Re: What broke?

[Stilian Elenkov <elenkovs@mail.vtls.com>]

At 02:52 PM 12/20/97 -0500, you wrote:
>
>     Last night I was driving home when the engine quit.  There was a little
>bit of clatter, then no power.  Car was in 5th at about 60 mph.  No big
bangs,
>the car just lost power suddenly.
>     After I pulled to the side of the road I tried to restart it.  The
>starter would turn the engine, but there was no compression.  Trailered the
>car home, assuming a broken timing belt.  Which seemed odd because the
belt is
>only about 30K miles old.
>     Just found out the timing belt is fine.  The cam turns and operates the
>valves, the crank works (pistons move up & down), the distributor turns.  I
>loosened the timing belt and put everything in time, even though it did not
>seem to be out.  Still no compression on any of the cylinders.
>     Basically, I don't have a clue here.  If anyone can provide some help it
>would be greatly appreciated.
>     Thanks.
>
>     --ml
> 
I had a similar problem and it turned out to be the wudruff (sp) key on the
crankshaft timing gear was  broken. The crank would turn the  gear would
slip  for about  1 revolution and would then engage and turn the timing
belt, so it was actuating the camshaft and valves but at unpredictable
positions - could bend the valves if  20 v. Think of it as random VVT. The
gear was about 25 $, but since I was there I changed the TB and WP.

Hope that helps

Stilian