Timing belt or chain??

Question edited for clarity and fix funky punctuation and lack of spaces.
Question moved to model category.

My first thought was that the timing belt had snapped, but you have a timing chain and it says this

Does a Ford Windstar have a timing belt or chain?
Best Answer. Your Ford Windstar had two engine options and they both ran a timing chain, not a timing belt. Belts need to be replaced at around 100K miles, but since you have a hardened steel timing chain, you have nothing to worry about. Your chain should last the life of the engine without being serviced.
May 28, 2019

Has the oil ever been changed. You saying there was a 'pop' concerns me but it may have been a backfire, or unburned fuel popping through the Throttle Body.

And then there is the grinding sound, but that might just be the starter on the flywheel.

The only way to diagnose is to call out a mobile mechanic.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mobile+mechanic+near+me

..

The cranking will usually sound different after the timing chain has slipped. Does it spit or backfire when you crank it? I suggest you rule out some easier things before going after the timing chain. If you are getting spark and fuel, then maybe I would take a peek at the timing chain to see if it has skipped on the sprocket.

Please see my tip at http://www.fixya.com/cars/r5821173-doesnt_car_start_gasoline_engines . These are generic instructions. If you get stuck or need specific instructions for your car, please get back to me with model, year and engine info.

There are literally dozens of thing that could cause a car to die and not start again. If could be fuel related: fuel pump, fuel filter, fuses, bad gas, etc. It could be spark related: crankshaft sensor, ignition module, coil pack, etc. It could be mechanical: timing chain (or belt), broken internal engine parts, etc. My point is, it is impossible to determine what's wrong without further diagnostis. I recomend you take the car to a mechanic you can trust and have it looked at. Stay away from the big chain stores and find an independant garage.

Hello chriso201: My name is Roger and I can answer this question. The Chevrolet Cavalier 2.2 engine does not have a timing belt. This engine uses a timing chain. Check the compression if you have less then 100 psi on the cylinders I would think timing chain. Any thing over 100 the chain should be ok. I would prefer to see above 150 psi. Should you need further help please just ask. Please rate the answer you received. Thank You for using Fix Ya. Roger

Belt, remove the the front plastic cover which covers the Timing Belt to see if the belt is stripped of teeth, same as the old Ford Pinto motor.. remove dist cap and watch rotor rotation, see if it is spinning... Ignition Modules are a major issue with those in that year also... check module also...

the rocker cover is in a diffrent place than the timing belt/chain

I would definently Replace the timeing chain before it breaks. because if it does break when its running it will cause catasrophic failure. such as bending valves and possibly breaking a piston. every so many miles your chain should be replaced as with the belts. it is a safty precaution. A little money spent now will save you a lot later.
hope this is what you were looking for.

time for a new car.  You single handedly ruined this motor.  Don't waste anymore money on this car,  buy another car and do the prescribed maintenance as required. Think of this as an expensive lesson. 

Sounds like fan belt wasnt done up tightly and suprised garage wouldnt find time to fix or inspect thier own repair.Unsure about liability.From the point of view that thier repair caused a problem that didnt previously exist i would have to say yesbut you need to prove the car wasnt over heating before it went there.That screech may have been slipping,certainly sounds like it.On the other hand,you chose to drive to the point of a serious overheat and failed to see the temp rising on your dash gauge.Dont get me wrong im not saying its your fault but if you pursue the liability thing it will be asked why you drove the car knowing there was a problem.

Sounds like the serpentine belt (AKA fan belt) may have broken or come loose. You'd know this if you saw any lights come on when your car stopped accelerating.

Next, it could be the alternator went bad while you were driving, then when the battery went dead, the fuel pump shut off and you had no more fuel running to the engine.

Finally, (as far as I can think of with out diagnosing the car myself) it may be the timing chain/belt may have broken. I had a 1994 Chevy Cavalier with this problem, driving down the road, everything's fine, I heard a little "pop"and the engine died and I couldn't get it restarted.

When you are driving at a higher speed, the transmission will stay in gear (if you're still in drive) and rotate the engine (although the engine is no longer firing) until you slow down to a speed where the trans realizes there's no more power and it disengages the torque converter to prevent damage to the engine.

So, 3 things to have your mechanic check in order (or yourself if you like) serpentine(fan) belt, alternator, timing chain/belt. The serpentine belt is on the front of the engine, if it's front wheel drive the engine is turned 90 degrees and the belt is on either the passenger or driver's side. The alternator (probably needing to be tested at an auto parts store) is near the top of the engine, attached to the serpentine belt with wires (not hoses or tubes) coming out of the back and if you look in the holes around the alternator case, it looks like an electric motor. The timing chain/belt is usually an internal part and will need to be found with the manuals listed above or a professional will have to fix this problem. All cars and engines have it in different places, but this is what times the intake and exhaust valves to open and close at the right time to keep the engine running.

If you are still having problems, reply to this thread so we can help you figure out exactly what's going on and we'll know what we've tried already. I hope this helps. Good luck and don't forget to rate!