# 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe eats alternators. New one every year **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** hyundai, santafe\ **Created:** [May 23, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-hyundai-santa-fe-eats-alternators-new-one-every-year/164729 "2020-05-23T14:04:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John-1052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d78d45/32.png) [@John-1052](https://community.cartalk.com/u/John-1052)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-hyundai-santa-fe-eats-alternators-new-one-every-year/164729/1 "2020-05-23T14:04:37Z")
I’ve had my 2001 Santa Fe for 6 years now. I’ve almost replaced the alternator every year, due to a bearing failure. Lucky most were under warranty. One had bearing failure within 6 months. I replace them with a new/rebuilt alternator. I know they don’t make things like they used to. What can be causing my Santa Fe to eat alternators ? ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-hyundai-santa-fe-eats-alternators-new-one-every-year/164729/2 "2020-05-23T14:08:56Z")
Drive belt off center or excessive wobble, excessive belt tension, cheap parts… ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-hyundai-santa-fe-eats-alternators-new-one-every-year/164729/3 "2020-05-23T15:02:35Z")
Where are you getting these alternators from? There’s a reason an OEM unit from a dealer, in person or online, costs twice as much as aftermarket junk. When it comes to electrical parts (and many others) I only buy OEM for a car I plan to keep. I had a friend who did the same yearly thing with water pumps on his Honda. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-hyundai-santa-fe-eats-alternators-new-one-every-year/164729/4 "2020-05-23T16:04:23Z")
A bad belt tensioner can damage an alternator bearing. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/d/e/de39183977b9df70a36615f4a4dc84a93eb5934d.jpeg "is this tensioner good or bad?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5IDHQWiQpU) Tester ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-hyundai-santa-fe-eats-alternators-new-one-every-year/164729/5 "2020-05-23T17:07:20Z")
If one factor is poor components or workmanship on the alternator itself, take it to a local auto electric shop. They have the parts and expertise to test and analyze your alternator (starter motor, etc.) and if it can be fixed, they’ll probably do it well. But underlying factors mentioned above need to attention, too. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-hyundai-santa-fe-eats-alternators-new-one-every-year/164729/6 "2020-05-23T20:06:57Z")
> [@John-1052](#): > > Lucky most were under warranty Actually, lucky you still owned the car and had the receipt! There are cheap rebuilds and there are good rebuilds. Good ones aren’t cheap. The cheap ones are for car’s you want to fix and dump. As @circuitsmith points out, you buy the best for keepers.