Timing Belt

Tiny
MARYFERNBD
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  • KIA
5 months ago I bought my 1997 KIA sportage 4x4 with 089487 miles. First I had to have the gear shift replaced because the dealer I got it from sold it to me KNOWING the safety switch was gone. And just 2 days ago I had to have a tune up and have the harness connectors repaired which was another $388.00. Now they are saying I need to replace the timing belt? WHY? The car is running great now (KNOCK ON WOOD) it is not making any odd noises nor is it acting strange. Why replace it? Will I be able to tell when the belt is going out? Will it make noise? PLEASE help soon. Thank you
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 AT 7:41 PM

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Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
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Based on the first sentence, why in the world do you go back there?

Why did you have to do a tune up
And what exactly did they do?

Why are they saying you need it?

Do they know when it was last done. Or if it is due?

I'm not saying they are right or wrong, just need facts to help out.
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 AT 7:50 PM
Tiny
MARYFERNBD
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I am sorry I didn't say this before. After the KIA dealership replaced the gear shift I DID NOT return there. About 3 months after wards the check engine light came on while I was return home from a trip. Then the Hold light came on I stopped at a different garage and they put my car on a machine codes #P0101 Mass or Volume air flow circuit
range/performance malfunction and # P0750 shift solenoid malfunction. Since I just had the gear shift replaced it was under warranty so I went back to the dealership to have that replaced but the dealership said that was not the problem and that what was wrong was that I needed to have a tune up. I did could not believe the price they told me so I took it to a 3rd place who told me the same thing as the 2nd place told me. This is what the papers
said was done: Tune up; spark plug wires set; spark plugs; fuel filter. They also repaired the harness connectors, cleaned and tightened terminals in connectors C-123 and C-124; cleaned grounds #G103, G104 and G105, and rerouted wiring harness to gain more slack.
I do not know if or when the timing belt was replaced because I have only had the car for 5 months. I know we have not had it done. They told me we should replace timing belt because the car has over 60k miles on it. It had 88k when we bought the car.
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 AT 10:55 PM
Tiny
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Okay Mary, now I'm with you.

Without looking up the diagnostic procedure on those codes, a tune up doesn't make sense, but again I haven't looked them up. I would suspect that "They also repaired the harness connectors, cleaned and tightened terminals in connectors C-123 and C-124; cleaned grounds #G103, G104 and G105" was the Check engine Light issue.

The person you spoke to that quoted the may have worded it to sound like you needed the tune up also, or was mis-communicated to by the technician and believed the tune up was the source. Our industry suffers from lack of quality communication as well as a customer's blockage of communication. I don't know that this is the case or not, but that's my take at this point. You very well may have needed the tune up regardless so don't feel jaded about the tune up.

As far as the timing belt, the link I placed above gives the timing belt intervals. This is the particular one for your truck:


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/30961_kia_1.jpg



The asterisk that is placed after the DOHC means you have an interference engine. Go to the link to see the details for that. Bottom line is that is it breaks, it may trash the engine. You most likely will not get any warning signs. What you first need to do, is determine if you have California (CA) or Federal emissions. As you can see in the image, there are 2 different timing belt intervals. It may show you on a white sticker under the hood. If not call the dealer with your vin number and ask them.

If you have federal emissions, it should have been done at 60,000 miles. Now here is the gamble. Did the previous owner replace it, meaning you have until 120,000 miles, or did they not do it meaning you have a time bomb?
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2007 AT 4:44 AM
Tiny
MARYFERNBD
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Paul, I just wanted to say thank you for your help. I was afraid I was being ripped off again and didn't want to spend money for something that didn't have to be done. I understand now that I have to replace the belt. Thanks again Mary :D
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2007 AT 4:04 PM
Tiny
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Mary, Feel free to post here for any questions you have. It is important to me that folks better understand the car, the shop and the needs.
Paul
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Thursday, August 23rd, 2007 AT 4:19 PM

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