changing/adjusting the changing belt

[Ritchie]

i'm buying this early 90's mx3 and the guy said the he had the timing belt fixed but they screwed it up. the car was running like crap then he went in to a store, shut off the car and when he came back out. it wouldn't start. he said he did the reasearch and everyone said to fix the timing belt. the car would roll over and try/seem to start but wouldn't run. the fuel pump is fine, power and everything. what should i do, i offered him $250 for it because i really can't tell what's wrong. the car is in great shape outside of the engine issue, new tires, new breaks, nice paint, no rust and one sent on a piller (my brother does bodywork, not an issue). should i get it? might that be the issue?

[millyowner]

You can easily make your money back if you wind up parting it out. There really isn't any good way to diagnose a bad timing belt job through an online forum. Perhaps a compression test?