Setting timing but unable to get the gears to stay on the timing markers once the tensioner get tightened. Could the belt be wrong or please advise what other problems could be causing this.

What car do you have? A repair manual cover this.

Look on this website: www.onlyrepairmanuals.com

If you have replaced the spring loaded belt tensioner ( leave the pully nut loose ) then on refitting the belt , at a point midway between the two cam pulleys there should be a maximum deflection of .37" to .45 " ( 3/8 to just under 1/2") with a 22 lbs load applied on the belt . the tensioner pulley is then tightened up at the pulley nut to 28 -38ft lbs torque setting

Hi Steven, All gears and bearings are to be tightened before finally setting the tensioner bearing. Begin alignment from the crankshaft and continue on the non tensioned side of the belt across the cam gears and finally tension the tensioner bearing. Regards John

Hi Rockzone, Set the the engine to Top Dead Center before removing the old belt. If you've already removed it with the timing in any other position, do the following:- Rotate the camshaft so that the drill hole through the gear, is opposite a punch match mark behind it. (The punch mark is on the front of the camshaft cap). It is advisable to use a bright light and a mirror, which you hold at an angle in front of the camshaft drive gear. Shine the light between the gear and the cylinder head. Rotate the cam until the hole aligns with the punch mark. Once aligned, then rotate the crankshaft until the 'V' cut out on the crankshaft gear aligns with the match mark arrow on the front of the oil pump housing. Make sure that the tensioner bearing is at the maximum loose setting, fit the belt. Gently release the tensioner bearing and then recheck the timing. ( Adjust if required). When correct, tighten the lock nut on the tensioner bearing. Rotate the engine, turning it with a socket spanner from the crank shaft two full revolutions, and then recheck mark alignment. When the marks align after rotation, fit back everything else. Regards Johngee10

Remove the serpentine belt, remove the lower crankshaft pulley, place a jack under the oil pan and jack up the engine slightly, remove the engine mount (right top). Remove the timing belt cover, loosen the timing belt tensioner and pull tensioner pulley back toward the rear of vehicle. I like to then tighten the tensioner bolt to hold it in this position, remove and replace belt. If you need to put the engine in time then look at the camshaft there is a small arrow in the center, it lines up with a dot on the end of the cylinder head. The lower timing mark is a small metal tip that sticks out from the lower gear, and it lines up with a notch cut into the front cover just behind the lower gear. Once aligned properly put the belt on the lower gear and without turning the lower gear or camshaft gear pull the belt tight up to the cam shaft the cogs in the belt will line up with the grooves, then place the belt around the water pump drive gear and under the tensioner, then push the belt over all gears by hand without turning the engine. Loosen the tensioner bolt and apply a little pressure toward the front of the vehicle and tighten the bolt. Replace everything else previously removed. Engine should start and run normally.

1989–92 VEHICLES

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the serpentine belt and timing belt cover.
3. Loosen the water pump bolts and release tension with tool J–33039 or equivalent.
4. Raise and support the vehicle safely.
5. Remove the crankshaft pulley.
6. Carefully lower the vehicle, then remove the timing belt. Fig. 11: Exploded view of the timing belt assembly — 1989–92 OHC engines
   To install:
   
7. Turn the crankshaft and the camshaft gears clockwise to align the timing marks on the gears with the timing marks on the rear cover.
8. Install the timing belt, making sure the portion between the camshaft gear and crankcase gear is in tension.
9. Using tool J–33039 or equivalent, turn the water pump eccentric clockwise until the tensioner contacts the high torque stop. Tighten the water pump screws slightly.
10. Turn the engine by the crankshaft gear bolt 720°to fully seat the belt into the gear teeth.
11. Turn the water pump eccentric counterclockwise until the hole in the tensioner arm is aligned with the hole in the base.
12. Tighten the water pump screws to 18 ft. lbs. (24 Nm), while checking that the tensioner holes remain as adjusted in the prior step.
13. Install the crankshaft pulley, timing belt cover and the serpentine drive belt.

1993–94 VEHICLES

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable, then partially drain and recover the cooling system.
2. Remove the coolant recovery reservoir.
3. If equipped, remove the A/C belt.
4. Remove the serpentine belt.
5. Disconnect the evaporative emission pipe assembly.
6. Remove the crankshaft pulley assembly.
7. As outlined earlier, remove the timing belt front cover.
8. Align the marks on the crankshaft sprocket with the marks on the rear timing belt cover by rotating the crankshaft.
9. Loosen the water pump retaining bolts, and release the tension with tool J 33039-A or equivalent.
10. Carefully lower the vehicle, then remove the timing belt. Fig. 12: Timing belt installation and tightening specifications — 1993–94 2.0L OHC engines
    To install:
    
11. Turn the crankshaft and camshaft gears clockwise to align the timing marks on the gears with the timing marks on the rear cover.
12. Install the timing belt, making sure that the portion between the camshaft gear and crankshaft gear is in tension.
13. Using tool J 33039-A, or equivalent adjustment tool, turn the coolant pump eccentric clockwise until the tensioner arm contacts the high torque stop. Tighten the water pump screws slightly.
14. Turn the engine by the crankshaft gear bolt 720°clockwise to fully seat the belt into the gear teeth.
15. Turn the coolant pump eccentric counter clockwise until the hole in the tensioner arm is aligned with the hole in the base. This must be done with the engine at room temperature, approximately 68°F (20°C).
16. Tighten the water pump screws while checking that the tensioner holes remain as adjusted as in step 15.
17. As outlined earlier, install the timing belt cover.
18. Install the crankshaft pulley.
19. Connect the evaporative emission pipe assembly.
20. Install the serpentine drive belt and the A/C belt (if equipped).
21. Install the coolant recovery reservoir.
22. Properly fill the cooling system, then connect the negative battery cable.

Remove the serpentine belt, remove the lower crankshaft pulley, place a jack under the oil pan and jack up the engine slightly, remove the engine mount (right top). Remove the timing belt cover, loosen the timing belt tensioner and pull tensioner pulley back toward the rear of vehicle. I like to then tighten the tensioner bolt to hold it in this position, remove and replace belt. If you need to put the engine in time then look at the camshaft there is a small arrow in the center it lines up with a dot on the end of the cylinder head. The lower timing mark is a small metal tip that sticks out from the lower gear and it lines up with a notch cut into the front cover just behind the lower gear. Once aligned properly put the belt on the lower gear and without turning the lower gear or camshaft gear pull the belt tight up to the cam shaft the cogs in the belt will line up with the grooves, then place the belt around the water pump drive gear and under the tensioner, then push the belt over all gears by hand without turning the engine. Loosen the tensioner bolt and apply a little pressure toward the front of the vehicle and tighten the bolt. Replace everything else previously removed. Engine should start and run normally. Hope this helps, let me know.

Recommended by kia is 100,000 km.

Timing Belt: Service and Repair
TIMING BELT
COMPONENT
REMOVAL
1. Disconnect negative battery cable.
2. Loosen power steering lock bolts and nuts accordingly and remove tension from Power Steering (P/S) and/or Air Conditioning (A/C) compressor
drive belt.
3. Remove P/S and/or A/C drive belt.
4. Loosen generator mounting bolts and adjusting bolt.
5. Remove generator bolts.
6. Remove water pump pulley.
7. Remove crankshaft pulley and timing belt guide plate.
8. Remove upper and lower timing belt covers.
9. Turn crankshaft so that timing mark on timing belt pulley is aligned with timing mark on engine.
10. Check that "I" mark on intake camshaft pulley is aligned with mark on cylinder head cover and "E" mark on exhaust camshaft pulley is aligned
with mark on cylinder head cover.
NOTE: Do not move camshaft or crankshaft once timing marks have been correctly positioned.
11. Loosen tensioner pulley lock bolt.
12. Protect timing belt with a rag.
13. Remove tensioner pulley.
14. Remove timing belt.
NOTE: Mark the direction of timing belt rotation (on the timing belt) for proper reinstallation.
INSPECTION
NOTE: Never forcefully twist, turn inside out or bend timing belt. Do not allow oil or grease to come in contact with timing belt.
1. Replace timing belt if it is contaminated with oil or grease.
2. Check timing belt for uneven wear, fraying, peeling, cracking and hardening. Replace timing belt as necessary.
3. Bend timing belt into a "U" shape as shown in figure. Distance "A" must be at least 1.0 inch (25 mm).
4. Inspect both idler pulley and tensioner pulley for uneven wear and smooth bearing operation.
5. Inspect camshaft pulleys and timing belt pulley for broken teeth or damage.
NOTE: Replace any component that shows damage, excessive wear, or that appears prone to a possible failure.
INSTALLATION
1. Install tensioner pulley.
NOTE: Replace tensioner spring whenever timing belt is replaced.
2. Pull tensioner pulley to its furthest point and tighten lock bolt.
3. Check that timing mark on timing belt pulley is aligned with timing mark on engine.
4. Check that "I" mark on intake camshaft pulley is aligned with mark on cylinder head cover and "E" mark on exhaust camshaft pulley is aligned
with mark on cylinder head cover.
NOTE: If existing timing belt is being reused, install belt in proper rotation direction marked prior to removal.
5. Install timing belt onto timing belt pulley first, then idler pulley, exhaust camshaft pulley, intake camshaft pulley, and tensioner pulley in that
order.
6. Check that there is no looseness in belt between idler pulley and exhaust camshaft pulley or between intake and exhaust camshaft pulleys.
7. Loosen tensioner pulley lock bolt and allow tensioner spring to apply tension to timing belt.
NOTE: Do not add additional tension.

8. Tighten tensioner pulley lock bolt to specified torque.
Tightening torque: 28 - 38 ft. lbs. (38 - 51 Nm, 3.9 - 5.2 kg-m)
9. Rotate crankshaft two full revolutions (clockwise only) and align timing mark on timing belt pulley with timing mark on engine block.
10. Check that "I" mark on intake camshaft pulley and "E" mark on exhaust camshaft pulley are aligned with marks on cylinder head cover.
11. If they are not aligned, remove timing belt and start process from tensioner installation.
12. Measure timing belt deflection by applying moderate pressure midway between camshaft pulleys. If deflection is not correct, repeat from
tensioner installation.
Deflection pressure: 22 lb. (98 N, 10 kg)
Deflection: 0.39 - 0.50 inch (11 - 13 mm)
13. Install lower and upper timing belt covers in that order.
Tightening torque: 5.8 - 8.0 ft. lbs. (7.9 - 10.7 Nm, 0.8 - 1.1 kg-m)
14. Install timing belt guide plate and crankshaft pulley.
Tightening torque: 9.0 - 12.6 ft. lbs. (12.3 - 17.2 Nm, 1.3 - 1.8 kg-m)
15. Install water pump pulley.
Tightening torque: 9.0 - 12.6 ft. lbs. (12.3 - 17.2 Nm, 1.3 - 1.8 kg-m)
16. install generator belt and adjust the tension.
17. Install P/S and/or A/C drive belt and adjust the tension.
18. Connect negative battery cable.

Their should ba a tensioner pully that it goes around. this part keeps tension on at all times. It is possible that you have the wrong belt or you have the belt routed wrong. Check with your local auto parts store, they should be able to give you the belt routing and the right belt if you have the wrong one.

Please contact me if your problem presists.

Thanks, Charlie1221