I have a '93 Jeep Wrangler, 4-cyl, that I use to drive to work and back, about 10 miles a week. It's had minor problems in the past but nothing like this. Driving home from work last night I was accelerating after a right turn and there was a loud bang and the jeep died. I couldn't restart it. Now it sits. I'm afraid it was the transmission or I blew the engine. I have about $1000 I can spend on fixing it, anyone think that'll cover it? It'll probably get towed soon and that would suck. Any ideas?

I would pop the distributer cap and remove the plugs, roll the engine by hand and see if the rotor turns. If the rotor turns rotate engine (By hand) untill numer 1 piston is up compare it to #1 location on cap. You may have jumped time. If rotor doesn't turn then you snapped the timing chain. If those things are 100 % correct put it all back together except the plugs and do a compression check. Check your repair manual for propper compresion reading. If that checks good reassemble all the stuff you removed and check for spark.
If you don't have spark you got an ignition problem if you got spark shoot some starting fluid in it it should run.
then you got a fuel issue.

Good luck!!!

I would advise starting with testing for a spark..that is easiest and involves little on your part.
Breaking or jumping a timing chain is rare in that particular engine.. If time is jumped you most likely have broke the pin that holds the gear on the dist shaft.
BUT!! Since the thing is a fuelie usually such a non running problem can be traced to a common sensor that advises the computer.. A mechanic should be able to find the problem in short time. PLEASE don't tell him of the $1,000. Your repair should be 15% of that..
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

My .02 cents, not every body can afford to replace valves and pistons better safe then sorry. Go into a mechanic with out knowing anything and risk paying for everything.