Given the age of the car, you have 2 possibilities. First one is the engine is really out of timing position. For that to check, you have to lock the crankshaft by pin (I think 5 or 6 mm drill would be ok just for check, IIRC it is 10 mm socket meaning it is M6 tap). At the back end of engine block there is a bolt near driveshaft bearing. Undo it and through that hole push in the drill bit (be carefull not to push it all the way and lose it in the engine!!) about 5 cms. Then carefully start turning the crankshaft by the big bolt holding accessory belt pulley in clockwise direction until you hear clonk! and crankshaft stops (be gentle!). That would mean it has hit the drill bit and now the cylinder no1. is at TDC (top dead centar).
Now go to the head and look at the back of camshafts. There is a notch on each. That notch should be perfectly lined with the upper end of cylinder head. If it is, that means the timing of the engine is correct. Pay most of your attention to the camshaft closer to the front of the vehicle, as that is the inlet and that one has VCT pulley and for that you have DTC. If it is not alligned with the upper end of cylinder head, the VCT has gone bad. On camshaft there is hexagon, IIRC 18 mm wrench should go over it. Try if you can move A BIT (5 degrees top) to see if it moves.
If all is correct there, I would try replacing the camshaft position sensor (that is the one reading inlet camshaft at the very end of it and cases the protrusion on top of the head cover).
Final thought: I don't know how handy you are around car and all of that you are doing on your own; I can not take any responsibility if this ends up badly.
Good luck
