How To Replace An Alternator 2010-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe 

Thank you! Just replaced mine today in a 2010. You are a blessing to all of us who need this replacement guide!!

Thank you so much for this! Man, I guess this makes up for how easy the air filter and oil change is.

First, want to say I've watched my share of Jim's videos, and they have helped me many times. I have an alternate way of doing this, and not saying it's better or worse, but just as much of a pain in the butt. Just like in this video, disconnect the battery and take the passenger tire off, wheel well cover, and take the belt off. What I did was remove the AC compressor from it's mount, and you have enough play in the hoses to to move it to the right about 6 inches, on top of the oil filter. Take the AC mount bracket off. Take the 2 end bolts off of the front sub frame and also remove the 3 in the middle. Loosen the 2 back ones. This allows the sub frame to drop about 4 inches in the front allowing you more room to get your hands in there. Disconnect the electrical connection and the cable that goes to the battery. Take the alternator out (it's a beast to get off (pry bar) and to get the new one in (small piece of 2x4 and my 3lb mini sledge hammer to get it in the bracket). Drop the old alternator straight out of the bottom with a bit of twisting and turning. Side note, when removing the top alternator bolt, it hits the frame, so you have to loosen the passenger side engine mount bolt, and lift the engine up about an inch using a jack and a piece of wood, and the bolt slides right out. Reverse these steps to install new alternator. It was an entire day to do and in my driveway. Hope this is helpful.

Nice video- had to replace my alternator on my 2014 Santa Fe - this video was key! Thanks

Car companies should have their engineering team be able to fix the engines they designed before the car goes into production.

I wish I could still fix my cars when I'm at your age, you are an inspiration to me

Thank you that alternator was annoying to pull out

Remember when alternators were 2 bolts and a tensioner and nothing else. Let's go back to that. This is all for making the engine bay look 'pretty' in a car.

big thanks from Minnesota. east coasters are the best.

What a chore! Nice job getting it done Jim

I did it on a 2010 4cyclinder Hyundai Santa Fe. Same stuff EXCEPT the bottom bolt of the altunator comes out ok but the top bolt is blocked by the frame. You need to take the plastic undertray off. Then take a jack and place it under the AC mounting(NOT the oil pan). Slowly raise the engine and it will clear the frame. Then the alt slides off. Slide it off top first.

I did a 2011 with the 2.4, royal pain in the rear! took about 7 hours; the top bolt on the alternator wouldn't clear the frame; I loosened the top engine mount and pried the left side of the engine up about 3/4 of an inch & then the top bolt passed the frame and would come out. I removed the top radiator hose, didn't touch the shroud, I also had to remove most of the wiring harness that went to the alternator. On old vehicles and farm equipment I could swap an alternator in 10 mins; no idea what the engineers were thinking on this Santa Fe...

I gotta do this tomorrow, thanks for the clear instructions

If you move the ac compressor it is a lot less work. You just unbolt and move… alt will drop right out. No need to drain fluids.

very very helpful!! Thank you so very much

Jim, your age is showing. I don’t think they call it a fan belt anymore. It’s usually referred to as a serpentine belt. just shows that you were an experienced mechanic that’s been around a long time. Good job on this one. You should also title this video why not to buy a Hyundai.

Last one I did after 4 hrs of fighting I pulled the bumper off and wished that was step one. Took 5 minutes

In all honesty. You didn't need to do have of that. 1. Raise the car 2. take the bottom splash guard off 3. take the belt off 4. Unbolt the A/C compressor amd let it hag down. 5. Use easy access to the altenator bolts 6. Remove it through the bottom

You didn't mention it but it looked like you took the oil dipstick tube out was that necessary

Thanks! Awesome video!

That’s a pretty tuff job because there is uncertainty as to what actually does or does not need to be removed.

Easier and faster to remover pass engine mount and power steering pump. Jack up motor and remove on passenger side. Took 20 min or so. This works best if you have a lift and good floor jack. Great video tho!

Do the 2016 hyundai sante fe have a ground wire connected to the top alternator bolt?

Exelente...

Great job as always Jim! Gotta love vague instructions. Should've seen if you could've found out how to remove by looking for a RU-vid video on it! HAHA!

How did you get the fan up out of there?

Well repaired

How the hell did you wiggle that out the top? Did you remove the fan all the way?

Followed Jim's YT video and finished alternator replacement on 2011 Santa Fe in 6 hrs with son and son in law also working on it. Would have been much quicker if UT - Alabama football game had not been playing at the same time. Shop wanted $1000 to replace alternator! Yes we removed alternator up through top and it's a bitch though not technically difficult. Liked the way you pronounced radiator. Thanks for video Jim.

ALLDATA wouldn't have the procedure?

That is crazy, to take the hose off, bracket off, loosing of the fans to get to the alternator... Hyundai any shit!

These Hyundai's are ridiculous to work on. For one, those belt tensioners are like a weird hydraulic type, and they have problems with sticking and seizing up. The last one I worked on, I was pulling on the tensioner with everything I had, and it wasn't even close to enough to get the belt off. It kept hanging at about the halfway point. I tried one more time and gave it the beans, and the metal nut exploded off and the pull handle hit me in the chin, and I almost broke a finger. So had to replace that tensioner also. That was a $130 dollar mistake. Also be prepared to discharge the A/C system so you can remove the a/c compressor, if you want to remove it through the bottom, which is what I highly recommend. If your working on a newer generation, you may have to unbolt the powertrain and lift it up or lower it down with the subframe, to have enough clearance.

Flat rate is 1 hr. What did it take you ?

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Having mine done today ugh