Auto Parts: 93 buick Skylark no-start, crankshaft position sensor, buick skylark

Question
I have a 93 Buick Skylark 2.3l,4 cyl, quad, w/o.h.c. with a no-start situation. Before it quit it sounded like it was trying to choke itself out and wouldn't let me go over 45 mph. When I shut it off it wouldn't start back up. I tried to start it using starting fluid( to check and see if the fuel pump was bad) , it still wouldn't start so I replaced the coil, coil cover, spark plugs, boots and had the ignition module checked (it is good) and had the alternator checked (it also is good). The motor turns over when you try to start it but it just doesn't SOUND like it's "catching" or firing, it sounds like its gonna just sit and roll, it doesn't sound like it's firing. I have tried to start it using SMALL amounts of starting fluid but even that's not getting it to fire. Any thoughts?

Answer
    You need to do a compression check first.  I have a feeling that the timing chain has broken or skipped a couple of cogs.  If this is the case, then the compression will read low on all of the cylinders.  If you get good compression (115-130 psi) on ALL cylinders, then the chain should be OK.  It's very hard to check for spark on this engine, because everything is hidden under the cover.  The plastic gizmo that connects the coil assembly to the plugs can go bad, we used to sell them all the time.  If you've got good compression, I'd look at that, and also the crankshaft position sensor.  It fits through a hole in the side of the block, and is held in by a single screw.  The tip of the sensor can be roughed up by stuff flying around in the crankcase, and it is what triggers the spark.  This is not the easiest engine to work on, but there isn't a lot that can go wrong, either.  Good luck.