How to Replace the Serpentine Belt in a Hyundai Sonata

A main drive belt, or serpentine belt, is a longer belt that drives multiple accessories. In the Hyundai Sonata, there is generally one serpentine belt driving the alternator, power steering and air conditioner compressor. Replacing the belt is a little tricky on the Hyundai Sonata, as owners have testified in auto forums. Here's the general way some mechanics and Hyundai Sonata owners address changing the serpentine belt.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Replacement belt
• Wrench Set (with variable wrench sizes for different models)

1. Find the tensioner. The serpentine belt tensioner is what holds the belt in place with the correct tension: it is held to the engine by two bolts. Some describe the Hyundai Sonata tensioner pulley as attached to a teardrop shape, with the bolts holding the structure to the engine.

2. Remove the two bolts near the tensioner with your wrench (bolt size may vary by model). Take off the tensioner and the belt.

3. Use a belt routing diagram or your own sketches to replace the serpentine belt. This is helpful for some models: from the power steering pump, the belt goes to the left of the idler pulley, then over and around the right side of the air conditioner compressor pulley, around the left side of the crank pulley, to the right of the tensioner pulley, and down to the alternator.

4. Replace the tensioner and the new belt together. Mechanics recommend seating the belt on the tensioner before replacing the tensioner onto the engine rather than trying to pry the belt over the pulley.

5. Tighten the two lock bolts that hold the tensioner.

6. Check to see that the belt is seated correctly on all of the pulleys. Run the engine and observe to check for proper installation.

Tips & Warnings

• For optimal maintenance, check the belt every 6 months or so--less for heavy mileage--for possible replacement.
• This information relates to specific model years for the Hyundai Sonata. Detailed routing diagrams, tools needed and methods for replacement should be in your owner's documentation for your specific Hyundai Sonata.

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