Timing Belt trouble in 2.0 DOHC Kia Sportage

[aspeck]

HELP! Threw a timing belt in the Sportage over the weekend. No fun when out on dirt roads in the middle of Ghana. Got it back to the Training Centre. Found a new timing belt - but can't get the thing put together right. There are 4 different marks on the cam gears. Anyone know the specs for getting it right? If I had replaced it at 60,000 miles, I would not have had this problem - marked the cam and crank gears, but I waited and it went with 62,000 miles on it!<br /><br />Have been searching the web, but have not found anything yet. Don't know where I can find a Chilton's here in Ghana, and my dealer is over an hour away, and it is too hard to find a tow truck around here.<br /><br />Had a local mechanic come and help me after a day of messing with it. He spent another day with me, and it is no better - sounds like we are off a tooth or 2, but which ones?

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Timing Belt trouble in 2.0 DOHC Kia Sportage

You didnt bend the valves in it, did ya.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Timing Belt trouble in 2.0 DOHC Kia Sportage

I don't think so - didn't hear any tapping, even when cranking it without the valve covers. Didn't tear the cams off to check for positive.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Timing Belt trouble in 2.0 DOHC Kia Sportage

You want the number one piston at TDC (top dead center) on its compression stroke (not exhaust stroke). When you align the timing marks. Thats about all I can tell ya.<br /><br />Good luck

 

[bh357]

Re: Timing Belt trouble in 2.0 DOHC Kia Sportage

You could always try the guess-and-start method my dad and I used on my first car (1981 Horizon). We had 2 repair manuals and they both said something different about aligning the timing marks. Top this off with the fact that there were multiple marks on the gears, and the gear liked to skip a tooth on the belt when you tightened. Took us 2 days, but we got it running good as new... well, good as it ran before the belt broke. As a bonus, we even had a couple of parts left over

 

[aspeck]

Re: Timing Belt trouble in 2.0 DOHC Kia Sportage

BH, that is what I have been doing for 2 days! If I continue on I will have enough parts to build a spare engine! When I quite this evening it would start and run, but very rough! Smooth out some at high rpms, but ... if I don't get it any better in tomorrow I might risk it and drive it to the dealer in Accra. <br /><br />Lousy foreign pieces of trash! Oh, I guess I am in another country, so that would be me - nevermind. It is hard to consider a GM foreign, but here it is! Wish I could afford to buy one here instead of the rice burners.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Timing Belt trouble in 2.0 DOHC Kia Sportage

How did it go Aspeck???

 

[aspeck]

Re: Timing Belt trouble in 2.0 DOHC Kia Sportage

Not so good, Flahthead! Worked on it off and on, between classes, etc, for 3 days. Got is running fairly smooth on about the 100th try! Pulled out, no power! Just sort of fell all over itself in second gear. Played with it some more, no better. Got it to where I trusted it to make the hour drive and took it to the dealer today. I will find out what they were able to do tomorrow or Saturday and I will let you know.<br /><br />Just couldn't get it 100%! I know I didn't have the manual, but that really bugs me. I am curious to learn what I was doing wrong! Wish I had the time to stay at the dealership and make a pest of myself.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Timing Belt trouble in 2.0 DOHC Kia Sportage

Flahthead, Picked up the Sportage today - they had to fight with it also, but it is running like a champ. Also replaced the front muffler (no catalytic converter here), added 3 lb of freon, full tune up (spark plugs, fuel and air filters, pcv valve, etc), LOF, replaced front brake pads, repaired the power side view mirrors, replaced the intake and exhaust gaskets, for a little over $300 (that is parts and labor)! To run all over the place for those parts, and then the time to install, definitely cheaper to let them do it and I can take care of other things!<br /><br /> That is one nice thing about being here - most things are much cheaper (after all, the minimum wage here is now up to $1.10 A DAY - and that can be a 12 or 13 hour day). Anyone want to come and work for me here?