91 escort wont start

[bekanmom]

my car will crank but wont fire. there is both spark and fuel makin it to the engine but it will not start. i have power and my fan works also. any help would be great.

[mightymoose_22]

where to begin...

Take of your valve cover... it is simple to do... have someone crank the engine and watch to see if the valves are moving. If no movement, your timing belt is toast.

How did you verify that spark and fuel are good?

[bekanmom]

i tried to start the car and pumped the gas so u can smell the gas.....i took the cap of the spark plug and touched it to a ground while someone tried to start the car and there is spark

[Jet-Lee]

Take out the spark plug, and ground it and check for spark. Then to make sure ur timing belt is ok, pull the bolts/nuts from the cover, then move it out about an inch and see what kind of condition the belt is in.

[bekanmom]

it is my timing belt.....i have another question.....in the process of takin off my valve cover i snapped on of my bolts.....i called the auto parts store and cant buy a new one.....is there any kinda fix for this or do i need to go to a junk yard n get it???

[jman63]

it would also be well worth your while to change the water pump while you have everything apart...

[bekanmom]

thanx for everyones help........i replaced the timing belt and water pump today and the car runs.....my only problem left is one bolt to the valve cover. do i need to replace it and if so where can i obtain that part since the auto part store here doesnt sell them???
thanx again for everyones help

[Jet-Lee]

Do you not have an Autozone or O'Reilly close by? They have 'em, for sure.

[bekanmom]

nop..........we have a napa and schucks.....i called both of them n they dont carry the valve cover bolts

[Jet-Lee]

what motor do you have? or model escort?

[bekanmom]

its a 91 ford escort lx with a 1.9 engine