CriticalCommonEngine

Hyundai Getz: Timing belt and tensioner - strict 90,000 km / 6 year interval

Timing belt and tensioner - strict 90,000 km / 6 year interval is a common engine fault on the Hyundai Getz on the 2002–2011 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $500 to $950 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 15 documented faults on the Hyundai Getz.

Vehicle: Hyundai Getz
Years: 2002–2011
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Hyundai Getz as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Hyundai Getz faults15 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Timing belt yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Every Getz engine (1.3, 1.4, 1.6) runs a rubber timing belt with a 90,000 km or 6 year replacement interval, and owners report premature belt wear and tensioner failure showing up as rattle or chirp from the timing cover. Advice varies by engine on whether a snapped belt destroys valves, so treat them all as if it does and price the car accordingly if there's no belt history. Do the tensioner and water pump at the same time - it's mostly the same labour.

What you would notice

No documented belt change in the last 6 years / 90,000 km
Chirping or rattling from the belt end of the engine
Engine cranks but won't start (belt failed)

How to check it

Where to look. Front of engine behind plastic timing cover

Ask for the timing belt invoice or look for a service sticker under the bonnet with date and kms.
Listen at idle for chirp from the timing cover (passenger side of the engine).
No proof of a belt change means budgeting ~$700 immediately.

Parts involved: Timing belt.

What it costs to put right

$500 to $950 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“When was the timing belt and tensioner last replaced - do you have the receipt?”
“Was the water pump done at the same time?”

Now check the Hyundai Getz you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

StartMyCar AU - Hyundai Getz timing belt guide and problem reports
Auto Insider - Hyundai Getz timing belt problems and faults
Whirlpool Forums AU - Getz timing belt servicing threads

Hyundai Getz buyer questions

Is timing belt and tensioner - strict 90,000 km / 6 year interval serious on a Hyundai Getz?

We rate it critical and common on the Hyundai Getz. Every Getz engine (1.3, 1.4, 1.6) runs a rubber timing belt with a 90,000 km or 6 year replacement interval, and owners report premature belt wear and tensioner failure showing up as rattle or chirp from the timing cover. Advice varies by engine on whether a snapped belt destroys valves, so treat them all as if it does and price the car accordingly if there's no belt history. Do the tensioner and water pump at the same time - it's mostly the same labour.

How much does it cost to fix on a Hyundai Getz?

$500 to $950 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Hyundai Getz years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2002–2011 Hyundai Getz. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Ask for the timing belt invoice or look for a service sticker under the bonnet with date and kms. Listen at idle for chirp from the timing cover (passenger side of the engine). No proof of a belt change means budgeting ~$700 immediately. Look here: Front of engine behind plastic timing cover