Timing Belt broke....now won't start

[tomtsc]

My 93 escort wagon stopped running out on the highway. Would crank but not start. Had it towed home, cant afford to pay a mechanic. After sitting for a month or 2 not having time to work on it, I do have 2nd vehicle, I finally looked under the hood and found that the timing belt snapped. I had a friend come over to help put a new one on. I had the manuals to help. Now everything back together and now it won't do anything. Turn the key and it does nothing. I hear the fuel pump and lights on dash come on. I had the battery checked....needed a new one. Got home with the new battery and was ready to jump in and start it. Turned the key and still nothing. I jumped the starter and I think I hear it turning but not turning the engine over. At this point i was called into deal with the kids and never got back out to work on it. Anyone have any ideas to what I should be checking or is it too much of a headache. I did read other posts on this and did check the clutch swith on the clutch pedal. Where do I go???

[GTP Dad]

You don't say what type of engine you have but if it is an interference type engine you probably bent the valves when the belt broke and they are bound up in the head causing it not to turn over. This is common. Remove the timing belt again and see if the engine will turn over. If it does then you may need to purchase a new head for the engine. If you don't want to remove the timing belt again then try turning the engine over using a breaker bar and a socket on the end of the crankshaft. If the starter is bad then the engine should at least turn over when you turn it manually. If it turns with the socket and breaker bar then replace the starter, if not you will need to pull the engine apart and investigate further. If the valves are bent then the replacement head is your cheapest option.

[tomtsc]

I have a 1.9....i was able to turn the engine over before I replaced the timing belt.

[mjgjr72]

just put a socket on the crank bolt and try to turn the engine over by hand if you can, use a test light and check if you are getting power to the starter, if yes pull starter and replace.