l own a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe AWD with a 2.7L V6.The car has approximately 91,300 miles.l just had the timing belt and timing belt tensioner replaced.When l picked the car up, there was a new metallic-sounding clocking noise present that was not there before.It is proportional to engine speed (i.e. - it is more rapid at high RPMs) and does NOT go away once the engine has warmed up to normal operating temperature.l drove the car for several days and a few hundred miles, and it seems to operate normally (oil pressure and engine temperature are OK, and gas mileage is the same as normal).

l took the car back to find out what this noise was, and the service shop (part of a Hyundai dealer) said the noise was due to a faulty sepertine belt tensioner.They replaced it (for $110), but the noise is still there!Now they say it is the lifters (another $600).They are crooks and liars!

What is this noise?And is it possible (even probable) that their faulty work caused it?
Thanks to everyone for writing in.The mystery has been solved.When the shop replaced my timing belt, they lifted the engine by placing a jack under the oil pan WITHOUT putting a 2 x 4 or something similar between the jack and the oil pan to distribute the load.The force of the jack on the oil pan dented it so much that it pushed the bottom of the oil pan up against the oil pick-up (suction) inside the oil pan.Thus, the pick-up could not pull in enough oil to distribute properly to the engine.(Think of trying to drink something out of a glass with a straw, but having the straw jammed all the way into the bottom of the glass rather than leaving a gap.)This lack of oil flow caused insufficient oil to the lifters (the last part of the engine to receive oil), which caused the noise.Once the dent was removed and the proper clearance restored between the bottom of the oil pan and the oil pick-up, the noise went away.

maybe they put the timing belt on slightly out of time.

well first u when to a dealer a place that is in busness to seel cars dealer shop guy know little about finding & fixing problem if it dont jump out & hit them. last place in the state u want to have work done .. find a real shop to make repairs.. but first have the one that done the work redo what he did cause he didnt do it right.. really works that way with any dealer. they should be the llast place to go to have work done sorry best u find a better shop for car repair u go to dealer to buy a car or get a part that u cant find any where else.. & yes kind of it could be something they did

well l do not think the timing is off because the engine in ur vehicle is an interference type motor, meaning if the timing is off even one tooth the valves will hit the pistons causing catastrophic engine damage. what possibly may have happened is that the hydraulic lash adjusters were weak but quiet because of extra slack in the timing belt due to it stretching from age. when the new belt & tensioner was installed it tightened the cams up causing the worn out lifters to make noise.