Rotor wont turn when engine is cranked. 2000 Xterra

[bigbeardan]

At first I thought I had a broken timing belt but the belt is in tact but wont turn when the pully is turned or when the engine is cranked

[Big-Bird]

Timing Belt is in tact and the distributor won't turn you say?

The distributor is turned by the left side cam shaft. Hey NM50. Isn't there a roll pin that holds the gear to the bottom of the distributor shaft? I wonder if that pin could have sheared off?...hmmmm very odd.

If the pin sheared off I wonder if the gear fell off?

[NM50]

That pin is a huge solid piece.Double check that belt.If the cam turns but not the rotor then the gear should be stripped.I've tried to remove the pins on distributor shafts and they must be made of unobtainium.Make sure the entire cam turns.I would really like a follow up.