Engine cranks, distributor does not turn

Anyone ever seen a problem like this? My wife's Mazda MPV died on her, and
upon checking it out, I found that the engine cranks but the distributor
rotor does not move. When I removed the distributor from the engine there
doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the shaft, and the rotor turns with
it when you turm the shaft by hand.
There does not appear to be any damage to the gear on the distributor shaft,
and when the distributor is on the engine the rotor can not be turned
manually. I am really stumpeed as to how this can even be possible.
Advice of a usefule nature would be most welcome.

- db

broke timing belt or chain

"DB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:9Qazg.7578$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Anyone ever seen a problem like this? My wife's Mazda MPV died on her,
> and upon checking it out, I found that the engine cranks but the
> distributor rotor does not move. When I removed the distributor from the
> engine there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the shaft, and the
> rotor turns with it when you turm the shaft by hand.
> There does not appear to be any damage to the gear on the distributor
> shaft, and when the distributor is on the engine the rotor can not be
> turned manually. I am really stumpeed as to how this can even be
> possible. Advice of a usefule nature would be most welcome.
>
> - db
>

broken cam
"Doc" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:J1czg.2049$(E-Mail Removed)...
> broke timing belt or chain
>
> "DB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:9Qazg.7578$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Anyone ever seen a problem like this? My wife's Mazda MPV died on her,
>> and upon checking it out, I found that the engine cranks but the
>> distributor rotor does not move. When I removed the distributor from the
>> engine there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the shaft, and the
>> rotor turns with it when you turm the shaft by hand.
>> There does not appear to be any damage to the gear on the distributor
>> shaft, and when the distributor is on the engine the rotor can not be
>> turned manually. I am really stumpeed as to how this can even be
>> possible. Advice of a usefule nature would be most welcome.
>>
>> - db
>>
>
>
>