2000 kia timing belt issue

parrott_81 · 03-21-2008, 08:41 PM

My boyfriend changed the timing belt in my Kia and now it idles rough and the check engine light comes on....it is a 2000 Kia Sportage soft top..any ideas why it does this?...any info is appreciated..thanks!

Harry Morgan · 03-21-2008, 11:26 PM

Parrott

Normally the timing belt is replaced every 50k miles or so -- what made you change the timing belt ?

In terms of the rough idle, it could be that one/both of the camshaft timing marks were not set correctly when the timing belt was replaced.

The CEL-on condition could be anything... need to capture the DTC's -- any AutoZone will do this for zero dollars... may or may not be related to the above.

Harry

parrott_81 · 03-22-2008, 09:20 AM

The Kia died while I was on my way home one day...I slowed down and it just lost all power. When I tried starting it again it would act like it was going to start but it wouldnt. After we got it home he pulled the timing belt off and and there were a few smooth places on it so he replaced it.

Harry Morgan · 03-22-2008, 01:07 PM

Parrott

OK -- at this point the simplest thing to do is to get/borrow a compression test gauge... just a gauge with a release button on it and foot long rubber air hose terminated with a threaded connector similar to that of a spark plug, and run a quick compression test on each cylinder (just expose the spark plugs and test each cylinder).

Off the top of my head, I don't know exactly what the readings should be for the 2.0L engine, but it really does not matter at this point (I would guess it would normally register readings of from 130 to 150... something like that), but the important thing is that ALL READINGS are approximately the same (+/- 10% or so).

If one or more of the values are far lower than the others (my guess), then you likely have an issue with the camshaft alignment. If they all are approximately equal, then I'm not certain what the best next step would be... perhaps the timing belt tensioner was not set tight enough or there is slack on the righthand side. Perhaps "Super Ron" can chime in here... maybe determine what the DTC's are... I'm kind of out of ideas.

Harry

spectra03toxic · 05-11-2008, 01:23 PM

i am currently going thru the same exact thing. i changed my timing belt and now my 03 spectra runs like it has a 8cyl motor in it. ive lost brake pressure at idle and when i clutch in to stop at light or such it goes to almost 0 rpm and just about stalls. i keep getting told im off a tooth on the cam . i got it more closer to better cuz now i can get her to fire up but the idle is still loopy. i get a cel after every start .P0340- cam sensor. so now back to the timing and if i get it correct i will flip since i cant afford the shop to do it. but deff let me know if u have any luck 2.(spectra03toxic here and sk)

Harry Morgan · 05-12-2008, 10:34 AM

Toxic

The attached info might help (from someone else's post in this forum).

Harry

yyskuby · 05-12-2008, 01:29 PM

Been farting around with my 03 Rio - idled worth crap. Replaced plugs, wires, and even the ISC (IAC). Was about to take it in the the dealer and saw a few threads about spark plug gap - put my gap down to like 0.030 and running like a top now. I understand this gap to only apply to aftermarket spark plugs - so if you replaced the plugs, might try putting down the gap.

TEXKIATECH · 05-17-2008, 09:15 PM

check all your elecrtical connections and check your timing marks and make sure all the marks line up to the head and the block

snowbrdjnky · 07-07-2008, 07:23 PM

I was told that on the kia sportages that if the timing belt breaks it more than likely bends the valve rod and damages the piston. What is the likelyness of this happening, My girlfriend was driving home and she said the car just shut off. Thats all she wrote. What am i looking at getting into here.