Rep Power: 0

Hey guys, I am having a problem and just can't seem to figure it out. I was driving today and all of a sudden I heard a clank sound and the engine went from its normal high hum to a low boggy sound. Before I could find a place to pull over the cylinders stopped firing and the car died. I opened up the hood and one of the distributor wires was blown off the distributor. I replaced the distributor cap, wires, and distributor rotor button. Still wouldn't start after that. I pulled all the spark plugs and took out the fuel pump fues to check and see if I flooded it and no fuel came out of the cylinders. Anyways the engine will turn over but I am not getting any combustion. I tried to push start it and it sounded real boggy and would just die. Any help would be much appreciated. My car is a 2000 honda civic

 
Rep Power: 313

Your timing belt broke

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for getting back to me, so quick. What do you think are the odds that I damaged the engine because of that.

 
Rep Power: 313

If the timing belt did break its about 90% chance there is internal damage to the head. Maybe about 30 % chance damage to the pistons. You need to remove the valve cover and then the upper timing belt cover to see if the belt is still intact. Usually when a car dies in the manner that yours did it's a timing belt problem. When is the last time you replaced it?

 
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I have never replaced it. I just bought it used with 97,000 miles on it two months ago. I guess the person before me didn't replace it at 60,000 mile. I was checking prices and it looks like that would cost me about 2500 bucks. I might just be better off buying a rebuilt engine for 4k?

 
Rep Power: 313

Buy an engine at a junkyard and rebuild it... An engine is probably about 5-700 an about 1500 to redo the gaskets and such. First, confirm the timing belt is the problem.

 
Rep Power: 0

Alright, thanks for all your help my friend. I really do appreciate it.

 
Rep Power: 284

I wouldn't even bother with doing a rebuild, unless you plan on keeping the car for a very long time, just try to find something with low miles. $500 for an engine, $250 for a new timing belt/water pump/tensioner., $500 for labor swap it.

 
Rep Power: 313

^ Yea sorry I didn't mean a full rebuild. I mean remove the head replace the head gasket/resurface and check the head. Timing belt, water pump, seals etc. I guess all that doesn't cost 1500 !

 
Rep Power: 0

Alright I got it fixed. It wasn't the timing belt. I opened up the oil port while I had someone start the car and noticed the lifters moving up and down and came to the conclusion that my timing belt was fine. Started thinking for a minute and realized that when I blew that plug wire I could have overloaded the ignition coil. Took the coil out and sure enough it was burnt out. Replaced that for 23 bucks and it's running fine now.