Found a 2011 sonata w80k miles and broke timing belt. Owner wants $5k. I thought hyundais had 100k warranties? Seems to me belt is under warranty unless manual says change it at <80k? Why not get a new head for $3-4k at shop? Does this car have timing chain? It’s the 4 cyl motor.
I would consider the vehicle as scrap iron for now. While Hyundai builds a good vehicle their valve train does not leave any room for mistakes. They have timing belts, they are interference and when the belt breaks valves bend and sometimes pistons get broken and cylinder walls damaged.
Hyundai may have changed their maintenance recommendations, but I recall that their timing belt change interval was still 60k, long after other manufacturers had specified 90k or 105k miles.
There’s a thread below detailing how timing chains are much better than timing belts because they last the life of the vehicle.
I’m at home now but if I recall, that car uses a timing chain and is an interference engine. Sure Hyundai has a good warranty, but that doesn’t mean a thing if the timing chain is broken because the cam is seized in the head from lack of oil and the last oil change was 18,000 miles ago. I’d go look at the car and depending what I saw I might offer up to $1500 for it.
I’d pass up on this one. Who knows what other items have been neglected.
Ironic. Hyundais are cheap, and have poor resale. But try and find a decent priced used motor. All of a sudden, they are rare.
If Hyundai dimpled their pistons they might significantly improve their reputation.
Never buy a car that you can’t test drive. The unknown problems that can be undetectable while parked and inoperative are too numerous to count.
Keep looking.
This is called a red flag…a big red flag. Don’t buy vehicles with a red flag.
Unless you can get it for $500, pass on it. Plenty of 2011 Sonatas withOUT broken timing belts out there
Scrap price? What would a 2011 accord with bum motor be worth? Same?
If the chain broke on a 2011 then it was due to running the car chronically low on oil and/or seldom changing the oil. The timing chain is likely the least of its problems.
The seller is asking way too much for a car that likely needs an entire engine. For a grand it’s worth a shot if it’s clean in and out.
Engine is probably junk, so figure the cost of an engine replacement and deduct it from their asking price
That car has a timing chain not a timing belt. If the seller said the belt had broke. I would question his expertise about the product he’s trying to sell. It’s unusual for a timing chain to break, it’s likely this car had next to no maintenance done to it.
Play the ponies with the money instead. Your odds are better.
Walk away
The seller will never accept $1500 for it, for example
he’s got a figure in his head, and he probably won’t budge much
$5000 is considerably too much in my opinion. If the seller insists to offer it at $5000, tell him you aren’t able to consider this car unless they first repair the timing belt problem and you can then test drive it and take it to your own mechanic for an appraisal.
I think the phrase “Pig in a poke” applies to this car.
Run away.
The seller knows the car needs an engine, or at the very least, major and expensive repairs
If he could have repaired it at a reasonable cost, he would have done so, and he’d be selling it as a “well running car”
He knows he’s got trouble, and he’s hoping to get as much as possible, and he’s probably downplaying the severity of the problems