Auto Parts: 1998 Dodge Neon, dodge neon, crying time

Question
While driving this car, the valves started pecking and the engine died.  The car will not restart.  Any suggestions on what to check?

Answer
    I have to be honest, it sounds like a classic timing belt failure.  You need to check behind the plastic cover on the front of the engine and see if the belt is still intact.  You may have to remove the cover in order to determine this, or you may be able to poke your fingers back there to check.  If the belt actually broke, you're pretty much screwed and will have to get the engine rebuilt or replaced.  These belts are designed to be replaced at intervals that range from 30K miles to 90K miles, your owner's manual should say.  It's not an especially cheap thing to have done, and many people just ignore it until it breaks.  On some cars, this just stops the engine without causing any damage.  But on the Saturn, and many other cars, a broken belt while the engine is running  means that the valves hit the heads of the pistons, bending them and damaging the pistons.
    Now, there is another possibility.  If the oil pressure failed, the computer would kill the engine and not allow it to start unless oil pressure was somehow restored.  The oil pump drives from the timing belt, so, again, if the belt is broken it's crying time.  If the pump just failed for some other reason, then you may be able to salvage the thing after you diagnose the oil pump failure.  Honestly, though, it sure sounds like the belt.