A friend of mine has a car that wont start, it's a geo metro, 4 banger, port injection, has a distributor. There's fuel coming up the line from the pump, but I'm not sure how well it's getting fuel, as there is no schraader valve on the rail anywhere, so I cant check the pressure. It is getting spark. It's been suggested that maybe the timing belt slipped some, but is there any way I can check that without pulling off the timing cover, which would be a major PITA. The car is probably way out of time, as she's had several people look at the car before me, and they turned the distributor to try to get it started. Suggestions? Oh and I found the timing tab on the motor, but for some reason, it's not above the harmonic balancer or anything. In fact, right below it there's a V-belt. Where is the mark that I'm supposed to time it off of?

 

I just got done pulling and rebuilding the three-cylinder version of the Metro four. I believe the timing belt assembly is the same (?). I gotta tell you, yes, it is a PITA to pull the cover but in the end you'll probably save yourself some time and grief. I am not sure if that engine is a crasher or not.

 

never worked on one, but i'm sure the only way to check is to line up all the marks and if you can't it's moved. you might want to try a timing light and see where it mark is and try setting timing. it has a distributor right? good luck

 

Does the engine have compression? If the teeth on the belt stripped off at the crank gear the valves could be bent IF it has an interference motor. But, if the belt teeth were stripped the distributor probably woudn't turn and you'd have no spark. A
bad belt tensioner could also cause timing issues. Post the year,
make, and model and its engine designation. To find out if it is an interference engine, do a search for "interference+engine". You
will find many sites