Timing Belt Or Not?

shelly1snj · 05-11-2006, 11:18 AM

Okay so we took a road trip yesterday to Mt.Pocono(2&1/2 hr drive)and my 2001 Kia Sportage ran great without any problems. Now we go to get off the Pa Tunpike I slow down to pay the toll because there was a car in front of me and my car apparently died. I didnt even know it because I went to pull up and it wouldnt. I thought it stalled (maybe i drained the battery because i have alot of things hooked up to the car like radar, phone charger, massager, etc.) but when i went to restart it it wouldnt turn over...it sounded like the little engine that could, but WOULDN'T. now being over 140 miles away from home I started to panic. My friend met me right there at the toll booth(they had to push me thru toll...LOL)to try and give me a jump but that didnt work so we waited 3hrs for a tow truck to take us to midas where they really did absolutely nothing and told me after pulling the plastic back that it was my timing belt and that it is a $800 job. so first off i dont believe them because they were really busy and i told them i needed my car today to get back home.And they didnt even charge me to look at my car.
WEll my ?????? when he pulled the cover off to me it looked like the belt was still in tack but who knows and could it really be the timing could it be like the fuel pump or something else.Needless to say after my $565 in tows yesterday I running low in money and am stressed for some good advice.
Please someone help.

mwrobe1 · 05-11-2006, 11:32 AM

Check engine light on?

Any codes?

shelly1snj · 05-11-2006, 11:50 AM

my check engine light has been coming on and off for the last couple of months but when i took the trip yesterday it was off

canakia · 05-11-2006, 12:40 PM

Are you sure you got a look at the actual timing belt or just one of the accessory belts. The timing belt is about 1 inch wide and has teeth in it running perpendicular(I guess the accessory belt does too but it is about 1 inch wide and has teeth running parellel). Not visible without removing a lot of covers I think. It doesnt run over the a/c, alt, waterpump pulleys.

Usually the timing belt should be changed as a matter of maintenance at about 60,000 miles appx.
It sounds like it could be plausible and that would be the cost for the repair.

A half-a**** backyard mech should be able to tell you if its the timing belt....if yo know one.

How many miles on it?

shelly1snj · 05-11-2006, 03:51 PM

WELL WHAT I SAW WAS A BLACK BELT STILL IN TACK....IT HAS 97000 MILE AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR YR AND A HALF SO IM REALLY NOT SURE IF THE BELT WAS REPLACED AT 60000 OR NOT I PERSONALLY DONT THINK IT WAS. AND WHAT THE MIDAS GUY DID WAS UNSCREW THREE SCREWS IN FRONT OF WHERE THE OIL GOES IN AND PULL BACK A BLACK COVER AND ALL I SAW WAS A BLACK BELT THAT WAS STILL IN TACK NOT BROKEN OFF OR ANYTHING....I CALLED KIA TODAY AND THEY SAID IT DOES SOUND LIKE MY TIMING BELT WENT. NOW IM WORRIED THAT IT MIGHT HAVE ENGINE DAMAGE(AND I REALLY DONT TRUST A DEALER CAUSE I WAS BURNED PRETTY BAD IN THE PAST BY ONE) SO....
THIS DEALER SAYS THAT BECAUSE I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AND PAY A TOLL AND THEN MY CAR CUT OUT ON ME THAT THERE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ANY DAMAGE DONE TO MY ENGINE THAT HE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT IT(HENCE LIE AND CHARGE ME FOR A NEW MOTOR) SO ....
IS THERE A QUICK WAY THAT I COULD CHECK TO SEE IF THE MOTOR IS RUINED?
THANX IN ADVANCE FOR UR HELP

Hal2000 · 05-11-2006, 04:50 PM

If it was your timing belt that went. There shouldn't be any damage as the motor is a non-interference motor.. That means if the belt broke and the heads go up they won't hit the valves.. Slap a new belt on and away you go... That is if it is the timing belt

canakia · 05-11-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hal2000@May 11 2006, 02:50 PM
If it was your timing belt that went. There shouldn't be any damage as the motor is a non-interference motor.. That means if the belt broke and the heads go up they won't hit the valves.. Slap a new belt on and away you go... That is if it is the timing belt

Quoted post

So... if it is a non interference engine, and there is no collateral damage, the replacement of the timing belt should only be in the range of $300 at a shop or $100 to purchase the belt. Strictly ballpark speaking though.

shelly1snj · 05-12-2006, 10:54 AM

THANKS....but how do i know if it is a non-interference motor? Is there a way to tell the difference?
I did talk to a mechanic and like i said above he said there might not be any damage if it broke when i slowed down and then the car just died.....it didnt die completely though...because i still had power just a zchu zchu zchu noise when i tried to start like it wanted to kick over but wouldnt and it did drive great all the way up there, so is there any truth in that?

shelly1snj · 05-12-2006, 10:56 AM

thats what im afraid of....putting a new belt on and it still having the internal damage and then im out about $300. ya know what i mean.

skidoofast · 05-12-2006, 10:57 AM

if the timing belt broke or jumped the engine would either crank normally or seem to crank fast, I don't think that it is the timing belt, I would give the dealership the benefit of doubt and let them take a look at it most dealers out there are good, just don't go into the dealership and tell them that you think that you are going to get screwed, go into the dealership with a pleasant attitude and give them the opportunity to diagnose the vehicle, they will call you with the estimate then you can make a decision,

the dealer sees many disgruntled customers and it will ruin their day and set a mindset about you as a customer, so go into there and treat them with respect and it will go a long way

Let us know what happens and your experience

thanks