ok, when my timing belt went, it still started once or twice more, but then died again really quick, then it wouldn't start again. it was almost like it wanted to start really bad, but wouldn't, anyway, if it is the timing belt, it's a bitch to change and i mean it. you have to remove everything from the front half of the engine just to get to it, that includes all the belts and pulleys, water neck and everything attached to that, the fan, the radiator shroud, and the a/c compressor needs to be loosened and moved enough to get the cover off and get your hands in there. i refused to do it myself.
if it is the timing belt, it may be possible that the previous owner took the vehicle to PepBoys to have the water pump replaced. if that is the case, Pepboys was using the wrong part. they were replacing DOHC water pumps in Sportages with SOHC Bosch water pumps. the timing wheel is completely different and that's what chewed my timing up. don't worry, i proved it and they paid the bill, but it just sucked. the bolt pattern is exactly the same and the water passages are so dang close that you wouldn't know the difference unless you saw them both side-by-side from the front. the wheel is bigger on the SOHC pump and the teeth are bigger and spread out further than the DOHC belt. it cost a fortune (for me) to have the timing belt and water pump replaced ($700.00), and that was in Nowheresville middle of Texas (who, by the way, knew more about how to work on my Kia than any of the freakin' dealers in San Antonio), so i figure, maybe half that for the timing belt alone, maybe less, but most of it is labor, and believe me, for all that, it's still a little cheap.
if it isn't your timing belt, i don't have an answer for you because i haven't run into that yet.
as far as determining which is the problem? i don't know, i didn't have a choice in the matter when it happened to me, only wrecker in town that would run at midnight and the only garage in town.
dave <img border="0" alt="[Satan]" title="" src="graemlins/satan.gif" />
