While the 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe left the factory with 2.4-liter, 2.7-liter and 3.5-liter engine options, only the 2.7-liter uses a true serpentine belt. The serpentine belt is one continuous belt that drives all of the accessories on the front of the engine. Changing the serpentine belt yourself will save you a large repair bill from a garage. A replacement belt for your Santa Fe is readily available through any major auto-parts retailer or the Hyundai dealership.
Open the hood of your Santa Fe and locate the negative battery cable at the battery. Loosen the retaining bolt that secures the cable end to the battery terminal using a wrench, and then remove the battery cable from the terminal.
Position yourself in front of the truck and look at the front of the engine just behind the radiator, in the center of the engine. The serpentine-belt tensioner sits on the engine just below the power-steering pump.
Place a socket and breaker bar on the bolt in the center of the idler pulley on the belt tensioner. Rotate the tensioner clockwise, releasing the tension from the belt. Remove the belt and discard it, then rotate the tensioner counterclockwise to the free arm position.
Install a new belt over the pulleys on the front of the engine, leaving it off the tensioner for now. Rotate the tensioner clockwise, then slide the belt onto the idler pulley on the tensioner and rotate the tensioner counterclockwise, allowing the tensioner to tighten the belt.
Remove the socket and breaker bar from the tensioner, then move back to the battery. Install the negative battery cable onto the negative terminal and tighten the retaining bolt with a wrench. Close the hood.
