Kia Information Needed

I have a 2002 Kia Sportage, bought used, lots of miles, thanks to me, not previous owner and now having problems with the temperature gauge. Read a few on here about it, but still have questions. Want to replace thermostat myself, but would like to know if anyone else has done it and if any one has any pointers before I start. Also, have a rattle when I get to about 2500 rpm under the hood..any ideas?

when was the last time you did a timeing belt change and a waterpump change? if you didnt have it done you may consider to do these also sinse you would have done 1/3rd of the work necessary to do them. in cluded is a link that once you sign up for free and free to use you can see what is involved.
http://www.kiatechinfo.com/index.asp

and generally the thermostst will go out about the time the water pumpand timeing belt will go. as a matter of fact i have an appointment to get these changed monday (too hot out for me to do)

Rattle can come from timing belt idler/tensioner...or from exhaust/catalytic shields, a common plague...
for timing belt, can use this
www.geocities.com/lmp4203/kiasport/TimingBelt.zip

Thanks. Fot the information. Unfortunatly after checking out my engine area and deciding to see if I could change the thermostat, I discovered I had the wrong gasket. So, I decided to change the air filter and check the coolant. Well, bad me, I was bone dry in the coolant department! I just checked it a few weeks ago, so evidently I have a leak. Did the whole stop leak stuff and added lots and lots of coolant, engine light went off. Now I just have to see if it will hold the coolant or if I need a new radiator. Never changed the thermostat. In fact, during the winter, well, the AZ winter, my thermostat got stuck open and I had the engine light on because the car didn't want to warm up enough, so I know it still needs changed, but need to check on the radiator first. Poor car. As for the rattle, I haven't figured it out. I checked under the hood while changing the air cleaner and stuff, everything is securely down. It's only when I hit about 2500 rpm, it is a 5 speed, so kinda hard to figure out what it is when it's not at that rpm, but I think I might have someone help me and hit the gas while I am looking under the hood to find the culprit. :banghead:

if you are mechanically inclined i would check the thermostat/waterpump/timing belt change. expecially if you have high miles. because if the timing belt fails you just need to chang that but if the water pump or thermostat goes you may end up needing a whole new engine. i am just trying to save you from walking from a break down. the expensive parts from the dealer can be bought brom ebay for 90$ and these are dealer parts. and you can pick up a gasket and thermostst from a parts store for under 10$ then labor for these is about 200$. so about 3-4 hours.

i would have to look at it my self but i doubt the leak is from the radiator. and i figure since the work has to be done anyways might as well check to see if that fixes leak too.

Thanks. Yeah, I am learning that not a whole lot was done to this vehicle before I bought it. Looked good, ran good, sounded healthy, but I guess you don't really know until you have it for awhile. This I know alot about, I am a magnet for bad vehicles, if you want it to break, let me drive it! This is unfortunatly how I have had to become mechanically inclined, waiting for the "ex" to look at things took way too long. Even buying brand new, I still found the lemon, went all the way with the lemon law, needless to say, no longer own that vehicle. So, yeah, I am learning that this vehicle is not so unlike the others, but I like it, so I will work with it. I guess I should have spent the money on the engine rather than the stereo! That's ok, may not beat em' off the line yet, but it sounds really good!:sunglasse

Thanks. Yeah, I am learning that not a whole lot was done to this vehicle before I bought it. Looked good, ran good, sounded healthy, but I guess you don't really know until you have it for awhile. This I know alot about, I am a magnet for bad vehicles, if you want it to break, let me drive it! This is unfortunatly how I have had to become mechanically inclined, waiting for the "ex" to look at things took way too long. Even buying brand new, I still found the lemon, went all the way with the lemon law, needless to say, no longer own that vehicle. So, yeah, I am learning that this vehicle is not so unlike the others, but I like it, so I will work with it. I guess I should have spent the money on the engine rather than the stereo! That's ok, may not beat em' off the line yet, but it sounds really good!:sunglasse
If you bought this used maybe need's a lot mantance.put a new eng in mine
because of the same issu now trans dosn't shift right:screwy: kia

Yeah...when I first bought it I had the linkage redone and the clutch/pressure plate all done too...works good now. Although, now that my thermostat is fixed, my heater core went out and puked radiator fluid all over the passenger side floor board, so that is being replaced next.:frown: But kinda spendy to do, so it's bypassed for now. Although, seems how I have put over 24k miles on it in the year that I have had it, it could be a whole lot worse!:p