ok...i've got an 89 civic hatch 1.5. it started overheating yesterday, but when it hit 3/4 of the way up on the gauge, it shut off. i let it cool for about 20 mins and tried to start it but had a hell of a time. got it someplace where i could work on it, and now it won't start back up at all. getting spark and fuel, haven't checked the ECU yet tho. changed the cap and rotor just to be sure and still nothing. I will say retarding the dizzy seemed to help a little, but not much. (cam timing???)

but for the overheating, i pulled the thermostat and it was stuck open! no leaks around the water pump that i've noticed yet and no hoses leaking.

if the cam jumps time, how far would it have to jump before the valvetrain makes contact with the pistons? could the cam jumping time have something to do with it overheating?