I have a 1989 Honda Accord SEI. It leaks oil and I have been letting my son
drive it. I have lectured him about checking it frequently but wonder if he
let it get too low. The engine quit on him as he was getting off of the
freeway. I towed him home and saw that I had no spark to the plugs. I took
the dist cap off and cranked it and the rotor didn't move. I removed the
valve cover and timing belt cover and cranked and could see the bottom
timing belt sprocket turning but not the top. I got the belt off and tried
to turn the top, camshaft sprocket by hand and it wouldn't move more than a
quarter of an inch. I figured that the cam shaft bearings may have frozen. I
loosened the bearing caps and I could then turn it. A guy at a wrecking yard
told me that it shouldn't have to be able to be turned by hand, but with a
wrench. How hard should it be to turn? I hate to spend $30 on a belt, put it
all back together, just to have it eat the new belt up. Thanks in advance
for any replies.