I just recieved a 01 sportage from my neighbors for watching there house/dogs while on vacation. I don't really like kia's but the sportage was free! My sportage has 170,000km (canada), owned buy a woman and has absolutly no maintenance on it . the trans fluid was pitch black. No probs shifting . I changed fluid/filter right away. Upon startup first thing in the morning kia makes a piston slap sound for 3 seconds then goes away and periodically when I buck out of driveway feels like no power for 5-7 seconds. Are these signs the timing belt needs repacment? 2nd question : the A/C compressor sounds like the bearings are failing . Is it easy to delete the A/C?

As far as deleting the AC compressor, just remove the belt, however, the sound may be coming from the idler pulley and not the compressor.
You may want to do a tune up on it which would include new plugs (see sticky) and plug wires, change the air filter, cleaning the throttle body (see sticky), and run some injector cleaner through the next few tanks of gas.
You may want to clean the MAF sensor with MAF SENSOR CLEANER ONLY-not carb/throttle body cleaner. When you changed the oil in the transmission, did you change the oil and filter or did you flush the system?
If you are not having any CEL codes, the above should get things going pretty good.
Also read the sticky about the front locking hubs. You may want to check them out.

Finally, what don't you like about Kia's? You come in asking for help but say you don't like them...how many have you had to make this assessment? As with most cars, there is good and bad. Give it a go, and if you don't like it, give it to someone who does...because it was free anyway <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Everet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for responding to my questions. The stickies have great information. I did not mean to disrespect . Just not a brand of vehicle I could see myself driving. I am older and normally drive RWD coupes and sedans. So far this is a pretty good 4WD . maybe the styling will grow on me.

..and, contrary to most SUV that pretend to be, you can see clearly all around without breaking your neck and without needing 22 mirrors and a rear view camera....
..by the way, the engine lacks torque at low rpm...that is below 4000, and fuel ecoonomy is not what one would expect...consider all of that as normal....but finally, it is fun to drive.

And the 2 door convertible is even more fun <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I went from driving a '97 Mountaineer V8 AWD to my Sportage and the Sportage is a lot more fun than my Mountaineer ever was.

I'ts nice having a manual shift T-case and a 5 speed. By the weekend it will have manual hubs as well <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

The piston slap sound is probably valve knock. It's a common problem for the first generation Sportage engine. It can be adjusted by a service department or yourself if you have the knowhow and tools, but will eventually come back. Doing the maintaince as Everet has suggested is great and might help with some of the noise. Using a good quality synthetic oil or synthetic blend oil when you do the oil change will also help.

Replacing the timing belt would not be a bad idea either. You should change them at 60,000 miles (US) anyway. While doing the timing belt, it's also a good idea to replace the water pump and timing belt tensioner.

Removing the belt to stop the A/C from working will resolve the symptom, but the problem is still there. You might want to have an A/C shop take a look at it first.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

The tapping at start up is common. I had that problem and people said to change the oil filter, because of the valve allowing oil to settle in some filters. I also used a good oil additive and it went away. It comes back and I know I'm due for an oil change.

The oil drain back is part of the problem and as you mentioned, can be resolved. You need to use a filter that has the anti-drain back valve in it. The only filter from FRAM that fits the Sportage does not have this, so you need to use a better quality filter like WIX or K&N. By the way, the WIX filter is actually the OEM filter, and you can get it at most Auto Parts stors for less than the FRAM filter. I've tried the K&N filter and it's the same as the WIX, just costs >2X the price of all the other filters.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Just for reference,

P/N for Oil filter:
WIX
51357
Purolator
PL14610
K&N
HP-1006

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Or you can do like I did and go to the dealer and get an OEM filter. It was $6.50. It was les than what a Purolater was from Advance Auto.

The only auto parts stores in Kansas City that sell WIX is O'reilly's and they don't stock the one for our engine. I'll be if I'm going to special order an oil filter.