 60K miles and havnt replaced the timing
belts... I guess i need to get that done. Whats the normal average proce
for it? The engine is the 1.8 DOHC i believe..

Shawn

 

Dumb thing to ask

Did HMC used Goodyear for OEM Belts, all my Belts say Goodyear..

Matthew

 

Stress on the belt is probably a complicated issue, so I'm not sure how
different rpm's or acceleration rates would affect the stress.

 

Your 05 Elantra has only one camshaft sprocket. The second cam is driven
by a chain running around both cams. I've never seen a premature timing
belt failure on any 1996 or newer Elantra (all of which have similar
engine and belt design).

 

It's a great idea to replace your belt, Shawn, but you shouldn't have the
fear of imminent failure referred to for the original poster. Your engine
and belt are of a different design that I've never seen fail prematurely.
Still, the recommended interval is 4 years/60k miles, whichever comes
first.

 

I don't think they used anything GoodYear, with the possible exception of
the timing belt. GoodYear does make high quality belts, in my opinion.

 

Quoting my old high school chemistry teacher "there are no dumb
questions, only dumb answers" -BG

 

Took the car into the shop today. More or less, I just handed over
hyundaitech's instructions. The mechanic agreed that replacing not just
the belt, but also the balance shaft belt and the timing belt tensioner
was the smartest and safest thing to do.

Thanks again hyundaitech. You made me a better informed consumer of auto
repairs.

******************************
rib