Timing Tensioner problems of the 2005 Kia Motor Sorento

Driving in rural eastern colorado when the battery and brake warning lights came on. Drove on to the next town with a repair shop (brush, CO) and checked under the hood. Belts were loose and the bottom pulley was lying in the bottom of the engine compartment. Had to have it towed 70 miles to the kia dealership in windsor, CO ($375). They did the repair and charged $1303. 85. Had to rent a car while the repair was completed ($343. 57). Harmonic balancer had failed and caused damage to timing belt, tensioner, crank sprocket, etc.

In September 2012, traveling at 35mph my kia came to a stop. At first glance it was determined the drive belts had unfastened and the cam shaft bolt was laying on the engine pan. After inspection at kia service shop the specialist identified that the cam shaft bolt had sheered off due to the defective part: cam shaft sprocket-c, part # 23120-35701 cost $60. 00. The final suggestion was to replace the bolt set, sprocket, crank angle sensor, damper pulley, auto tensioner and all drive belts a total of $2,000 repair cost. In 2014, the cost repair is now 4,000 to replace the engine because of the same exact issue but traveling over 40mpg causing more damage. The main cause of this defect derives from the small pin attached to the sprocket that turns the harmonic balancer and grinds the steel with the force of the engine into nothing. The result of this defect causes the harmonic balancer to come lose, sheering off the crank bolt first, then if traveling at low speed will follow with the repair above, however if at high speed will result in engine damage in the valves making it necessary to replace the engine at a cost of $4,000. You may refer to the following resources for more information: the kia Sorento engine defect class action lawsuit case is robinson el al v. Kia motors America inc. Case no. 13-cv00006 us district court of new jersey. . Read more...