Tuesday, August 25, 2015

How to remove and install the serpentine belt on a 2.4L Hyundai Sonata

 This post covers removing and installing the serpentine belt on a 2011 2.4 Hyundai Sonata. If a serpentine wrench will fit in the limited space available on this engine that would be the preferred way to do this job. The method shown involves using common tools to find a means to hold the tension off the belt in order to make removal and installation easier. This enables one person to much more easily perform this sometimes frustrating job.

                                         
                                                   The Job at a glance

  • Tools: Serpentine wrench or optional: 17mm combination wrench, medium size turnbuckle, large "S" hook. 
  • Parts and materials: serpentine belt
  • Cost of Materials: approx. $25 
  • Time: 20 minutes 
  • Shop cost: ? (usually part of other maintenance services)


                                                                   Removal

1) Disconnect the battery.

2) Place the open end of the 17mm combination wrench on the tensioner nut so the wrench is as close as possible to the firewall side of the engine mount. 

3) Place the tension holding tools. The "S" hook goes on a bracket on the wheel well. Place the turnbuckle between the hook and the box end of the combination wrench. Tighten up the turnbuckle until the tension is removed from the belt. 

This is one way to hold the tension off the belt




4) Remove the belt. Leave the holding piece in there and take it off the alternator first. Then pull it off the crankshaft and squeeze it together and pull it out between the tensioner and lower idler. Take it off the water pump and ac compressor and remove from between the lower idler and tensioner. 

Installation

The wrench is shown on the tensioner

1) Leave the holding tools in place. Slip the compressed belt between the lower idler and the tensioner and slip a loop around the crankshaft, ac compressor and up around the alternator. Leave it on top of the lower idler for now. 
2) Slip another loop of the belt between the upper idler and tensioner and around the water pump. 
2) Now make another loop and thread it between the idler and crank pulley. Enlarge and seat it on the crank pulley. 
3) Take the remainder of the belt and thread it over the power steering pump and finally over the alternator. Done
4) Connect the battery.
5) Test

                         

12 comments:

  1. Thank you for the instructions. I can't believe I can't even fit my serpentine belt tool on the tensioner pulley. Just no room in there. I like your solution. I'm going to try to use a deep offset 17mm and cut off the 19mm side and see if I can do it the traditional way first. If that fails, I thank you very much for my plan B. Thanks for listing the tools too.

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    1. Yeah the space to do this job is very limited. I'm not surprised a serpentine tool won't work here. I hope your idea works. Serpentine belts can be so frustrating. That's why I take the time to try to find an easier way to do it. Thanks again for the comment and good luck.

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  2. David, Do you remove the 17 MM wrench and turnbuckle from the tensioner when removing the old belt and putting on the new belt? I don't quite understand how the belt can be taken off and and a new one put on when the 17 MM wrench, tensioner, and S hook are present and the tensioner is retracted. Thanks for discovering an easier way to change the belt! Thanks much, Joe

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  3. No, I don't take off the holding tools to remove and install the belt. The trick is to slip the belt off the crankshaft,water pump and ac compressor and then kind of squeeze it together, kind of make it skinny, and slip it up between the lower idler and tensioner. Then put it back in reverse, finishing by slipping it over the lower idler with a long screwdriver. This is a tougher serpentine belt due to limited space but it can be done this way. I hope this helps and thanks for using the tutorial!

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  4. David, Thanks. I previously had a supercharged Grand Prix and got quite fast at changing the serpentine belt. It does appear that Hyundai has made the task far more difficult then necessary. I ordered the belt and turnbuckle and when my belt shows some wear I'm going to rely on your innovative method.

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  5. Thank You, great advice.

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  6. Do you have the diagram for a 2009 Hyundai sonata limited 2.4l?

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  7. Thanks for the info. I was changing the alternator on a 2013 Optima and had instructions from KIA but they simply said "turn belt tensioner counter counter-clockwise". With your instructions I was able to understand how it works. I didn't use a turnbuckle but was able to use a wrench and push it with a hammer while I maneuvered the belt.

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  8. Hi. Disconnecting the battery not messing up the computer in the car?

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  9. There is no power steering pump pulley in your drawing- I haven't heard of a car NOt having power steering for some time

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    Replies
    1. This diagram is for 2011 model which has electric motor to assist steering and no pump so it is correct.

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