car won't start

That is what is sounds like, a bad timing belt. Have you checked to see if it is getting spark and fuel to the engine?

i do have fuel and spark. it sounds like the engine wants to start but i really don't want to keep cranking it too much and cause more damage. i think i'll access the timing cover and check the alingment marks as well as the compression. if that all looks good it then sounds to me like it would be ignition related?

Make sure the spark is a good hot blue snapping spark. As far as the timing, if the spark is good, check timing. It may have jumped.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

apparently i had too much fuel. the tow truck guy came yesterday morning. he asked what i though was wrong and what i heard when the car went to start. he cranked the motor a few times and said the belt is not broken. he had the hood up and for the first time i smelled gas. keep in mind the car has not run for three days. he poked around the relays in the box and tapped on a few. i do this in my line for HVACR work. he then cranked the motor for quite a bit(i did not have the stones to do it as long as he did) and it started blowing a ton of smoke and it smelled smelled like gas but it was white. He said i may have a sticky relay or sensor causing the fuel injectors to keep feeding basically flooding the motor. he said that "recoil' or almost backfire was the engine pushing against all that fuel in the cylinders. never heard of this scenario but the tow guys see it. any i'm taking it to a good engine electrical guy to check out as i'm sure if the something it will happen again.

That is very possible. It could be a bad temp sensor.