Hyundai Repair: 2003 SONATA, hyundai dealership, close proximity


Question
I JUST PURCHASED A 2003 SONATA AND WAS TOLD FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THAT I DIDN'T PURCHASE THE CAR FROM THAT AT 60,000 MILES THE TIMING BELT WILL BREAK. MY CAR HAS AT LEAST 54,000 MILES ON IT NOW. IS THERE ANY TRUTH TO THIS? ALTHOUGH IT WAS A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP THAT TOLD ME THIS. I FELT LIKE HE WAS TRYING TO GE MONEY OUT OF ME SINCE I AM A WOMAN.  

Answer
Hyundai recommends that the timing belt be changed at 4 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.  Depending on the original date of delivery, the timing belt could already be due to be replaced.

No one has a good enough crystal ball to tell when your timing belt will break, but I can tell you what I've seen.  I've never seen the V6 engine (2.7L) strip a timing belt.  This is an indication that it is likely to last significantly longer than the interval.  The four cylinder engine strips belts with regularity.  From what I've seen, I wouldn't be surprised if one of these stripped in close proximity to either the 4 year or 60k mile interval.  

Unless the vehicle is registered in California, Hyundai won't cover the timing belt for more than the 4 year/60k recommended maintenance interval.  Once you're past that time, anything that happens due to the timing belt breaking will be entirely your responsibility.  Typically, this involves very expensive internal engine damage (bent valves or worse).  You're going to need to decide how big a gambler you are.  I've done my best to tell you the likelihood of something happening.  Now you need to figure out whether it's in your best interests to do the timing belt at 60k miles, sooner, or later.