!996 Escort won't start

[mcoyle]

Hello, My name is Chris and this is the first time at this site. I have a 96 escort that died on me on the freeway. It would not start again after towing it home I checked all of the fuses and relays that I could fined, all were good. I had a fuel pressure test on it and it registered 40 psi. I had a new fuel pump put in last November 2003.I checked and am getting good spark at the plugs. so now I have determined that I am getting gas and fuel,but getting them at the right time and place is another question.I did find out that this escort has a turn off valve for the fuel located in the truck. I reset it.All of the lights and gages are working when the key is turn on. except One thing that I noticed that is different is when I turn the key off the gas gage stays at half a tank, it's never done that before, it's always returned to the empty position on the gage.some brief info on this scort. ok like I said it's a 1996 escort manufactured in December of 95. it's a 1.9 fuel injected engine it seems to have a distributorless ignition system. I really don't understand what that is.Would anyone have any ideas on what the problem might be or give me any ideas on where to look now. Thanks for any help that I can get Chris.

[Markgase2000]

Do you smell gas when turning it over lots without ignition?

[homefree]

check the timming belt it may have broken or slipped,also in the fuel tank the sock may have gotten flipped over and would be pinching off the fuel line so you don't get any fuel.

[mcoyle]

Originally Posted by Markgase2000

Do you smell gas when turning it over lots without ignition?

no, I have tested the fuel pressure and have found that I am getting 40 psi, the book says 35 to 40 is what it should be. I am not smelling any gas from anywhere.Thanks for the suggustions though.

[mcoyle]

Originally Posted by homefree

check the timming belt it may have broken or slipped,also in the fuel tank the sock may have gotten flipped over and would be pinching off the fuel line so you don't get any fuel.

I think your right, I took a compression test today and found that the readings were 0 in all cylinders, this leaves me to believe that the belt has broken or slipped pretty bad. tomorrow I will take the timming chain cover off to check. thanks for the advice. Chris