I've been looking around the forums here for timing belt replacement costs, etc, but I havent been able to find the answer yet. I'm in Southern California and looking for a place to do the timing belt job for a decent price. As I understand it, the dealer charges are outrageous. Its a 2005 Elantra, with 87k miles on it, I'm sure its ready to go any time now.

What are some good places that will do it for a reasonable price?

Thanks in advance

Prices vary by location. I don't think the dealer charge is outrageous. Have you actually called a dealer and asked them or are you just assuming it's "outrageous"?

plus there is an added advantage of going to your dealer....you know the job is being done properly......so if you do go elsewhere make sure you can trust them to fit the timing belt correctly

NOTE: This is not an endorsement, just a comment. I haven't had my Elantra belt done yet; only 40,000 miles so far. But I've heard it is a fairly typical replacement. I've head belts changed by Pep Boys on a Ford Aspire and a Ford Escort, and the replacements on them cost less than half what I've heard a Hyundai dealer charges. A timing belt is a very common repair; the majority of cars need them done every 60,000 miles these days. I don't know that I would trust Pep Boys with very sophisticated repairs, but I think they can do a timing belt okay (in my experience).

For a 2005 Elantra it's recommended that the Timing Belt be replaced at 60,000 miles. My local dealer published a maintenance Fee schedule listing

"Replace timing belt @60K starting at $349.95. Some vehicles slightly higher".

Call around. My dealer was going to charged $800+ for timing belt and water cooler replacement for my 02 Elantra. The local Merchants tires was going to charge $600+, while my local Midas shop charged $400+. Needless to say, I went with Midas.

Do you get your brakes serviced at the cheapest place? You get what you pay for and if you want cheap go to walmart if you want it to last with no surprises go to the people that built the car you depend on to get you to work so you can make money to feed yourself and your family. It will cot at least 15k to replace that car so 4-6 hundred is not out of line every 5 years.

Just because you take it to the dealer does not mean it will be done right. I took mine to the dealer (where I have bought two new elantra's 02 & 08) to have them replace a thermostat. Yea its a simple job but I just didn't have the time to mess with it and thought they could do it quicker. Next thing I know the service writer is telling me I need to replace the water pump because its "probably" leaking and while they are in there they might as well replace the timing belt. I say no thank you, just the thermostat and a oil change ($150).

I get a call an hour later saying I'm gonna need a tow truck to get my car home unless they replace the pump/timing belt! I ask them how much will it cost for the water pump and timing belt and they said $500.00. Then they said my valve cover gasket is leaking and to fix that it would bring the price up to $800.00!!! I said no thanks again, just replace the thermostat.

Long story short, I get there and their story changes again. Now instead of needing to replace the water pump/timing belt, my radiator is leaking! OK.....I explain to them I replaced the radiator myself 6 months prior. Then they proceed to show me where its leaking and that because I tightened a bolt to tight when I installed it 6 months ago, it is cracked and now leaking like a sieve.

Sorry for the rant but my point is most people think dealerships are the end all of service departments when they are actually some of the worst. DO YOUR RESEARCH!

joecamel, look through these threads below and you will see why I think the dealer's shop is not any better than others such as Midas, Merchant Tires, etc.

Engine Problems During Startup
2002 Elantra Startup Problem
Cargo/Trunk Light for 02 Elantra GLS

All the issues I mentioned in the past still exist. The dealer COULDN'T fix anything that I mentioned.




This post has been edited by PsychoFan: May 27 2008, 12:10 PM

So you went to the dealer with a problem that they attempted to repair, did not, and you did not go back? You looked for a lamp they may or may not have left out and you did not go back? Try talking about waccs and engagement lag to them and give them the car long enough to replicate the complaint. You have the right to say "no I have paid you to fix it and you haven't yet" but if you don't go back you will not get it fixed EVER.