Hi there,
well I finally managed to put the new timing belt in and get a new head gasket and fit it. The good news first: There was no damage done to the valves, and it appears to be almost impossible that the pistons ever touch the valves. At the topmost point, the pistons are still around 8 mm below the top of the engine block and thus also away from the valves. I guess this is unique to the low-compression motor in the CTi, don't think you can achieve high compression like in the GTi this way.
Anyhow, now for the bad news: After I put the head on, tightened the (new) head screws and fitted everything again (exhaust, ignition, timing belt ...) and checked and double checked everything, I put the battery in and tried to start. The engine turns over, but does not fire. I checked the fuel line, only to be sprayed with gas, thus, there is enough gasoline and pressure in front of the injection valves. Spark plugs fire, and are connected in the right order. Injection valves are connected in right order, only there seems no fuel is injected in the cylinders, since the sparkplugs stay dry after some attempts to start.
How can I check whether there is an electric signal to the injection valves? I have a multimeter and an oscilloscope at hand, my question is, what the normal signal would look like (voltage, duration). And, if there is no signal, like I am afraid there isn't, what parts could I check? Are there any connectors that have to be connected or else the ECU refuses fuel? Meanwhile I triple-checked the connectors all over, didn't find one that appears not to be connected properly. My first guess was the lambda probe that might have become disconnected during the process, but the connectors are fine.
Questions over questions, in short: WHY DOESN'T THE F* CAR START?
Bye,
Norman