Mysterious '85 Maxima Malady

[45guy1]

85 Maxima stopped running on the freeway and coasted to a stop. Pushed it to a sidestreet and the engine will crank but not start. Gas flows, coil sparks, distributor does not spin but, upon removal, seems mechanically capable of doing so. Help???

[audtatious]

Did you remove your distributor to see if it spins or did you just turn the rotor in the cap? If the rotor moves freely, then you have a distributor problem. If you removed the distributor and it spins appropriately from the bottom, then you have an issue internally.

[45guy1]

Yep, it moves "appropriately" when removed. All teeth intact as well. Wanna speculate on what the internal issues might be?

[audtatious]

Well, I believe the Dist is run off the timing belt. I don't have a 85 FSM or I would verify. If that is true, then you may need to replace the timing belt.

[45guy1]

That appears to be exactly the problem. I appreciate being sent in the right direction.Thanks!!

[audtatious]

Not a problem. Wish I could give you detail, but the 85 FSM is something I don't have.