Not getting spark checked safty's on seat and control arms

Try this link. Yours seems to a common problem.
https://www.fixdapp.com/blog/p0305

There are a few reasons why you would have a misfire on this engine. After having your codes read, it should tell you which cylinder is not firing. The next thing you need to do is check spark on the cylinder. If no spark, change the coil on that cylinder. If you have spark, you need to check the compression on the engine. Start with that cylinder, but I would check them all. If low, or no compression, the valve cover needs to be removed and check to see if a rocker arm has fallen off. Sometimes it's as simple as putting it back on. However if the rocker arm doesn't fit back tightly, chances are you have a valve seat that has dropped from the head. This is very common on these engines and requires someone very mechanically inclined to repair the problem.

Thanks,
Will

The Crankshaft Position Sensor and the Ignition Control Module also control the spark. It depends on whether your vehicle is equipped with the 2.2L engine or the 2.4L engine as to where these components are located and what they look like.

Check/replace spark plugs/wires and coil. Do a compression test to verify engine is good.

GL,
Td

You'll lneed to test for 3 things:
Spark at the plug
Fuel, making it to the cyliinder
Compression, above the minimum spec.

Sometimes when engines have been rebuilt, they have really poor compression as they try to start for a few minutes of cranking. If you have good oil pressure, check compression, if low add a tablespoon of oil to each cylinder to build compression, as soon as it starts it will begin to seat and seal itself, as well as provide ample lubrication.

For Fuel and Spark, just normal diagnostics, based upon your description, I won't mention doublechecking now that it has been cranked a bit.

WD40 can be sprayed into the intake while cranking to get one lubed a bit and to start to idle, it will stall when you stop spraying, indicating a shortage of fuel.

good luck

Sure sounds like the timing belt broke. The cam is turned by the belt and can be seen thouth the oil filler cap in the valve cover. Cranking the engine you should see the cam or rocker arm moving. If they are the compression needs checked 150 psi all cyinders. Good go to the standard checks spark fuel then compression. The rotor and or the coil in the distrubutor could have failed and now theres no spark at the spark plug the fuel pump or fuel regulator could have failed and now theres too much or nor enought fuel. Then were back to compression. Did it overheat? the rings could be stuck to the pistons or the valves stuck in their guilds, then were all the way back to the timing belt. Have fun finding the bad boy as these are good cars and they don't fail often

bad rings or worn valve and/or seat

Usually they can be replaced with a little effort. You would need to get under the car and pry the broken part off the control arm. The tierod end is threaded onto the shaft. There is a bolt which compresses the tierod end onto the tierod. Loosen the compression bolt and unthread the end from the shaft rod. Counting the number of turns to remove it will be the number of turns to replace it. Mount it and then get a front end alignment which is a good idea before something else breaks.

pour a thimble full of engine oil down each cyl then start it it should go sounds like rings have seized and you are getting no compression . this should make it start

pull a wire and ground it via useing a screw driver at the end of the spark plug boot to check for spark / if their is no spark / ignition control module / there is also a crank shaft position sensor / located on the back side of the motor under the coil packs / pain to get to / also the nuetral safty switch / to check the neutral safty switch diconnect the big harnest at the neutral safty switch put a fuse tester to the yellow wire / have someone turn the key / with the tester grounded the light should come on / now we know the ignition switch has power going through it. if there is a no power at the yellow wire / bad ignition switch / does the car have a relay located at the top of the radiator core support (up by the radiator looking down drivers side)if it does not gm will install one for free / if there is / look for the purple wire coming out of the relay and Follow it down to the starter / reconnect the neutral safty swtch / touch the small S (the smallest screw) terminal on the starter soilenoid / have someone turn the key forward check the light / this will detemine if the relay is good / CAREFULL NOT to touch the big starter wire with the little one it will jump the starter / I HAVE THE SAME CAR / Hope this helps