Not sure yet but suspect that my timing belt jumped a tooth...so question is whether the 1994 4CYL VTEC an interference engine, meaning should I expect that the pistons ran into the valves?

 

Simple answer is YES.

Then it goes from there, "A" tooth....should be ok. Belt breaks, about .5% of the time...ok.

Now can you give a bit more info and backgroud and we can go from there.....

Thanks

 

At this point, I asked the simple question to know where to start troubleshooting and the possibilities. The car had the timing belt "adjusted" about 2 weeks ago by an mechanic that was asked to replace the engine belts...meaning alternator, A/C etc. Car had been running fine, but a couple of days ago on the freeway the engine began running very rough, loosing power, sputtering. Pulled over thinking bad gas or plugged fuel injectors. Checked out the fuel feul supply and seems fine, injectors spit out gas when I crank the engine, I then exchanged out distributor (spare rebuilt one), to test it...no change, removed valve cover, nothing obvious, pulled spark plugs and found them to be burning very rich, completely covered with soft black soot. Removed the top timing belt cover to checked the tension on timing belt and seemed fine, nothing seemed wrong except that the belt was not fully aligned as it went over the cam sprocket....meaning it had a bit of overhang. I've replaced the cover and put things back together but now it will crank but will not give any indication that it is wanting to start-up. This is why i suspect the timeing belt. I plan on doing a compression test to see what else I can find out. Appreciate any advise.

 

If you timing belt is still intact, then I would not do the compression test yet. Turn the crankshaft by hand with a 19mm deep socket until the mark on the crank pulley lines up with the pointer on the lower timing belt cover. The single mark is the TDC mark. Check that the cam sprocket marks are lined up with the cover on the cylinder head.