Timing Belt

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Curley - 16 Apr 2004 11:09 GMT

Re: Kia Sportage 1997, not a 4X4

One morning I turned the engine on and the timing belt snapped. From just
trying to turn it on, the mechanics claim that when the timing belt broke,
it bent the valves?? Now the vehicle runs briefly and if it is in idle for
more than a minute or two, the engine gets HOT and I have to pull over and
turn it off. I am not sure I want to spend $1,000. or more to fix this
problem, but I wonder if I am getting the right information from the MEINEKE
mechanics. These guys changed the timing belt and supposedly checked the
engine and said they changed the oil too. Yet when I checked the oil two
weeks later it was a quart low, so I looked at the oil filter and it was the
old filter. So these Meineke guys lied about changing the oil. Could there
be something else wrong with the engine?? I really like the Sportage, but I
do not know if it is worth another $1,000. ++ in repairs. And I wonder how
well it will run if it is repaired.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks,

al

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hyundaitech - 16 Apr 2004 18:12 GMT

If I recall correctly, this is a noninterference engine. Besides, if the
valves were bent, it would misfire, but that would not cause it to
overheat. Is the coolant full? The thermostat housing must be removed to
change the timing belt.

It's also important to tension the belt properly, which is NOT done at
tdc. It's also possible they may not have lined up the belt correctly if
the car stops running after a short period of time. Does it stop running
because it's overheating or for some other reason.

Do you have a receipt which show they changed the oil and filter. If so,
you have them in a bind. That's fraud.

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Curley - 16 Apr 2004 22:11 GMT

"hyundaitech" The thermostat housing must be removed to

> change the timing belt.
>
> It's also important to tension the belt properly, which is NOT done at
> tdc. It's also possible they may not have lined up the belt correctly if
> the car stops running after a short period of time. Does it stop running
> because it's overheating or for some other reason.>>

The car does not stop running, but once it gets starts to move towards HOT,
I pull over and turn it off because I do not want to ruin the engine,
especially since I do not know what is wrong with it. These guys seem to
have not fixed it properly, especially since once the timing belt was on,
they wanted to steer me to the brother in law who fixes the valves at $1000.
The claim that the timing belt blows out the engine when it snaps. Should I
take this car to the dealership? They are usually worse and at twice the
price, but the only other choice might be Goodyear, and they charge an arm
and a leg. I do not want to spend a $1000. just to get the car back in the
same shape it was in.

thanks,

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Hal - 17 Apr 2004 04:48 GMT

> The car does not stop running, but once it gets starts to move towards HOT,
> I pull over and turn it off because I do not want to ruin the engine,

Have you checked the level of coolant in the radiator? How about the
belts, is the waterpump belt tight? How about the waterpump itself?
Can you rock the pulley back and forth excessively?

> have not fixed it properly, especially since once the timing belt was on,
> they wanted to steer me to the brother in law who fixes the valves at $1000.

If the valves were bent you'd be having a problem getting the thing to
run at all. Valves that do not close all the way will destroy the
ability of your engine to pump air. Easiest way to check this is to
put a vaccum gauge on it and see how much vaccum you have at idle.
Check this url for more information
http://www.users.bigpond.com/ergoff/vac1.htm

> The claim that the timing belt blows out the engine when it snaps. Should I
> take this car to the dealership? They are usually worse and at twice the

First off, don't ever take your car to the dealership unless it is
under warranty. My experience with dealer techs has been very poor.
Most of them are undertrained part-swappers. They do not understand
how to fix cars. Goodyear, meineke, and any other chain-outlet type of
repair shop is another place I would NEVER take my car. What you need
is an honest, reliable mechanic. You will not find them at the chain
stores.

Your other option is to buy the service manual for your car and do the
repairs yourself. Without seeing your car, the best advice I can give
is to make a check of your entire cooling system, belt, hoses, coolant
level, make sure your fan clutch is still working, and if all else
fails it could be a stuck thermostat. You may want to check for leaks
if the water level is low, the best way to do that is to rent a
radiator pressure tester at autozone, make sure you get the import
radiator adaptor. If you have a leak, that tool will find it.

Let us know how it turns out.

Chris

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