1998 vtec no start

Hi all, fixing my sisters car ...
1998 contour 2.0 z-tec 180K
I changed the timing belt 4k ago ...

today she had been driving for almost an hour when the car died, I wasn't with her so I don't know what noises it made, it just died and she wants it fixed ... so I hope you feel my pain here! It cranks over fine, but will not fire.

Pulled the plugs and noticed she has a leaky valve cover gasket ... needs to be fixed, but I know that
the plugs were way worn down, so I figured i'd start there, no change
checked the spark with spark tester, great on all 4 cylinders
dumped a little fuel in the thoratle body, no change
double checked the timing belt hadn't lost teeth again, all teeth there
hit the fuel pressure test valve and fuel came out (but I don't have a gauge)
fuel pump sounds good, but can't verify without gauge

so I was thinking (and excuse me if im wrong, im used to chevy's), since I have spark that means the crank postion sensor is good (am I right or wrong?)
I assume the timing is ok, but haven't thrown a light on it or checked it.

So what are the normal things that go wrong with these cars?
With out being able to drive it anywhere I can't get it scanned & really don't have the time to work on it, but if there's a common problem I might be willing to take a gamble on just replacing parts, if not then im going to have take it to a mechanic & have her pay the high labor rates. Any test I can do with basic tools (not scanner) I am willing to try. I just now remember I have a haynes manual for this car, so that might be some help. Educated guesses welcome, talking thru the basics is also welcome, but please no wild guesses just to replace parts.

ok so I called it a vtec, its a z-tec ... my bad and I can't figure out how to change the thread title

vtec is honda dude, you mean vct?

sorry I meant z-tec ... its the variable exhaust (i believe) cam timing 2.0L motor. guess I will see if I can edit that to correct it.

any suggestions? I've noticed alot of threads in this forum with no suggestions or solutions to the problem. (yes I did do a search for the answer before I posted ... too many unanswered threads)

Check over at contour.org. All the answers are there.

[QUOTE=gmack221]sorry I meant z-tec ... its the variable exhaust (i believe) cam timing 2.0L motor. QUOTE]

whats a z-tec? we have Zetec's god it pisses me when people do that.

[QUOTE=AltecZX2 whats a z-tec? we have Zetec's god it pisses me when people do that.[/QUOTE]

thanks for the help with the problems, suggestions how the fix the Zetec's problems! Sorry for my ignorace ... but ignorance can be cured with knowledge. Sorry for pissing in your cheerios man, I didn't mean too. By the way, since you seem to know how to spell the engine name ... do you know what Zetec stands for? Do you know where the name came from? Do you know where I should have started to diagnosis the problem? Thanks anyhow!

I appreciate all the help with my little problem ... atleast now I know how to spell the name of engine I will never buy ... this is yet another ford going to a mechanic to get fixed ... I know the knowlege is out there somewhere. Yes I did search contour.org ... but I couldn't find anything on there that applied to my problem. Maybe I was asking too much when I asked for help, or maybe the ford mechanics are just too busy working on fords to surf the forums.

[QUOTE=gmack221]By the way, since you seem to know how to spell the engine name ... do you know what Zetec stands for? Do you know where the name came from? QUOTE]

Designed to replace the Zeta name, designed in the UK by Ford/cossworth/yamaha/mazda.

versions include:
Zetec
Zetec-r
Zetec-s
Zetec-se
Zetec-rocam (later renamed Duratec)
Zetec-TDCi (TURBO DIESEL )
the new duratec was originaly called a RoFlow - Zetec

ranging from 1L to 2.4L
there was also a race built 3.5l v8 Zetec

Production ran from 92-04

does it sound the same when u try to start it with or without the plugs? The intake may have jumped timing and it lost compression.

Sensors are useless, they control idle and fuel efficiency.

Your problem is timing for sure.

have u looked at the timing belt recently. Check the belt if its running offcenter and the position of the engine (TDC and line up the cams). Make sure the tension is correct otherwise it will jump timing. I had the same issue with my ford, sounded like the plugs werent even in (no compression) since the intake jumped timing. Remove the belt and realign the motor at TDC. Follow the procedure on contour.org under zetec maintenance. Its a fun time to work on this car.

BTW if you're near the timing belt replace the bottom idler, they like to die and shred everything at 86k.

I have to add that this car sucks, my countour is a pile of junk just recently due to this timing issue. IT seems that this car is so sensitive that if anything goes wrong, ie tensioner (accessory belt) or o2 sensor the whole car feels like its gonna fall apart. I guess its to make you praise the mechanic after he charges 500$ for a crummy 100$ part that makes the car run like new for 3 months. The 2.0L vct engine was probably the dumbest thing ford has ever done.

Honda civic all the way from now on, at least the Japanese make awesome I4 engines, simple and reliable.

simple way to test the timing, try to start it and give it some gas, if it fires and runs like total shit (won't idle) then it's the timing.

yeah thanks all, took it to a mechanic only to find out that it ate my new timing belt because of the idler pulley went out ... wish I would have known to replace that when I did the timing belt 6,000 miles ago. oh well live & learn then buy GM's. worst part is I opened the top cover and watched it make a revolution, seemed to be teeth & it never quit spinning, so I overlooked it, live and learn.