Turns Over...Nothing Else

[chrisconsin]

First off I want to say hello as I just purchased a used '93 escort wagon 1.9 120,000m and I have already ran in to a (hopefully not major) problem the first day I owned the car, and didn't find any info under a search.

The car started and ran great when I gave it a road test and for a little while afterwords I purchased it. Then after a couple hours of off and on driving with my buddies the car started to make a gentle jolt (as if I was pushing the gas pedal back and forth rapidly) it would do this off and on through out the nite, more so when accelerating and seem to do it a little more around the 55-60MPH range.

I didnt think much of this and though it was a bad spark plug, has been sitting for a while or something simple in that nature, We then made a not so smart decision of making a trip to seattle (3 hours one way). We drove for just under an hour where we stoped to get snacks and drinks and then started driving again.
I drove for about 2 minutes after the snack stop and then the engine just turned off as if I turned the key off, didnt struggle at all. So I pulled over and tryed to start it again ALL it would do is crank the engine, but the engine wouldn't even hesitate to start. We let it to sit for 20 minutes before I tryed to start it again and same symptoms happened.

I finally had to have the car towed home and to this day it does the same thing. Battery is strong and starter is good but the engine has no life. I filled the car with fresh gas the day I bought her, fuel cut-off switch light was not on and switch was in the on position and I can here the fuel pump when I first turn the key to the on position.
I dont know if the first jolting symptom had anything to do with whats wrong with it now but I don't know where to start, spark problem?? gas problem??


Whew! sorry for being a tad long. !Any Help Is Greatly Appreciated! as I am more familar with Ford trucks and not cars.
-chrisconsin

[KimMG]

Timing belt? Check to see if the valves open and close when the motor is turning over or do a compression test.

[mightymoose_22]

It is most certainly your timing belt. The timing belt on these engines is a little tricky to get to, but it is easy enough to do if you feel at all up to the task and have the tools.

It will easily cost a couple hundred bucks at a shop. You can do it yourself for less than $50 (or whatever a new belt costs).

The problem you were having was due to a loose belt... it finally snapped. WHen you crank your engine now, since the belt is not attached, the valves on the head do not open and close, so the engine does not fire.

[Johnny Mullet]

If the timing belt did go, then the enginw would sound strange when turning over. It would turn over fast and sound like no compression.