Mitsubishi Repair: will not start, vacuum hoses, car repair shops

Question
QUESTION: I have 95 diamante LX twin cam. My car has ran great since I purchased in 2000. No problems 124,000 miles. Started car to go up the street heard a loud noise and thought a belt had broke so I cut the car off. No belts were broken and car has never started back again. What could have possibly happen to my car? Repair Shops are guessing.

ANSWER: Natalie: I would say you broke your timing belt. Have you ever had it replaced? You need to get the car into a shop someplace and have them check that out. Have the shops checked the timing belt? Or how about the balance shaft belt? How about the catalytic converter, sometimes when they get old, its insides will start to come apart and it will sometimes plug up. So then the car will not start. You might try that. Or you could have blew a hole in one of the vacuum hoses.Have you ever had the car coded, to make sure the computer and all the sensors are working right? Might try that to rule out any problem there. I hope this helps you some and good luck! Linda

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QUESTION: The car is at the shop, and they are saying all the valves are bent, but the timing belt is not broke and has never been broke. What else could cause this? They say its a mystery to them.

Answer
Natalie: If the valves are bent then it has to be from something to do with the timing belt. Even if it is not broken, could be the balance shaft belt broke or the balance shaft tensioner let go for some reason. Are you going to have the engine rebuilt or get different engine? If you get this engine rebuilt they might find the problem as they take the old engine apart. I am sorry about your engine, though. Linda