🔧 Tucson - Timing Belt Replacement

Your Tucson’s 1.6L turbo engine does not use a timing belt. It uses a timing chain (a metal chain inside the engine) to keep the crankshaft and camshafts in sync.

So there’s no timing belt to replace on your Tucson. If you’re trying to fix a noise, misfire, or a “check engine” issue related to timing, that typically points to timing chain/tensioner/guides service instead.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 6-10 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a cold engine; hot coolant/exhaust can burn you.
• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable to prevent accidental starting.
• ⚠️ Support the engine before removing any engine mount; the engine can drop.
• ⚠️ If timing is set wrong, you can cause severe engine damage—double-check every timing mark before turning the engine.
• ⚠️ Use jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Metric socket set 8mm-22mm
• Metric wrench set 8mm-22mm
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench 10-200 Nm
• Extension set 3" and 6"
• Universal swivel adapter 3/8"
• Screwdriver set Phillips #2 and flathead
• Trim clip remover
• Serpentine belt tool 14mm
• Drain pan 10-quart
• Funnel
• Gasket scraper
• Brake cleaner spray
• RTV silicone gasket maker (engine safe)
• Crank pulley holding tool (specialty)
• Harmonic balancer puller kit (specialty)
• Camshaft locking tool set (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Timing chain - Qty: 1
• Timing chain tensioner - Qty: 1
• Timing chain guides - Qty: 1 set
• Timing cover gasket set - Qty: 1
• Front crankshaft seal - Qty: 1
• Valve cover gasket - Qty: 1
• Crankshaft pulley bolt (single-use) - Qty: 1
• Engine coolant (Hyundai-compatible, pre-mix) - Qty: 1-2 gallons
• Engine oil (full synthetic, correct spec for your Tucson) - Qty: 5 quarts
• Oil filter - Qty: 1
• Accessory drive belt - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• Disconnect the battery using a 10mm socket (negative terminal first).
• Raise the front and support with jack stands at solid lift points.
• Remove the right-front wheel using the correct lug socket, then remove the right splash shield with a trim clip remover.
• Take photos before every big removal.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Drain fluids (coolant, then oil)

• Place a drain pan 10-quart under the radiator drain and open it (use a flathead screwdriver if needed).
• Drain engine oil using a 17mm socket (typical) and remove the oil filter by hand or with the correct tool.
• Label bolts in bags by location.

Step 2: Remove intake/engine cover items for access

• Remove the engine cover by lifting it off (no tool) or remove fasteners with a 10mm socket if equipped.
• Remove intake ducting/clamps using a flathead screwdriver and/or 10mm socket.

Step 3: Remove the accessory (serpentine) belt

• Use a serpentine belt tool 14mm to rotate the belt tensioner and slip the belt off.
• Serpentine belt tool = a long handled wrench made to release belt tension safely.

Step 4: Support the engine and remove the right engine mount

• Place a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) under the engine with a safe pad point (use a block of wood if available).
• Remove the right engine mount bolts using a metric socket set and breaker bar.
• Torque on reassembly: Torque to 55-75 Nm (41-55 ft-lbs) (typical mount fastener range).

Step 5: Remove the crankshaft pulley (harmonic balancer)

• Use a crank pulley holding tool (specialty) to hold the pulley while loosening the crank bolt with a breaker bar.
• Remove the pulley using a harmonic balancer puller kit (specialty) if it doesn’t slide off by hand.
• Harmonic balancer puller = a tool that pulls the pulley off evenly without damage.

Step 6: Set engine to Top Dead Center (TDC) on cylinder #1

• Rotate the crankshaft clockwise using the correct socket on the crank bolt until timing marks align.
• Install the camshaft locking tool set (specialty) to prevent cam movement.
• Never rotate engine counterclockwise.

Step 7: Remove valve cover and front timing cover

• Remove ignition coil bolts with a 10mm socket, unplug coils, and remove coils.
• Remove the valve cover bolts using a 10mm socket, then lift off the valve cover.
• Remove front timing cover bolts using a metric socket set and extensions.
• Carefully separate the cover using a flathead screwdriver only at designated pry points (don’t gouge surfaces).

Step 8: Remove timing chain tensioner, guides, and chain

• Relieve/remove the chain tensioner using a metric socket set.
• Remove chain guides using the correct socket and ratchet.
• Lift the chain off the sprockets carefully, keeping the crank and cams from moving (use the camshaft locking tool set (specialty)).

Step 9: Install new chain, guides, and tensioner (align timing marks)

• Install new guides using a torque wrench.
• Fit the new chain so the colored links match the timing marks on the cam sprockets and crank sprocket.
• Install the new tensioner and release/set it per the tensioner design.
• Torque to 10-25 Nm (7-18 ft-lbs) for small guide/tensioner fasteners (typical range).

Step 10: Clean and reseal timing cover, then reinstall

• Clean mating surfaces using a gasket scraper and brake cleaner spray.
• Install a new front crank seal using careful hand pressure (use the correct size socket as a driver from your metric socket set if needed).
• Apply RTV silicone gasket maker (engine safe) at the specified seam/corner joints and install the timing cover.
• Tighten timing cover bolts evenly using a torque wrench: Torque to 9-12 Nm (80-106 in-lbs) (typical small cover bolt range).

Step 11: Reinstall valve cover, crank pulley, mount, and belt

• Install the valve cover with a new gasket; tighten bolts evenly using a torque wrench: Torque to 8-10 Nm (71-88 in-lbs) (typical valve cover range).
• Reinstall crank pulley and use a new crankshaft pulley bolt (single-use).
• Tighten crank bolt using a torque wrench plus angle if required: Torque to 150-200 Nm (111-148 ft-lbs) (typical range; some procedures add an angle turn).
• Reinstall engine mount using a torque wrench: Torque to 55-75 Nm (41-55 ft-lbs).
• Reinstall belt using the serpentine belt tool 14mm.

Step 12: Refill fluids and reconnect battery

• Install a new oil filter and refill oil using a funnel.
• Refill coolant using a funnel, then bleed air as best as possible (heater on hot, allow thermostat to open).
• Reconnect the battery using a 10mm socket (negative terminal last removed, first installed is positive if removed).

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and listen: no rattles, slaps, or knocking from the timing cover area.
• Let it idle to operating temperature and confirm the radiator fan cycles on.
• Check for leaks: timing cover seam, valve cover edge, and crank seal area.
• Recheck engine oil level after a short drive and top off if needed.
• If it runs rough, shut it off immediately.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $1,200-$2,500 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $250-$650 (parts only)

You Save: $950-$1,850 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 6-10 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.

Assumption: This guidance is for the Tucson 1.6L turbo timing chain system (no timing belt).