Need to get my timing belt changes and I cant decide if I want to do myself with a friends help or just go pay $250 to have it done. Ive never done it but I'm sure I can figure it out. But then again, if I screw it up then my engine goes boom. So is it just better to go and pay someone who has done it and knows what they are doing?

 

$250 is a hell of a deal. I'd do that. I took on my mom's to save her over $400 and due to a faulty belt, it failed and caused valve damage. She wasn't going to make me replace the engine, so she ended up getting a new car. If she had taken it somewhere she would have had some recourse.

 

The older Hyundai 4cylinders are by far the easiest motor to change a timing belt on aside from a couple volvos. Being single sprocket on the belt side makes it even easier. I wouldn't be afraid to tackle it yourself if you have some general mechanical knowledge and a service manual. Just double/triple check your marks



Is that $250 with the water pump too? If so that's a smokin deal and I would probably just do that's if the shop is reputable.

 

I paid to have it done once, it was $650 and they used a cheap belt that snapped and bent valves. $250 sounds too good to be true. They should be replacing the idler pulley and water pump. I replace the tensioner also when I'm in there. In parts alone I'm close to $250 doing it myself.



It isn't that tough to do. I suggest you have a strong impact wrench and some torque limiting extensions for removing and tightening the crank pulley.