Valve Train Not Moving When Starting Car

I have had my car in the shop for the last 24 hours and noone can tell me what it wrong with it. They have gone over every inch of the car and have found nothing wrong. What happend was yesterday when i was stopped at a traffic light my car stalled on me. I went to restart it and it started then procceded to stall on me again. I was able to start it one more time and then that was it. The shop i took it too took the whole thing apart even looked at the timming belt thinking that i might have threw a piston or something. The belt needs to be replaced but that was not my problem. They are telling me that the valve train is not moving and are trying to find out why. Does anyone have any ideas? My car has 197000 km on it.

whats the engine?

Its an escort LX 1.9 L 4CYL automatic. I have replaced the spark plugs and cables as of 2 weeks ago and they at the auto shop i took it too said they have been over everything im still waiting on a phone call from them

so i take it the cams not moving.. plugs & wires shouldnt have anythignto do with that.. now if the crank somehow seized or worse then you wouldnt be able to restart it or even turn it over and litteraly nothing would move but only the valve train wont right?

Is the cam gear turning? Have them take off the timing belt cover and watch it crank over.
There could be a key sheared for the pully in the crank or cam shaft.

Well almost 3 days later i got my car back and it ended up being the timing belt......somehow the tech over looked it when they gave it a diagnostic. I asked for a quote and never got one b4 they fixed my car. Also they fixed my car with only permission to fix the timing belt and ended up charging me for 9.5 hours of labour. It ended up costing me 742 bux to fix it cause of that. I got quotes from 3 other local shops including the dealer (ford shop) and the highest bill would have been 352 bux. When i asked for a detailed break down of my bill the auto shop would not give me one and told me if i have a problem with the price to take it to civil court and he would then once i have filed against him would take me in a counter suit for another 4 to 500 bux in charges he didnt put on the bill........i cant believe that a timing belt would cost me 1300 bux to replace on my vehicle.....what the hell is wrong with these people........i am taking them to court on this no matter what because of the Canadian Motor Vehicle Repair Act Bill 22 states that they must give me a quote when its requested and they cannot exceed that quote by more then 10% unless my authorization is given......so good luck to me.....and if this ever happens to anyone where your car stalls and wont start......have em check the timing belt first.

That's crazy man. I timing belt is 15 bucks and only a couple hour's of labor. Even a retarted high on pot tech should beable to find a broken timing belt.

I agree......after some discussions with other mechanics i have come to learn what it actually takes......myself being car illiterate could probably do it now.....lol.....ill post what happens in court when that time comes. Thnx to everyone for their replys