My mum had her hyundai sonata timing belt replaced yesterday and was on her way home (100km) from hyundai shop when the battery light flashed and steering became difficult. she pulled over on the side of the road and opened the bonet only to find the fan belt fraied and falling apart. my question is, she is going back today to get her car wich they have now fixed, but where does she stand??? should she get her money back? we live 180km from the hyundai shop and she paid cash for the car to be fixed before she found out the fan belt was stuffed?

in the passenger fuse compartment fuse #18 is 10amp fuse also has a pre-excitation resistor that runs to battery light indicator , if fuse is blown or resistor is bad light will stay on

Watch the video. Also this engine has a timing belt not chain. You must replace the pulleys, the timing belt and the water pump when doing this service
Hyundai Timing Belt

If the bolt was lose and caused the pulley to bend down the power behind the belt was too great and sheared the pulley. Check belt for damage and replace pulley.

I would recommend you take it to a shop and have the alternator tested, or take the part off the car and have it bench tested in a store.
You may also have a bad fuse or fusable link between the battery and the alt.

My rule of thumb for Timing belts:
replace at 60,000 miles, and every 40,000 miles thereafter. Having said that, I often let
cars go until the timing belt starts showing signs of wear (usually every 50K - 75K miles)

But www.autozone.com (register free at www.autozone.com) is recommending for your
car driving in "severe driving conditions" (aka normal stop-start driving) that your 2000 Sonata
have:
60,000 miles - replace
90,000 miles - inspect for wear
120,000 miles - replace
150,000 miles - inspect for wear

The 155 page owners manual (I found one at the link below - you may prefer to try Hyundai)
makes no mention of the timing belt at all.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/29113477/2000-Hyundai-Sonata-Owners-Manual

Not on this year and make, Hyundai Sonata with a 2.7L engine, Hyundai recommends replacing timing belt every 60,000 miles or 48 months, whichever occurs first, this is an interference engine, which piston to valve damage will occur due to timing belt failure.

The Alternator may not be charging at the proper level. If the car is running while you're trying to open the sunroof or turn on the defroster, then the battery light has nothing to do with those and they are separate problems. Have an ASE Certified mechanic check the charging system.

According to THIS ebay listing there are (kinda) 2: 1 is the T-belt; the other is a Balance Shaft Belt. Ask the shop what the belts are for (don't offer the info) and see what they say.

good luck,
Td

timing belt and yes the belt and tensioner needs changed every 60k and if its a 4cyl. the balance belt also needs replaced

You have to have your timing set around Top Dead Center .. use a timing light.. 9 deg before TDC