got my 01 in 02 with 24,000mi. Probs. vac hubs stopped working 1yr later. switched to warn hubs. changed plugs and wires at 90000mi,getting ready to do timing belt and water pump. gone thru 4 tailpipes but still have the oem muffler. roof rack broke(rear rack). It is fun in the winter, good tires r a must! rust issues r the rockers and lower doors. other than that i must say its a great little runner, gets me and my sons to the mt to go boarding..

The timing belt was changed at 100k, has Kia improved the replacement belts, or do I need to change it again at 200k?

So far we like the Sporty. Up to now we are getting 28mpg (imperial gallons). She's kind of sluggish. I know it needs an air filter but I am just wondering whether I should put a K&N or stick with paper? What are you guys doing? I read somewhere that the intake can get blocked by the hood insulation, but I don't believe that is my problem.

Just a comment - they sure put the oil filter in a dumb spot. Pretty hard to change without making a mess!

d.

Make sure you get a filter with a valve in it that prevents it from leaking out, from what I've seen on here Fram doesn't fit the bill but some of the cheaper ones do.
I'm running a cone filter on mine, seems to help some, sounds better too.

i have a 2001 sportage 4x4, and at 107K, i replaced the O2 sensor, the head gasket, all 3 belts, warn hubs, sway bar and half shafts on both sides, and the thermostat 2x, the battery and the regulator switch for the passenger side window wont work.....I love my kia tho for winter. Best little suv I have ever had.

Lots of foggy headlight lenses out there? Either use a polisher and some metal polish (autosol is the best I've found) or a damp rag and a lot of elbow grease and they'll come out looking slightly less than new. If using a polisher be sure not to melt the lens, as heat builds rather quickly if pressing too hard or spinning the tool too fast.

For a little extra power I installed an open K&N filter and fabed up some mounts for it and I had a 2 1/4" exhaust with a MagnaFlow muffler. Befor I cooked my engine (my fault, not the Kia's) I welded up a 2 1/2" exhaust in hopes for a turbo but now I just want it back on the road. I am running 31" tall tires so my power is still down from stock but I can keep up with trafic ok. The filter and exhaust is a little loud, I don't mind but my wife hates it. I have allways changed my timeing belt at 60,000 miles, It still looks ok but gives me piece of mind. I had almost 200,000 miles on my before my engine went out with very little problems with it. Other than regular maintance I have changed a starter, heatercore and a fuel injector. Thats pretty good in my book.

Dennis

Maybe I am not as sensitive to small changes in performance, but I used to run a K&N air filter and a high-flow cat-back exhaust which was very loud (glasspacks) and I couldn't tell a difference in power between that and the stock setup. Eventually I went back to a normal muffler because the noise was driving me crazy.

I think a lot could be in the muffler. When I tore a hole in my first MagnaFlow I replaced it with a Summit Turbo and lost power. The MagnaFlow has a way of building power. They do make noise though. I have a few hills on my way to work and judged my power lose and gains by when and how often I have to shift down. Seat of the pants I can't feel much either.

Dennis

I would change it again on this "non-interferance" type engine.

It seems that some of the replacement parts (ie...Headlights, belts, filters etc..) are much improved or better made as opposed from the factory parts ---But I would still use caution regarding schedule as per owner manual.

BTW: Fram now makes their new oil filters with anti-drainback valve (I got it in now). <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />