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[MonzaGSE]

Girlfriend went to work this morning. Phoned me after making it half way there. Had heard a loud «click» from engine bay and the Omega just stopped dead in its tracks. Car wouldnt restart. Drove there myself and found all dashlights working as they should and starter also works. However engine sounds kind of weird when starter runs. Seems to be very low compression. Didnt want to try to much as i dont want to make anything worse.
What puzzled me is that i have had two cambelt failures in the past. (X30xe and Ford pinto engine) both lost all compression and just spun around on the starter without any resistance. This x20xe however seems to have some compression but it seems to spin over to easily.
Could the belt have jumped a tooth? And can the engine then be salvageable? Can the cambelt snap  without engine loosing all compression?

[Doctor Gollum]

Easy enough to pull the cover to check

[MonzaGSE]

Yep i will do that. But since girlfriend is at work im babysitting our two year old daughter. Thats really a full time job!

[Doctor Gollum]

She can help 

[Nick W]

She can help 

yeah, start them early

[MonzaGSE]

Hehe. She was very keen on helping when we had to push the Omega out of the way when we had towed it home this morning. She grabbed the front bumper and really gave it everything she had:) However i dont really see the patience or attention span there to give me enough time to get the cambelt cover of:p

[MonzaGSE]

Got the cambelt cover of while she has her nap. Belt had broke:( So i guess this means new engine.

[MonzaGSE]

Also: can a 2,2 be used with the 2,0 throttle and ecu/wiring/sensors?

[Doctor Gollum]

Might be able to fit a 2.2 head, but best comparing side by side... 

No point buying anything until the head is off as you may need the whole lump...

[Nick W]

Got the cambelt cover of while she has her nap. Belt had broke:( So i guess this means new engine.

you might get away with a few valves.
A replacement head is easier to source and fit than an engine.

[MonzaGSE]

Problem is i dont feel competent enough to change the head. Swapping the entire engine over i have done several times in the past however.

[Doctor Gollum]

It's only ten bolts, and the belt is already off

Worst case, you completely balls it up and you need a new engine anyway.

Best case, you fix it with less hassle and learn something along the way

[dave the builder]

Indeed , take the head off and inspect the damage, that won't cost anything and is a good lesson.
I've replaced valves and lifters,rockers on engines with snapped belts before now ,only once did i replace a bottom end/short block and used the original head with new valves etc .
buying a used engine to put in a car is sometimes buying and fitting more problems if the history is unknown
"better the devil you know" as they say
if , after taking the head off, there is catastrophic damage to the head ,you can replace it ,if the pistons,bores etc are damaged ,then you can look at a replacement engine
best to know what the problem is before spending money 

[MonzaGSE]

Update: Had decided to check the head as adviced, but a friend of a friend had a slightly newer x20xev for sale cheap. 1998-99 aproximately. Came from a car left by an old man so been treated well. Had sat for 5 years in a field before it was started up this spring and engine removed before car went to the wreck yard. Fitted the engine to the 94 Omega and kept the ecu/wiring loom from our car. Was a bitch to start and got eml light on. Paperclipped the codes and got cam sensor and crank sensor. Swapped cam sensor over from old engine but made no difference. So changed crank sensor also from old engine and now the new engine runs great. Fires up quickly and idles fine. Will take it to local garage to get cam belt done before driving anywhere else:p

[Doctor Gollum]

Bish, bash, bosh