2000 metro wont start

Hi, Im stumped!, my room mate an elderly women has this 2ooo chevy metro with only about 65,000 miles well maint, She only drives local., the other day she went to teach a class and the metro 1.3 engine just stopped , when she left the class she attempted to start the car numerst times with no luck., The engine makes a wining sound,this is where it all get interesting, 2 dealerships turned us away,too buzy, next we had a friend call his friend a machnic to replace what I though was the starter, I had belived went bad , it was replaced with no luck, this guy said he did not know what the problem could be and offered to tune it up??? how it wont start, Next I had a guy recommended to me by the local auto parts store, he looked and told me that the coils were bad, but before putting out more money I was able to find a shop that would do the work, I called AAA to do the tow and the driver who is also a machnic had me turn the key and quickly told me, the car had no compression that the timing belt needed replacing., we got the car to the machnics shop and filled them in, They replaced the Timing belt,tune up,oil change and still cannot get the car started ,they have no clue as to whats wrong and the guy sujusted we pull the motor and have it replaced,I said what!, being around car's most of my life i have never heard such a thing before they even had the motor turned over.,the car had been running very good to this point with never a problem ,regular maint, and no indicator lights warning, the guy also said it may have overheated with no indication of that at all, all fluid levels up ., Im really am lost here., I am wondering where to go from here??, can anyone out there help Im loosing my mind,Thanks....Joe

Timing belts are regular maintenence. Should replace them every 60k. They give no warning, no signs of fatigue unless you inspect it. If the timing belt broke, it may also have bent valves. But a broken timing belt does sound like the culprit.

i would have shop run a compression test to make sure belt is on right and no bent valves, engine should have about 150-170 on the test in all cyl.

Thanks! for the quick Replys and reinforcing the timing belt salution, Here's an update : The compression test on the engine came back low below 100 on all cilinders the guy at the shop says it may have been run with low oil , the best option he gave me was that he can get me a low mile replacment and change it out in about 3 days for $1,000,00 with a 6 month warrenty, after running around for the past week and a half, I belive this maybe the best opptions we have ,I have had work done at this place before and they seem honest , like they guy told me, after taking the head to the machine shop etc It will cost a bundle, I really like the 3-4 days turn around and the 6 month warrenty, What do you guys think?, thanks ....JoeHi, Im stumped!, my room mate an elderly women has this 2ooo chevy metro with only about 65,000 miles well maint, She only drives local., the other day she went to teach a class and the metro 1.3 engine just stopped , when she left the class she attempted to start the car numerst times with no luck., The engine makes a wining sound,this is where it all get interesting, 2 dealerships turned us away,too buzy, next we had a friend call his friend a machnic to replace what I though was the starter, I had belived went bad , it was replaced with no luck, this guy said he did not know what the problem could be and offered to tune it up??? how it wont start, Next I had a guy recommended to me by the local auto parts store, he looked and told me that the coils were bad, but before putting out more money I was able to find a shop that would do the work, I called AAA to do the tow and the driver who is also a machnic had me turn the key and quickly told me, the car had no compression that the timing belt needed replacing., we got the car to the machnics shop and filled them in, They replaced the Timing belt,tune up,oil change and still cannot get the car started ,they have no clue as to whats wrong and the guy sujusted we pull the motor and have it replaced,I said what!, being around car's most of my life i have never heard such a thing before they even had the motor turned over.,the car had been running very good to this point with never a problem ,regular maint, and no indicator lights warning, the guy also said it may have overheated with no indication of that at all, all fluid levels up ., Im really am lost here., I am wondering where to go from here??, can anyone out there help Im loosing my mind,Thanks....Joe

Actually, that's a really good price for a shop to be doin all that work, plus the engine, plus warranty. I'd jump on that deal.

if you were closer i would say bring it here, i do them for $700-800 including motor and they come with a 1 year warrenty