03 Crank no start

[duckyy]

Good afternoon,

I recently acquired an 03 legacy with a crank no start condition. it has spark and fuel, and I can turn it over by hand for the most part. what has me stuck is, I can turn the engine backwards as much as I want, but I can only turn it forward about 3/4 of a cycle before it feels like it hits something solid. I looked at the flex plate and no bolts are missing, timing belt is intact as well. I'm thinking it could be timed wrong based on other posts I've seen around the internet but I was hoping someone here would be able to give me some other ideas as to what it could be.

 

[flatfoot55]

No expert here, but the reverse spin unloads the tensioner, putting slack in the belt and changing the valve timing a bit. Timing belt might have jumped a notch, best to check that before you go any further.

 

[duckyy]

No expert here, but the reverse spin unloads the tensioner, putting slack in the belt and changing the valve timing a bit. Timing belt might have jumped a notch, best to check that before you go any further.

I checked the timing a couple days ago and it was way out. can't say if it was from me turning the engine backwards but the cams were at least 180 degrees out from each other. I was able to put a bore scope down cyl 1 and there's signs of valves hitting pistons, so it looks like I'll be tearing down the top ends.

 

[flatfoot55]

Try just replacing the belt (and rollers & tensioner if needed), it might run OK.