I own a '92 Jetta GL, 4 cylinders, 1.8 liter. The timing belt broke and a mechanic quoted me $1000 to fix it. It has an interference engine.
I'm not going to spend a thousand dollars on repairs, but I'd like to at least try fixing this car before dumping it. I'm a mechanical newbie; I know how to change oil, and that's about it. Normally I wouldn't even attempt this sort of thing, but I've got nothing to lose in this case.
So my first question is, how do I tell if the engine has been damaged or not? What do I take apart, and what do I look for, exactly? I need to know this before I bother buying a new timing belt. Please keep in mind you're talking to a guy who knows very little about cars. Thanks.