As a rule, the car owner does not pay too much attention to the timing belt, since he believes that there is simply nothing to break in it. This continues until it fails. And then it turns out that a suddenly broken belt entails a lot of troubles and financial costs. We will tell you in this article how to prevent the timing belt from breaking on a Kia Spectra car and replace it in a timely manner.
Timing belt "Kia Spectra"
The gas distribution mechanism (GDM) ensures the intake of the air-fuel mixture into the engine and the removal of exhaust gases. Its rotation is carried out from the crankshaft by belt or chain drives. The system makes the entire car move. If the element breaks, it is no longer possible to start the engine.
Kia Spectra was produced in Russia at the Izhevsk Automobile Plant. The model was produced from 2005 to 2009. After 2 years, another small batch of cars rolled off the assembly line.
The car produced in Russia came with only one type of engine. The gasoline engine produces 101 hp. The in-line power unit has 16 valves (4 for each cylinder). The gas distribution mechanism includes:
- belt drive;
- 2 timing gears;
- 16 valves;
- crankshaft gears;
- 2 camshafts;
- tension roller;
- distribution roller.
The connecting link between the camshaft and crankshaft is the timing belt. This is a closed rubber band with notches on the inner surface. It is not difficult to find: it is located behind the boot and covers several pulleys at once.
Kia Spectra
The Kia Spectra was introduced in 2000, replacing the previous Kia Sephia brand. In Korea, the model was produced under the Mentor brand in the 1999-2000s, and until 2004 it was produced in America. It should be noted that for the South American market the car was supplied in two bodies:
- 5-door hatchback;
- 4 door car.
The Korean brand Kia Spectra was produced at the Izhevsk Automobile Plant from 2005 to 2011, and exclusively in the body of a car. In 2009, the production of Spectra in Izhevsk ended, however, in order to fulfill our client’s obligations to the Korean company, he was obliged to produce a small batch of cars in the summer of 2011.
Reasons to replace the timing belt
Replacing the timing belt on a Kia Spectra is carried out at certain intervals. The rubber constantly rubs against the pulleys, causing damage. If you ignore the manufacturer's recommendations for replacement, a break may occur.
As a result, the cylinder valves are often deformed. They bend, damaging the pistons.
In worst cases, the driver will have to completely repair the engine.
The main reasons for the break:
- natural wear and tear;
- presence of stains of technical fluids on the timing belt;
- operational errors;
- manufacturing defects;
- disruption of the operation of other vehicle components;
- untimely replacement of consumables.
The need to install a new belt may occur earlier or later (determined visually). This factor is influenced by:
- rubber quality;
- operating conditions;
- driving style;
- age of the car.
You cannot wait for a certain mileage to change an element. It is necessary to check the condition of consumables every 30 thousand km.
Most often, the unit is inspected during scheduled maintenance. But it’s easy to check the gas distribution mechanism yourself. To do this, you need to turn off the engine, open the hood, remove the protection cover, having first unscrewed the fastening elements.
Next, you need to visually assess the condition of the rubber rim and the level of tension. The cord of the part must not have any burrs or scuffs. The driver needs to make sure that all teeth are intact.
The Kiya Spectra's timing belt will need to be replaced if the following is discovered during the inspection:
- cracks and bumps on the surface;
- obvious abrasions, tears;
- worn teeth inside;
- frayed edges of the ribbon;
- rubber delamination.
A circular inspection is carried out by rotating the crankshaft. You can check the tension level manually or by adjusting the throttle valve. First you just need to press your finger on the belt drive. The deflection of the element should not exceed 10 mm. If it is larger, then the tension is weak and should be increased.
Checking is possible with the engine running. To do this, periodically apply gas to the throttle valve.
Vibration of the belt after releasing the gas indicates that it is loose. A whistling sound as the speed increases indicates a tightened belt.
Weak or strong tension can cause the rim to jump between the gear teeth and unstable engine operation. As a result, replacing the timing belt on a Kia Spectra will be required earlier.
Replacement process
So, we take out our working tools, take out the transmission kit purchased in advance and begin the procedure for replacing the belt. Open the hood and remove the cover from the timing mechanism. To do this you will have to unscrew several bolts.
Loosen the pump and remove the belt of additional units. Remove the crankcase protection and the right front wheel. Now loosen the fastening of the power unit cushion and unscrew the cushion. The dipstick used to measure the oil level will interfere with us. We also remove it together with the mounting bracket. We dismantle the upper and lower timing covers, having previously unscrewed the crankshaft pulley. To do this, you will need to press the brake hard in fifth gear. This is where you will need an assistant. Now you need to remove the pulley from the engine. After this, the lower protection is dismantled.
Loosen the tension roller and remove it. This way we loosen the transmission tension, after which the belt can be removed. Now you need to set the marks. Take this procedure seriously as the correct position of the alignment marks is of great importance. To make it convenient to place marks, you need to lift the right side of the car using a jack. The marks on the pulley must align with the marks on the mechanism body. Remove the old belt. Look at the photo below. This is how the marks should be placed.
Now we combine the mark placed on the protrusion near the pulley of additional units with the mark on the pulley itself. Now you can start tensioning the new belt. Make sure that the pulleys do not rotate. We adjust the alignment of the teeth by changing the position of the crankshaft. Now we adjust the gear tension. To do this, the crankshaft must be turned 2 turns to the right. After this, the belt will be tensioned by the lower spring.
Check again that the marks match correctly. The belt will have to be installed again if they do not match. Now tighten the tensioner all the way. After this, all other removed parts should be installed in reverse order.
That's it, now let's start the car and listen to how it works. If extraneous noise is detected, the procedure will have to be repeated, since the noise of the operating mechanism must be smooth, without grinding or whistling.
Which timing belt to choose for Kia Spectra
To replace it, it is better to take original belt drives and rollers for the Kia Spectra. Analogs from:
- Bosch;
- Bando (often an original belt from this company);
- Gates;
- AMD;
- "Gatex."
Purchasing cheap parts from little-known companies is fraught with a quick breakdown of the unit.
At the same time as the belt, the rollers are changed (the original GMB ones are better, SKF can be used as a substitute). Oil stains on the transmission rim indicate wear of the seals. Then they also need to be changed.
Sometimes a water pump is added to the belt drive kit. If the old one has chips or scratches, then we replace it.
A complete timing belt repair kit consists of the belt itself, pump, rollers, and alternator belt.
Replacing the pump on a KIA Spectra
Most experts do not recommend changing the pump yourself. However, experienced car owners do it themselves without any problems.
Location
On a KIA Spectra, the pump is located near the cylinder head.
The KIA Spectra pump is located in a place that is not very convenient for dismantling
To gain access to the pump, it is necessary to remove the alternator and timing belts.
Before replacing, it is recommended to thoroughly clean the pump seat
Car service
In branded stores, an original pump cannot cost less than 3 thousand rubles. Analogues can be purchased for a much smaller amount - from 1 thousand rubles.
The cost of car service services when replacing a mechanism without removing the timing belt is estimated from 2 thousand rubles, and with removing the timing belt - from 4.5 thousand rubles. A three-month guarantee is provided. All work takes no more than 2–3 hours.
Draining antifreeze
When replacing, it is recommended to completely renew the coolant; the new pump will not be able to work correctly with the old coolant. The liquid is drained into a container with a volume of at least 5 liters. Fresh antifreeze is poured in a volume equal to the volume of the drained coolant.
Required Tools
To replace you will need the following tools:
- set of wrenches;
- socket head with extended knob;
To unscrew deeply located bolts, a socket head with an extended wrench is required
Belts are dismantled using a special tool
Using a universal pry bar, the pump pulley is removed
Replacing the pump without removing the timing belt
In order to replace the water pump without removing the timing belt, you must perform the following steps.
- The wheel is removed, the engine protection is unscrewed and the plastic fender liner is detached.
To access the pump it is necessary to remove the engine protection
When replacing the pump, the timing belt protection is removed
The water pump pulley is removed using a pry bar.
Before removing the belts, it is recommended to take photos with different positions of the camshafts. When standing in front of the hood, mark I of the left camshaft pulley should be level with mark E of the right camshaft. In order to correctly align the camshafts, you should turn the crankshaft one revolution.
When installing belts, the camshaft marks must be at the same level
Changing the pump on KIA Spectra cars, which require removal of the timing belt, is extremely difficult. In this case, it is advisable to immediately contact a car service center.
Video: replacing the KIA Spectra pump
Replacing the water pump on a KIA Spectra with your own hands is quite simple. All you need to do is carefully follow the recommendations of professionals.
Replacing the timing belt yourself
You can do all the work yourself. Process step by step:
- Remove the engine cover by unscrewing the 4 nuts.
- Remove the fasteners from the timing case.
- Remove the belts from the water pump and power steering.
- Remove the alternator belt and pulley leading to the water pump.
- Raise the front right wheel with a jack.
- Unscrew the engine protection located on the right.
- Stop the power unit by placing the gearbox lever in 5th gear. Apply the brake and remove the crankshaft pulley bolt. Now it can be removed.
- Loosen the mounting bolt at the left roller. Remove the right one.
- Using pliers, remove the spring located near the left tension roller.
- When the tension on the transfer rim loosens, it can be removed.
- Set the timing marks (16 valves) on the Kia Spectra, turning the crankshaft until the values “I” (on one gear) and “E” (on the other) take a position at the top and coincide with the same marks on the timing case.
- Install a new belt taking into account the direction of rotation (there is an indicator on the rim itself). To make the teeth match, you can rotate the crankshaft. But when the casing is tensioned, the pulleys cannot be turned.
- Replace rollers.
- When the transmission rim rests on all the pulleys, even with slight rotation of the crankshaft, the roller springs automatically tension the belt.
- Check again whether the timing marks on the Kia Spectra (16 valves) match. If the alignment marks are off, remove the belt and re-install it.
After this, reassemble the car by repeating the steps in reverse order.
Belt drive is a consumable. It is recommended to replace it depending on wear, but no later than after 50-60 thousand km. You can supply spare parts yourself, saving on the services of a service center.
Replacement procedure
Remove the power steering (power steering) and generator belts. In order to easily move the power steering pump to the Kia Spectra, you should completely loosen the bolt that secures the unit to the car engine.
- “Rip off” and slightly loosen the water pump fasteners (if this is not done at this stage, it will be more difficult to do this after the belt is removed).
- Remove the right mudguard and engine protection.
- Remove all protective covers that hide the timing belt.
- Find the Latin letter I (I) on the intake pulley. Here you will find the notch and mark. A tooth is placed between the identification marks.
- You need to find the letter E on the exhaust pulley.
- Place the pulleys in the desired position. To do this, remove the Kia Spectra from speed and place the wrench on the lower pulley bolt. The crankshaft must be rotated clockwise in this manner. You need to scroll until the marks and notches coincide with the protrusions behind them.
- For greater convenience, when putting on a new timing belt, you can make your marks with bright and visible paint.
- Set the gear shift lever to fifth speed and press the brake pedal.
- At the same time, tear off and unscrew the lower pulley bolt. Pay close attention to the lower pulley key. If it falls out, put it back in place.
- Align the lower pulley so that the mark on the flange matches the arrow.
- Remove the roller spring, remove the rollers and timing belt.
- New rollers are installed in place of the removed ones. The assistant continues to hold the upper pulleys with the keys.
- Put on the new belt so as not to displace any of the marks. Make sure that the belt arrows point forward.
- Install the roller spring.
- Check that all marks match, remove the car from speed and turn the crankshaft (as described earlier, by the pulley bolt) clockwise. When turning, you should carefully ensure that valves and pistons do not meet, and that the marks retain their positions.
- After the belt has been tensioned by the spring, tighten the rollers. Tighten the lower pulley bolt.
As a test, you need to start the engine without assembling the entire structure, and listen carefully to the smoothness and stability of the motor. Turn off and repeat the operation by connecting the gas pedal.
If no errors are identified, then the belt replacement was successful and your Kia Spectra will work flawlessly.
Thus, you can replace the timing belt on a Kia Spectra yourself. It is necessary to change the element, focusing on 30–45 thousand kilometers of the car. Remember that if you do not change it in time, you can pay for the integrity of the motor.
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When to change timing belt
The timing belt has its own resource; according to the manufacturer’s recommendation, it should be changed every 45 thousand kilometers (TO-3). Most likely, the Izhevsk plant played it safe, but it is better not to delay the replacement, and the belt should be changed approximately every 60 thousand km.
At each maintenance, it is necessary to check the condition of the timing belt and also inspect the tension rollers. Car owners should take into account that if the belt breaks or it jumps several teeth, the valves in the cylinder head will most likely bend. Therefore, the question of when to change the timing belt always remains open - if you think that the belt is already worn out, it is better to get the job done without delaying the matter.
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The condition of the gas distribution mechanism parts is checked during maintenance. The car owner can check the degree of wear of parts at any time; this work is not difficult to do. An unscheduled inspection of the timing belt should be carried out when a suspicious whistle or hum appears in the area of the timing belt.
We perform the inspection as follows:
- turn off the engine and raise the hood;
- unscrew the fastenings (4 bolts) of the upper timing case;
- After removing the casing, we do a visual inspection of the belt.
There should be no cracks, burrs or abrasions on the timing belt cord. You should also look at the condition of the teeth - they should be intact, without any damage. To inspect the entire belt in a circle, rotate the crankshaft.
The tension is checked by pressing your finger on the belt between the camshafts - according to the instructions, under a pressure of 10 kg the belt deflection should be 10 mm. In this case, it will not be possible to determine the condition of the timing rollers, but you can start the engine with the upper casing removed. If the rollers make noise during operation, they need to be replaced. It is recommended to change the entire set at once, that is, both rollers (tensioner and parasitic) and the belt itself.
You can also check the timing belt tension in the following way:
- remove the top casing;
- start the engine;
- manually adjust the throttle valve.
As the speed increases, you should observe the behavior of the belt. If, when releasing the gas, it begins to vibrate, it means that its tension is weak. If the belt whistles when adjusting the gas, most likely it is overtightened and should be loosened.
You should be aware that a timing belt that is too loose can jump on the teeth, and this will lead, at a minimum, to interruptions in engine operation, and in the worst case, the belt may break. Therefore, the tension should be checked periodically to avoid serious problems with the motor.
Purpose, design and operating principle of a water pump
The pump is a centrifugal type water pump. The rotation of the impeller located in its body ensures forced continuous circulation of coolant (coolant) while driving. Through the cooling system, the heat released during combustion of the fuel-air mixture in the engine is absorbed by the radiator. On a KIA Spectra, the pump and generator are driven by the crankshaft pulley through a poly-V belt. Rotation of the impeller is ensured by sealed bearings pressed into the pump housing. Lubrication of bearings during operation is not required.
Preparation for replacement and necessary tools
When replacing the Kia Spectra timing rollers, you need to remove the keys from the ignition and remove the negative contact of the battery. Next, you should install the car in the garage, place wheel chocks under the wheels and let it cool. Under no circumstances should you carry out replacement on a hot or even warm engine. Not only can you suffer a serious burn, but there is also the potential for serious damage to the system. On a hot engine, it is impossible to correctly set the belt tension. And the wrong one is the most common cause of premature wear or breakdown of the gas distribution system.
