Posted: 2/21/2008 12:03:40 PM EDT
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If you are into cars, let me know what you think! I need some advice about my car, a 2002 Kia Rio Cinco (5-door). I was driving home from work last night and it died, right on I-405 in Bellevue! Luckily I have AAA, so they towed me to a shop. I talked to the mechanic this morning, and he says I need a new engine. He said it would cost me another $300 for him to figure out exactly WHY, but that all 4 spark plugs looked like something had chewed on them. He suggested I have it towed to the dealership to see if it’s still under warranty, etc. (I am the original owner.) Also said a "new" (he uses refurbished?) engine would run me around $5,000 – totally not worth it, in my opinion, for this car. He said when he saw what was wrong he decided to stop after putting an hour into it and check with me before investing any more of my money in it! So I called the dealership. They say it sounds like the timing belt went. We determined that I DIDN’T get my $60,000 mile tune-up (it's a little late for lectures about THAT!), at which the timing belt would have been replaced, thus making the warranty void. So basically I am stuck with a car that won’t run. So, I have two questions! 1) Does all this sound right? I t makes sense to me, but I don’t know much about cars… and 2) What does one DO with a car that needs a new engine? I won’t replace the engine. I’ll buy a “new” (to me, not a 2008!!) car… Are there “junkyard” places that would buy it off me for the parts? How do I find them? Thanks for any advice! Donna 
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A broken timing belt on an interference engine tends to result in broken and damaged things: valves, pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft, cylinder heads. Not having the timing belt changed at the proper interval most likely lets Kia out of that 10yr/100,000 warranty, if the timing belt broke and it's breaking was the root cause of the damage. Options for getting rid of a broken car: trade it in, sell it as a parts car on Craigslist, etc. (there might be someone looking for a hood, a hatch, a door, etc), salvage yards will pay for or charge to take cars depending on how much money they think they can get for selling it off piece by piece. |
| Phil's right on the engine....the belt broke, pistons smashed the valves into your plugs and you're out of luck on the warranty. Best bet is sell the remains on Craigslist for a couple hundred dollars or so. The junkyards will likely offer nothing more than free towing. |
I have no idea what you're talking about, although I have a hunch it has something to do with the fact that I didn't get the timing belt replaced when I should have...  
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I don't think whether the belt actually broke is the issue. It's that I didn't get the 60 K tune-up and have the belt replaced. THAT'S why it's not still under warranty... I got the 30 K, but as I recall, made the appointment for the 60 K and forgot. Part of the reason I forgot, I think, was that it was going to cost me almost 2K (at the dealership). I know, I should have taken it to a different mechanic or at least combed through the warranty to make sure I was sticking to the parameters. Too late now! |
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Not positive about Kias but most manufacturers, that use this type of belt wanted the timeing belt relaced at 90,000 miles. I believe Phil was correct in it probably being the timeing belt. When a timing belt goes at free speed it can do lots of internal damage. If you have less than 100 thousand miles, or close to that, at least call a dealer. If you have done oil changes there is good chance that they will help you out. |
I did call the dealer. They said that the warranty stipulates a 60,000 mile tune-up with timing belt change, and if I didn't get that, the warranty's no good. I know I didn't get the 60K... |
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Sounds exactly right... No matter the route you go, it'll probably cost a lot more than you want to spend on it  I'd list it on Craigslist... On a side note, timing belts need to be done every 75K at the latest.. any later and they are nothing but a time bomb. As far as what boomer was talking about.. chain driven just means that.. your crankshaft is what the pistons rotate on, and the cam shaft is what controls the valves. To make sure the "timing" of the valves is right the crank and cam are connected, usually by a belt or chain. If this connection is broken then valves can be left open when the piston comes up and woila, you have bent valves and all sorts of other nasties. |
Can you even BUY a new car with a timing chain these days? My dad said the Korean and Japanese cars use belts... I'm going to need a small hatch back. Something with GREAT gas mileage that a string bass will fit into! [my son plays] I think if I splurge and get a new vehicle it may be a Toyota (Yaris) or Honda (Fit). The Chevy Aveo may work too. My son and I may just take his bass car shopping tomorrow! 
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If the belt snapped...what it probably did was fold some valves....very repairable...You just need to decide how much you want to spend. Did the mechanic do a compression check?....that would show dead holes. I would also do a leak down check..figure out where the compression is going........if the pistons are ok....put a new or reconed head on it. Had a Hyundai a couple months ago do the same thing...it's back out on the road....with just a few valves and a head gasket |
I'm not the person to know but I wouldn't have a problem with a vehicle that had a timing belt.. just keep track of maintenance and get it done. It becomes a problem when you don't change it.. chains can have issues too. Regular maintenance is the key to vehicle life 
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If that's a true statement I would have them show me in writing where it was completely explained to you in clear terms previously and that you SIGNED the warranty agreement agreeing to that condition. If they are not willing to specifically show you contractual terms that you agreed to ( and signed ) that outlined the conditions of the warranty... you should have no problem getting them to honor it if push comes to shove. best of luck |
Look into the Saturns......we see very few problems with these cars...and they're chain driven. |
60K miles for a timing belt sound about right for a Kornen made car... that is 100,000 km I think japaness cars are like 75K |
No Aveo!!! Don't you need to be able to fit that oversized fiddle of yours in the car too? You'd prefer a car with a non interference engine too. (that means when/if the timing belt breaks the engine stops without eating itself in the process.) |
The Aveo's not at the top of the list. The seats don't fold down flat like they do in the Toyota or Honda. I found a Dodge Caliber that looks like it may have enough cargo space for the oversized fiddle! Heard anything about them? |
Yes, you can. I specifically choose vehicles with engines that use a timing chain instead of a belt. For example, our 2000 Chevrolet Impala LS 3.8l V6 and 2005 Nissan Maxima SE 3.5l V6 both use timing chains instead of belts. And probably not coincidentally, both engines have reputations of being durable and long lived. A timing chain should last the life of the engine unlike a belt that needs routine (and usually not inexpensive) replacing. Just ask whether or not the vehicle has a chain or a belt, look through the owner's manual to see what the maintenance schedule is and if it includes timing belt replacement, do a little independent research on automotive websites, and ask us questions. |
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Not sure you can see much in this, but these are the spark plugs from the Kia. I had the Kia towed from the shop it was at to a tire shop so they can change out the snow tires that are on it (that I don't want to "give away") with the almost shot regular tires. The guy at the tire shop wrote the slip up and put "PUSH CAR INTO BAY. PUSH CAR OUT OF BAY. CAR IS DEAD." on it! He was new, and thought this was very odd, but a more seasoned employee said "wouldn't be the first time!"... I am leaning towards donating the car now. I also have a lead on a guy who may want to actually pay me money for it so he can fix it a resell it. That may work too. Either way, I am pretty sure I dont' want to sink any more money into this car. I sure appreciate everyone's input - whether I "followed" your advice or not. It has really helped me to get ideas in order to decide what I want to do! Donna 
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