My Sportage lost power and stalled out....cranks fine but will not fire. My gut tells me its the timing belt. (will be ripping into it tonite) whats the chanes of engine damage.

You didn't state what year your Sportage is so I'll assume it's a 1996 or newer with the DOHC engine. 1995 Sportages could have either the SOHC engine or the DOHC engine.

The DOHC engine is a "non-interference" design which means the engine will not be damaged if the timing belt breaks. The SOHC engine is supposedly an "interference" design but we've have a few folks drop in who busted the belt but got lucky and installed a new one and were good to go.

A sure bet that the belt is broken: Does the engine crank ALOT faster than it used to? If yes, it's broke. If no, your problem is something else.

You can find instructions for changing the timing belt at http://www.kiatechinfo.com. But the instructions can be a little confusing and are incomplete. For example, 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.

That's about it. If you need more assistance post back. I've done the timing belt and water pump myself so I can talk you thru any problems.

First..thanks for the quick reply and great info, looks like I came to the right place. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I have a 1998 4x4 5 speed DOHC. That "non-interference" design is good news. I have 96,000 miles on it and until now the only work I had to have done was a left wheel bearing. The engine seems to crank as normal so maybe the belt is fine but over do for new one anyway. Thanks for the tip on the water pump...good advice. If its not the belt then what would be the order of things likely to check? The wife was driving it at the time...so any useful info is little. She did say she heard a screeching sound before it shutdown, not the tires she said. Anyway thanks for the info I'll keep you posted.

96K miles is really pushing it for an original timing belt but it is wear rated to 105K miles. I replaced mine the first time at 93K miles. It didn't break and the belt looked OK but I figured it was time. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If you remove the top front engine cover screws you can pull it back slightly and see if the timing belt is still intact. You should see it going over the camshaft sprockets.

If the belt is intact then you'll have to determine why no start. Basic troubleshooting. The engine needs 3 basic items to run: fuel, air, spark. You'll have to figure out which one is missing.

My belt jumped and it idled real bad until I re-set the time. It will skip if the tensor gets loose. I read in 3 mechanic books that our engines were interfierence type, but many in this site say otherwise, but Shilton's timing belt book says it is. Who to believe? Kia guys naturally...

Okay....timing belt is still intact. (good news) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> So time to scratch my head try to figure this out. I did discover that the bottom 1/4 of the radiator is shot, the cooling fins are gone or corroded.

my tensioner bearing was screaming...perhaps yours failed? ...causing the belt to jump out of time??
I'm in the process of the repair as I speak...'cept for the tensioner and idler that I need to order...the idler sounds rough too....unusual for 76K miles???

good luck..
Rob in Chicago

That is unusual. I replaced the tensioner pulley and spring "just because" I was in there, not because they failed. And I have the original idler pulley and it's fine at 116K miles.

And are you sure it's the tensioner pulley? I had the bearing in the clutch fan mount assembly go bad. Since you have everything apart check that bearing. It might have been the source of the noise. I also had the bearing in the clutch fan go bad too and that really screamed. You can easily tell when that goes bad. It screams for a few seconds AFTER you shut the engine off and while the fan is spinning to a stop.

yes, actually what I ended up doing is removing the external belts, one at a time and ran the engine. When I ran out of belts and it was still screaming I knew where I needed to go, although I initially assumed it was the water pump, which I already had 'in stock'. After I removed the timing belt tensioner pulley, and spun it in my hand, I realized by the screeching that I had found the source of the screaming. The idler pulley bearing just feels really 'rough', so what the heck, might as well replace it too. Ordered the parts today. THX....Rob

I just had to fix my water pump and figured while I was in there I'd figure out what was makin noise and check out my belt found my idler pully was the source of my noise...and my timing was off a bit and belt looked good...but looking it over better it did have a tear 1/3 of the way across the belt
already had a timing belt in my "just incase parts" box
found the idler pully for $25 plus shipping <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
had to wait a week for part to get here <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
also went ahead and replaced all of my belts while they are off may as well replace them.

but now she runs much quieter <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
will have to drive her a bit before she goes off the pavement <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I miss the dirt & mud <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />