Please Help Me EJ22

[JesusLady]

I have a 96/97 impreza, it ran so sweet  was running perfectly until one day I was driving on the interstate at about 60 miles per hour --  the timing belt shredded and broke, I heard whizzz, there was a sudden loss of acceleration and I pulled over to the side of the road. There was no jerk or clatter, and no other operating issues when this occurred. 

Since then, the timing belt has been put on again and again and again. Each time there's been question about the correct timing marks, as well as whether the engine is non-interfrtence. 

The first time the timing belt was installed, the car fired right up and briefly ran, after the car was turned off and the radiator put back on, the car would not re-start.

Timing belt reinstalled, again and again, ipon which it starts, sputters, backfires, stalls, then will not re-start.

I am so done trying to discuss this with my car experts upon whom I rely -- I don't know much about cars, only know that I absolutely love my Impreza, which had been running like a pleasant dream, iit started fine, ran fine, no noise, no smoke, no milky color to the oil.

I have asked. "Could the valves be sticking (resulting in no compression)?" Yes, is the answer, but no one will spray them with something to unstick them, "it's too hard to reach,' they say.

I don't know what to do anymore. They are starting to tell me I need a new engine, and that yhe cam may be bent; but there was no jerk wgen it happened.

I don't believe it needs a new engine. All I know is I am without a car and completely dependent on my mechanic friend to pick me up and take me to-and-fro and it is very frustrating for a woman my age and with my active ministry.

We did a dry compression test once, Which seemed fine at the time but now has been explained away by possible improper timing?

PLEASE explain the following condition:

#2 spark plug has fired (175 psi).

1, 3 & 4 spark plugs haven't. (Zero psi)

OBD shows PO325 knock sensor code

Very depressed and frustrated.

VIN# JF1GF4858VH801438
Built 07/96

Apparently, between 96 and 97, they went from a non interference engine to an interference engine.Any insight you can provide on this is much appreciated.I am in Gainesville, Florida.Thank you so much for your time

[lmdew]

Pictures of the Cam, and crank alignment marks would help, but that will require the timing cover to be pulled back off.

Most likely bent valves.  They could do a leak down test on the cylinders, they would hear where the air is leaking out of.  

They need to have experience with doing this for it to be valid and the timing marks need to be correct.

Pulling the valve covers and getting a look at the cam and rocker arms may provide some insight as well.

Good Luck!

[lmdew]

www.car-part.com is a good source for used parts.  You can get an idea of what used engines are available and there costs.

 

[el_freddo]

Or used heads if you wanted to keep the bottom end of your current engine (and the associated engine number). 

There’s no easy fix for this one I’m sorry.

Cheers 

Bennie