Hello: I am in OKC. It's been quite a while since I was on this forum, but I stopped in again for some info. I have a 2000 Sportage. I am about to change my plugs. I am getting misfire codes. The engine is definately mising as I accelerate. The ck engine lite is coming on (staying on now). It's 72K miles and probably time for some maintenance. I have hardly done anything to it but drive so I am not going to complain a bit. It is a great little rig. I thought about selling and getting a newer KIA but now I am thinking about doing what it needs and just driving it some more. I am hoping to change the timing belt while I am doing the plugs and hope it is easy. I don't see anything here about that procedure, but am still looking. I sure like this forum.

I DID Print the procedure on changing the plugs ... Thanks, Axe !

Is there anything particularly difficult about changing the timing belt? I will be making a stab at it soon.

-Patman in OKC

I would change the water pump also,""""" make sure you have the right one """""" , the belt can be a pain in the butt the gears are a little hard to keep in alignment if you are the only one doing it they like to turn because of the compression, not putting in the plugs until after you change the belt, http://www.kiatechinfo.com/viewer/default.asp?group=shop This is kia's site for repairs just sign up. it does not tell you all you need to do the job, you need to also take off the water inlet. I would change all the belts -- P/S, Alt, A/C. you have to drain the Rad. so I would change that fld also. I did not change this. you have to take off the clutch fan most off the guys here replace it with a electric fan..

ok fast run down, drain rad. remove air duct, remove splashgaurd, remove all belts, remove clutch fan and mounting bracket, disconnect temp sensors off therm. remove inlet to head & rad. remove upper and lower t/b cover plates, there's the t/b belt the pulleys are bolted to the w/p.. NOW HEAR THIS TURN THE CRANKSHAFT ((( ONLY ))) IN THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION. turn the crank to the aligning makes as per the kia site. loosen the pulley bolt and remove belt if your replacing the pump loosen the other pulley too. use ultra red or black sealant for the pump. ok your also using the kia repair site. thats say you have a good helper 2 would be BETTER LOL, ok let say to have the W/P mounted and the pulleys remounted and you have a helper the pain it keeping the the E and I lined up, this is why I said have the plugs out might help with compression, the gears love to turn just when to almost get it lined up, <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> guys here know that feeling. so much for a quick run down. PM if you need more, sure the other guys here know more then me, make sure you use the kia site I am just going by memory. John

if you replace the pump make sure it has the right number of cogs, a DOHC has 25 cogs and a SOHC came has 20 cogs, the cogs are the gear the T/B belt rides on if not sure then get one from Kia.

Your missfire is likley caused by a bad coil pack or spark-plug-wire. Hot here in OKC today.

I just did a timing belt change and ran into a major "got ya". After everything was finished, checked and put back togeather, I had crank but no start at all.

Turned out to be a miss-build in the factory. The intake cam sprocket was put on 180 degrees out so when I used the timing marks to install the belt, that put the intake cam 180 degrees off. The factory must time the engine from cam position, not cam sprocket position.

When the sprockets are in the correct position, the dowels on the cams should both be up (under the washer). On mine, the intake cam was down and the exhaust was up.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
A valuable stickie indeed!

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

I wonder how many thousand of Sportage owners used this?
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Patman

My 73 Pinz just quit running, I think it may be a timing belt, it fires but wont run. Where did you get your timing belt? also do you use the stock waterproof sparkplugs and distributer cap? Im thinking of putting regular plugs and wires in, the existing ones are in sad shape, I cleaned them up, they look like they should work. it really sounds like the timing belt is the problem. Any help would be appreciated

Cassigrain

I had the missfire codes on my 01 sporty. Cylinders 1&4 I think. But on mine i had to replace the small harness that feeds the coils also. Ran great after that. Not very expensive also.

I had to replace the coil packs and wires too. It turned out my main problem was not getting the timing marks lined up exactly right and it was over rotating the cams.

I had to back them off by one tooth and then the tension from the tensioner spring would pull them into proper alignment.

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