Hi everyone, newbie here.


I just bought a 2000 Sportage, with engine problems. The guy who had it explains he was driving down the highway and the fan came off the front of the engine. He continued for a km or so until it was safe to pull over. Upon pulling over, revs went down to nothing, and then it would not start again. He took it to a local shop (general Mechanics) and they looked at it. The have the timing cover off, and water pump off, but that's it. They said it needs a new motor.

They say it can't be skipped teeth on the timing belt, as the belt shows no signs off that.

The engine still turns over, but sounds like it has no compression. I figured it is a jumped timing belt.

Can anyone tell me what else I could check on this? The engine craks, looks like both CAMS are turning, obviously crank is turning.... But it does not fire.

I was goign to check for spark, once that is established put some quick start in the intake manifold and crank it.... to see if fuel issue.

I searched for links to setting ignition timing when doing a timing belt on these, but did not come up with any results.


Thanks for your help if you have suggestions.

I'll bet the timing belt did jump a cog or two. At the crankshaft line up the mark on the timing belt gear straight up so it lines up with the mark on the block.

Then check the cams. The "I" on the intake cam should line straight up with the mark on the head. Same with the "E" on the exhaust cam. If they don't line up the belt jumped.

The DOHC engine is non-interference so you should be able to replace the belt with no internal damage to the engine.

Once the timing belt is properly installed you don't have to worry about additional engine timing. In fact there are no timing adjustments. The ECM takes care of proper timing as long as the timing belt is properly installed. If you want the procedure for changing the timing belt e-mail me at mjats@juno.com

Thanks for the quick response. I was thinking it may be that, but not really sure how honest the guy was who sold it to me. He says the fan broke and he drove it a km or so until he could pull over, then lost power and shut it off. I saw the fan is cracked and broken in a few pieces....


I figured timing belt, but possibility of warped or cracked head contributing to no compression. Going to pull the plugs if the timing belt is on right, and check the compression.

I bought the truck anyways, as I figured worst case scenario I put a different motor in it... either Kia, or something else.

Any idea what kind of swaps people have done on these? Is the Mazda 626 engine and the Ford Probe engine identical? I thought they were front wheel drive...?

anyways, thanks again. I will check into the timing belt tomorrow night...

Also thanks for the offer for the timing belt instructions. I searched and found a few links pointing to the Kia site where the technical bulletins are.... Nice site. Wish more manufacturers did that.

If the intiate and exhaust cams ore out of alignment, then a compression test may be misleading, as both valves may be open at the same time or open at the wrong time, may falsely show low compression. Check the cams for alignment before doing anything else.

And if everything checks out ok and if the fan is toast, remove it and put on a SPAL relay and electric fan, removing the whole fan pulley and putting on a shorter belt.
Love my electric fan....just saving up for a SPAL.
Do some searches for fan to buy.
Good Luck,
Everet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

looks like the engine overheated massively... exhaust manifold is cracked in several spots, and the oil smells burned...

Found a motor with 96000 kms $700 60 day warranty... or can have a full remanufactured motor installed for $2500 Can 3 year warranty....


Sure wish I knew how much I liked this truck before deciding....

Both prices seam decent, considering rebuilding the current engine will run you in the 4 to 5 K mark. I had the head on mine rebuilt under warrenty, and the parts alone were close to $1500 with 15 hours labour at $95hr.

I'd go with the $700 option and part out the existing engine to try to recoup some of the cost!

Thanks.... BTW, that was remanufacturing my engine... at crosstown engines.

I think I am going with the 700$ option...