Where is the rest of it?
I ask these questions because I'm not too sure it broke for the reason you suggested.

Failure analysis is part of doing a complete job. and if the root cause is not determined and corrected it could happen again.

 

The rest of the camshaft is still in the head... I am getting a replacement head tomorrow. A complete head and I will also be servicing the rings, bearings and oil pump and replacing all gaskets and seals.

The engine was making a noise for a long time and smoking more and more and I knew I'd have to take the engine in for a service soon... But then the car lost all power on the highway and when I came to a stop it died and didn't want to start... The cars number 1 sparkplug got fuel which gave the sound of slight combustion and we thought it was an electrical component like a sensor or relay that was broken... Went from the cheapest parts and started replacing the old parts 1 by 1 and still the car didn't want to start... What we replaced was as follows:

Sparkplugs and leads
Cam sensor
Crank sensor
Map sensor
Coil pack / ignition coil

​​​The car still didn't start then so we checked for fuel at the injectors... They all worked fine but fuel rail wasn't getting much pressure so we replaced the fuel filter which fixed that issue. Also we cleaned the injectors and replaced the fuel pressure regulator...

Still no start...

So we had an idea that maybe the timing was out completely due to a stretched timing belt so we striped the head cover and saw the timing belt was sitting at a weird angle... When we touched it, it was loose... Opened the head completely and found the damn camshaft bearings failed and the camshaft snapped off as the picture shows... That's why the number 1 sparkplug was always wet and not the rest while we were testing everything else...

If only we checked for timing to start with we wouldn't have had to replace so many other parts.

But in the end, I gave the car a good service and she will be damn wel better off after replacing the head and servicing the engine
​​
Ps. A mechanic did tell me that I should check for mechanical failure instead of electrical since only 1 piston got fuel and the rest didn't. Although only after I replaced so many things.

Perocess of elimination failed us as we skipped checking mechanical failure from the start as the car's maintenance manual doesn't suggest looking at anything like that when in a no start condition.

It looks like the camshaft was slowly fracturing over time and turned off and snapped when the bearing callapsed. The bearing ate a chunk out of the head where the saddle goes over so I can't even send it to engineering. It is ruined.

The timing belt tensioner was keeping everything else in place and thats why I didn't hear it break either. Also the number 1 piston got fuel because the crank was still turning the broken piece of camshaft pressing down on the valve to let fuel in. The rest of the crankshaft and chain turning the other crankshaft was static so obviously no fuel and no start.

Thats it... We didn't check properly and ended up fixing what wasn't the problem. There's my assessment complete... Lessons learned. Intelligence gained.

 

Thanks for the update.

 

Just finished putting in everything. did timing and put new oil and coolant... basically had to take the whole engine apart...

BUT! i turned the key aaand... BAM!
STARTED ONE SHOT!

She's quiet now and sounds super good.

although i put the 1.8L/2.0L head on with bigger valves. but works like a charm.

 

That is great news
Glad you got it all sorted
And thanks for the updates
Really appreciate learning about how someone fixes their problems
Know it will help others