"Ross Cranford" <rossc96@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d9z7e.14592$Ln.666624@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> I'd pull off the valve cover and see if the timing belt is around the cam
> gears. Turning over the engine could cause more damage by bending the
> valves. If the timing belt is broken, then the valve are stuck in
> different positions, turning over the engine moves the pistons up & down,
> if the valve is open it will bend when the piston hits it. That's why
> they are called interference motors.
> The only way to tell, without replacing the timing belt, if the valves are
> bent would be to let the cams go so all the valves are in a closed
> position, and then compression check the cylinders... a bent valve will
> not close and seat itself. Apart from that pull off the head all together
> and have it checked.
>
Checking the valve clearances will also give a good indication whether any
valves are bent. If they are all pretty much to spec the valves are probably
good. If some are way wide, count on those valves to be bent.

In addition, a ratchet on the crank bolt (turn CCW!) to pull the engine
through all four compression cycles should give a rough idea of the state of
the compression. If some cylinders resist and some don't....

Mike