Could wrong CAM timing after belt replacement cause loss of compression

Tiny
JO PETERS
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 HOLDEN BARINA
  • 1.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 120,000 MILES
My Barina XC suddenly lost power last week, all I could do was slow down to a safe spot to stop but I heard a wiz noise, I could not start the car again and once I got it towed home I saw that it was a timing belt malfunction. Teeth were missing and nothing was turning. So I bought a new timing belt, and learned the water pump had quit working and seized causing teeth from the timing belt to be stripped.
Both of these replaced, had a car savvy friend help with correct belt placement and we did a compression test. Only cylinder two has compression. Nothing in the rest. Could this be cam timing error or is it a terminal diagnosis of bent valves? :(
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019 AT 6:21 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
Hi and welcome to 2CarPros.

I believe this engine is an interference engine which means there is a good chance there was damage internally.

To answer your question, if only one cylinder has compression either timing is wrong or you have internal damage. Recheck timing marks and confirm they are correct. If they are, you need to pull the head off and see what happened.

I wish I had an easier answer, but based on symptoms and what happened, I suspect there is internal damage.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe
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Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019 AT 4:48 PM

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