Hyundai Santa Fe 2009 Problems

The petrol V6 has a timing belt and should be changed every 90,000 km. The diesel has a chain that doesn’t require replacement.

It’s always a risk to use a secondhand part, because you have no guarantee of its condition, but if you don’t want to spend the full amount for a genuine factory part then the risk might be worth it. If sold privately it would be worth $9000-$12,000.

There are many dual-fuel systems available for diesels and they all work by substituting LPG for diesel, and so cutting the cost of running your vehicle. While they generally work well, they must be installed by a reputable company with lots of experience in running a diesel engine on LPG. Many people find they don't get the savings they think they will, and some have damaged their engines, because they can't resist using the extra power the engines develop on LPG. Instead of backing off and using less fuel they keep their foot in it and don't get the savings, and work their engines harder at the same time. If you are considering such a system find someone who has done the conversion and get their experience first hand. You should also be aware that your warranty would be affected should you fit the system.

The dealer's explanation does appear to be implausible. If the tyre wear is plain to see, as it would seem to be from your report, you should be able to convince the dealer that there is something wrong that needs fixing. If you can't get any satisfaction from the dealer go direct to Hyundai head office in Sydney.