Cant find the timing pin. help needed

I was three minutes drive from home. And it has done it before. It will flash for a few seconds then be fine

Have yu checked the dipstick and the oil cooler pipes?

Oil cooler pipes are all clean at both ends. There is oil on the dipstick but there is everywhere

From a quick first glance, and looking at spray pattern, it looks like the sump has been pressurised and blown oil out of filler cap & dipstick tube.
Rings gone, or hole in piston. Major problems. If hole in piston, that might be why it isn't starting - or maybe it's just seized due to lack of oil???

Engine is spinning, enpugh to bring it onto the drive using the started motor.

Sounds bad what can I do to to work out what's wrong?

Have yu refilled the engine with oil?

Head off and check. Or compression check if yu have a doozil compression checker.

I haven't. If it has come out the filler its unlikely to come out again just starting up, right? Don't fancy shooting another load all over the floor.

I don't have a compression checker. Would it be something people are likely to have or would I need to go to a garage? Do you think a shout out to local lz members would be worth while?

Do yu really think it's a good idea to try and start an engine with little or no oil in it?

I think a call to local peeps would be a very good idea. .

Understood. Sorry. This is all new to me. Atm I just need to decide wether this is something beyong my ability to fix. Admittedly it may appear to be the case

Not beyond your capabilities, but if yu not done it before, be best to do it under guidance from someone that has .

Agreed. That's what makes this forum brilliant!

Is the oil level on the dipstick at normal level?
If so dip the oil and smell it to see if it has diesel in , if lift pump diaphragm goes diesel gets into the oil.
Look into rocker cover for signs of water in the oil also if head gasket fails oilways can get pressurised by engine compression.
Has radiator lost significant amount of water?

There was no oil on the dipstick but I have topped it up now.
Didn't think to smell it.
Peering through the filler cap no signs of water, but I will check that tomorrow.
The water is still full to the brim

as its a doozil, yu can pressure wash the oil off and then yu will be able to see where it is coming from , but i suspect you will see it easily enough .

As you suggested spray looks like it's come out the filler and dipstick. Far more on the right side of the engine as you look at it. Also there is a very clean patch where I assume the oil has cleaned off all the old grime. This is just below the filler. althought this might be wishful thinking as the alternatives seem more costly

it sounds expensive any way. it might be good to replace the crank bearings as you may have run them. At least check them all when the engine is in bits, which I think it will be.

I was just looking back on this thread and you only started all this because your cam belt snapped. Were you having any other issues before this? Was the engine OK or did you notice any engine breathing or pressure coming out of the oil filler cap?

I know I am probably asking stupid questions, but when you did the cam belt you did put everything back in properly? Did you remove the radiator? If you did, did you put the oil pipes back on and tighten them up? Also, did you remove the head? It could be that you have got piston damage due to the impact with the valves, or valve damage.

It might be that you have just had a really bad run of luck and I am sure you will come to the bottom of it.

It had crossed my mind. As far as I could tell the only difference after the cam belt was a little low on power but only just noticable and a bit smokier.

I did take the rad off, but took my time putting it all back together torqued everything I could. There is no oil anywhere on the rad or water.

I also changed all the fluids and the only effect of this I noticed was how much better the gearbox was.

I have noticed a hole in the exhaust around the back of the turbo which does billow a bit of smoke from under the bonnet, especially trying to start it up today.

So with my little experience I can only assume it's a product of excessive engine temperature.

take rocker cover off and turn engine over watch all valves fully open

That also sounds like a good plan. I should ha e taken the head off when the cam belt went. All the valves looked to move well and the tops sat all at the same level but I guess that a dodgy valve could be it, Atleast the start of it