David

Does this engine have a timing belt or chain? Also - is the timing chain (or belt) between the engine and transaxle as I have heard?

So - if the rear cam is out of time and it is an interference engine, then I would suspect bent valves at the very least. I'm just trying to figure what kind of serious damage there may or may not be. Thanks for the help.

Thanks again ... now can anyone tell me whether this is an interference engine or not?

Thanks. Does this car have one camshaft for all exhaust valves and one for all intakes?. My thinking is that if he has bent valves, then the timing must have jumped. But if one shaft serves 1/2 the valves on either side of the head why wouldn't it have low compression on all cylinders? Are the piston to valve relationships the same on either side of block?

New member - son recently bought 2000 Jetta VR6 from a 'friend' - was told it needed a starter. There is no compression on any of 3 cylinders on firewall side. Any ideas before I start looking?