Hi, I've posted in here once before, but I really don't know alot about cars. I have a 1994 Pontiac Grand AM SE quad (I think that makes it a 2.3L), automatic transmission. One day, (same day I bought my tabs, go figure) my bf was driving it to the store and he said it made this knocking noise and died. We had a friend tow it home. When I tried to start it, there was no knocking, but it sounded like it was trying really hard to turn over. That was a few days ago. Now when I try to start it it makes this noise, sort of like a clicking, but really fast. I know what a dead starter click sounds like, and its not that. He's convinced it's the motor, not that he looked at it. The headlights still turn on, so does the radio, and the windows roll down (the two that worked before, anyway). Could my motor be "blown", or *crossing fingers* could it be something else?

There are two possibilities especially if the car does not want to start. One and worst case scenario is that the motor has indeed locked up. The second is the possibility that the timing chain has broken and is causing the engine not to want to start. The ticking can be from anything the only way to find out what is going on is to actually work on the engine by possibly pulling it apart to see if any problems can be found. Good Luck!

I'd agree with GTP. It sounds like the timming chain. Usually it'll turn over really fast though when the TC breakes... But it could be lodged into the crank. He is right about taking it apart too, that would be the easiest way to find out for sure.

I agree as well. However, if it is the timing chain gone bad, when it breaks the engine does not stop turning right away, and the quad motors are an interference fit, meaning that the pistons will hit the valves, resulting in bent valves, a damaged head, or cracked or broken pisons, or any combination of the three. To check the timing chain, you have to pull the cover off the passenger side of the motor which also entails removing the crankshaft pulley. Good luck.