1996 Sportage Timing Belt, etc.

[Kiaboy]

My Daughter's Sportage started running really poorly and while I know something about cars the Kia engine is new to me, so I have a few Nubie questions I hope this board can help with.

The car will start but sounds like it running on 2 cylinders. There's no metal knocking sounds, but there is a lot of whitish smoke coming out the back and I suspect it's gas smoke, not water. I'll know better after I get the plugs out.

I'd thought I'd check the timing belt since we have no history on it and it could be due for a replacement. I took the air plenum off and removed most of the timing belt cover bolts, then noticed that the thermostat housing needed to come off, so I removed those nuts and tried to pull it off but now I see I have to pull the fan and shroud first.

I was able to pull the cover back and see the belt and cam pulleys. The belt doesn't look trashed, or even particularly worn. I took 2 wrenches and turned the cams CW at the same time so the timing marks lined up and they seem to be timed to each other as they should.

I turned one cam pulley back the other way a bit and the belt went really slack. I'd say it has about .5" of up and down motion in the middle now. I don't know if this is because the tensioners relaxed and now are not applying a the same amount of tension to the belt or what? Whatever the case I'll know more once I get in there.

If the belt slipped, do they ever slip at the crank and not at the cams ?

If I want to remove the spark plugs do I start by removing the aluminum intake tube and then every thing else on top of the engine ?

Thanks for any help!

[hvac1000]

Go here for info

Kia Parts & Accessories Online


And here

Kia Global Information System (KGIS)



For the last one you will need to registed to get on the site. It will tell you everything you need to know about your KIA Sportage.

[Kiaboy]

Thanks, I've looked at those sites and review the diagrams. There's some good stuff there, however, I'd still like to hear from someone who has actually replaced a belt as to what I'm up against and if they have any words of wisdom not covered in the disassembly instructions. Same with the spark plugs.

Regards,

[menotthat]

I've got a 97. basically the same. not done the timing belt yet, but the sparkplugs aren't that scary to do. just have to remove a few things first to get to them.

[titolongo]

TIMING BELT CHANGE INSTRUCTIONS :

The entire clutch fan mount must be removed as well as the
cooling system drained and the thermostat housing removed. The radiator can stay in place but it's easier if you remove it.
One other "gotcha". Crank pulley removal. There are 6 - 10 mm bolts that hold it in place. You do NOT need to remove the 22 mm center bolt. If the crank pulley doesn't come off tap it with a block of wood and a hammer. It should drop off.
If you have high mileage (say greater than 80K miles or so) you should consider doing the water pump too if you need to replace the belt. If you are going to replace it get a GENUINE Kia water pump from a dealer. Don't go aftermarket. Aftermarket water pumps may in fact be for the SOHC engine and it will fit but destroy the new timing belt.

1. Loosen the tensioner on water pump. Swing it away with a pry
bar and tighten it. Remove old belt.unless it's already gone.

2. Align the intake cam with the 'I' on the cam gear with mark on
top of head.

3. Align the exhaust cam with the 'E' on the cam gear with mark on
top of head.

4. Align crank gear with the notch on the block. Piston 1 will now
be at DTC. (You don't have to turn engine several times to do this
because of the design of the ignition.)

5. Install new belt but leave tensioner free.

6. Turn engine in direction of rotation twice to insure everything
remains lined up.

7. Loosen tensioner lock bolt so tensioner goes against the belt

8. Turn engine so the 'S' mark on the exhaust cam aligns with the
mark on the top of the head and then tighten the tensioner lock
bolt..

9. It's done, except to put everything back together.

But you should replace the following since you are gonna be in there:

The belt tensioner pulley.
The belt tensioner spring.
And if you have in excess of 80K miles or so, the water pump and
gasket: use a genuine Kia factory water pump.

[Kiaboy]

Hi ya'll I'm back at the Kia this weekend trying to figure out what's wrong with it. If you read my first posting it pretty much explains what's happened with it.

Today I pulled the plugs and look so-so, but they've been in there for some time. Then I compression test and discovered that the back two are running at 150+ PSI and the front two are around 60 PSI. I squirted some oil into #1 and it didn't really make any difference, but that may not mean much.

Not really sure what can produce a conditon where nothing appears to be broken, yet 2 cylinders no longer come up to full compression.

Any ideas ?