99 ZX2 won't start

[f150gt]

Hi, I know this probably has been covered, but I did a search and couldn't find an answer. My daughter hs a 99 ZX2 and it died in my driveway. I pulled a plug and it had spark, I checked fuel rail and plenty of pressure, I marked all pulley wheels and they all seem to turn while cranking, so I believe the timing belt is ok, but the dumb thing still won't start while crancking. Any ideas???

Thanks in advance!

[mightymoose_22]

Could be a bad ignition switch. Do you know how to hotwire the car? Bypass your ignition switch and see what happens.

[Davescort97]

Could be a broken timing belt.

[mightymoose_22]

I initially wrote that the timing belt should be intact since you have spark, but I was thinking the cam sensor was part of that process and it isn't. You very well could have a bad belt... the pulleys you checked will turn since they are connected to the crankshaft. The timing belt is behind all that and not visible without removing parts. One of the easiest ways to check the timing is to look in through the oil filler hold and look for moving parts while cranking. No movement=bad timing belt.

If you have a gauge you can also do a compression test. This will tell you if the valves are opening and closing properly.

With some symptoms of what happens when you turn the key maybe I can point you in the right direction. Does it sputter at all and try to start? DOes it just crank and nothing happens? Was there any work done on it prior to this problem?

[carlos80]

perhaps timing. Whats the mileage on the vehicle? Its not always that the timing belt breaks but it could also jump a few teeth on the sprocket. Like mentioned previously a compression test could give you a better idea. Low cyl all the way across would indicate incorrect engine timing.

[f150gt]

Thanks all, I believe it has close to 170000 mi and when turning over it doesn't even seem to want to sputter or start.

[mightymoose_22]

Is it cranking at a normal speed then? Just not firing up?

Try the visual check for moving parts through the oil opening... then folow up with a compression test if still not sure. I don't think you are going to get any more info until you do that.

[f150gt]

OK nothing moving in oil fill hole so I assume it is a timing belt, had towed to service shop because it doesn't look like a job I want to do.

[mightymoose_22]

Timing belt is something a do-it-yourselfer can do, but it can be time consuming and there are likely to be little details along the way that make it more than you were willing to get into. Sounds like a timing belt problem... the shop will get it fixed quickly.