think my motor seized - how does one test this?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 926
Likes: 2
From: chandler az
do you have any more details yet? I don't live too far from you and I could help you take a look at it.
This actually directed at Joe0121. I am nowhere near Anthem ;-)
This actually directed at Joe0121. I am nowhere near Anthem ;-)
Last edited by brookman; Dec 20, 2007 at 02:26 PM. Reason: Head up a$$
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 14,604
Likes: 3
From: Glendale, AZ
i checked the oil when i removed the dipstick and tube during the starter install - it's dirty and a tad low, but it has oil in it.
i haven't checked codes yet, as the battery died and i had it on the charger - i'll check those too, but personally i don't think that would tell me anything about a mechanical failure such as this
You cant get any kind of a socket or bar on a c5 without removing the steering rack,
Id be looking at the clutch, the space between the clutch and the bellhousing is not very much, if something went wrong in there it can bind up the motor, since you just had it changed 500 miles ago that would be my first guess.
Try pushing the car in gear, have someone rock the car back and forth in gear while you watch the crank pulley. The engine should turn slightly back and forth, if it doesnt start removing parts until it does (ie starter)
Id be looking at the clutch, the space between the clutch and the bellhousing is not very much, if something went wrong in there it can bind up the motor, since you just had it changed 500 miles ago that would be my first guess.
Try pushing the car in gear, have someone rock the car back and forth in gear while you watch the crank pulley. The engine should turn slightly back and forth, if it doesnt start removing parts until it does (ie starter)
i'll pull the plugs and have a look, but if the motor is "hydro locked" what can i do to remedy that?
i just got out of bed so i'm going to get cleaned up so i can go out and get dirty when the sun comes up and takes the chill off!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 13
From: Stillman Valley Illinois
IF the engine is hydro-locked; pulling the plugs and turning it over by hand will force whatever liquid that has found it's way into your cylinders, out through the spark plug holes.
What was it doing before this problem? shifting issues? clutch issues? unusual noises?
What was it doing before this problem? shifting issues? clutch issues? unusual noises?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,336
Likes: 14
From: Bellville OH
St. Jude Donor '06
I am wondering what is going on myself, usually a catastrophic engine failure or seizure has some warning signs. Dirty oil and a bit low doesn't seem like the culprit. The weather is really cold and we have had a lot of rain recently. He can also check to see if he is getting fuel or a spark maybe the engine is turning over and just sounds like it isnt.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,475
Likes: 1,171
From: Dyer, IN
I am wondering what is going on myself, usually a catastrophic engine failure or seizure has some warning signs. Dirty oil and a bit low doesn't seem like the culprit. The weather is really cold and we have had a lot of rain recently. He can also check to see if he is getting fuel or a spark maybe the engine is turning over and just sounds like it isnt.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,336
Likes: 14
From: Bellville OH
St. Jude Donor '06
I got nothing man,
I have no clue whats up with his car, but I know what he's going through my car is a paper weight at the moment. In any case I hope his engine is ok, and he doesn't have to part his ride out. Just weird, bamb one day the engine wont start.
I have no clue whats up with his car, but I know what he's going through my car is a paper weight at the moment. In any case I hope his engine is ok, and he doesn't have to part his ride out. Just weird, bamb one day the engine wont start.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
And you can use a crescent wrench on the crank bolt to try to turn it over, you'll never get a socket on it without removing the rack.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 20
From: Santa Fe TX
I bet its a bad battery. Even if you fully recharge it, if it fully discharged it may be toast. Especially if its 2 years old or so.
Probably no Cranking Amps left.
Voltage won't tell you anything.
Do you have a load tester? Where you can load the battery and see if the voltage drops?
You showed no signs of engine related failure, so start with the simple things.
Battery
Belts (already mentioned)
Clutch
Crank with no plugs (you can try this with the key after you take the plugs out -- should spin with no plugs even with low battery)
Probably no Cranking Amps left.
Voltage won't tell you anything.
Do you have a load tester? Where you can load the battery and see if the voltage drops?
You showed no signs of engine related failure, so start with the simple things.
Battery
Belts (already mentioned)
Clutch
Crank with no plugs (you can try this with the key after you take the plugs out -- should spin with no plugs even with low battery)
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Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Check battery and cables to verify that they are tight and use another vehicle to jump your car.
If your engine turns over, it's more than likely a bad battery.
I was able to get a 24MM swivel socket on from underneath my car and turn my crank when I was doing my tranny conversion, so it can be done.
Had to turn the crank to position the lock bolt on the flex plate braket holding the front drive (TT) shaft.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
You cant get any kind of a socket or bar on a c5 without removing the steering rack,
Id be looking at the clutch, the space between the clutch and the bellhousing is not very much, if something went wrong in there it can bind up the motor, since you just had it changed 500 miles ago that would be my first guess.
Try pushing the car in gear, have someone rock the car back and forth in gear while you watch the crank pulley. The engine should turn slightly back and forth, if it doesnt start removing parts until it does (ie starter)
Id be looking at the clutch, the space between the clutch and the bellhousing is not very much, if something went wrong in there it can bind up the motor, since you just had it changed 500 miles ago that would be my first guess.
Try pushing the car in gear, have someone rock the car back and forth in gear while you watch the crank pulley. The engine should turn slightly back and forth, if it doesnt start removing parts until it does (ie starter)
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 256
Likes: 1
From: Delta BC
As for hydro locking, not sure if it is the same on GM or not but for Fords if the fuel rail pressure sensor goes bad and the ECU thinks that the pressure is 0 it will hold the injectors open longer to let you limp home while in reality you have full pressure. It doesn't take long to fill up the cylinders, ask me how I know.
Hope you get your issues solved.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,333
Likes: 0
From: Athens OH
I am going to ask a stupid question but are you sure that your car is in Park if it is an auto? My friend just called me up and said that his car wouldn't start and called me to help him out. First thing we checked was the battery seemed okay, we were going to check the starter but couldn't take a very good look in a parking lot of a store at night and were about to leave. I then asked him the stupid question and he pulled it out of park back in and presto engine was back. Not sure if it works on vettes but it might fire up in Neutral as well.
As for hydro locking, not sure if it is the same on GM or not but for Fords if the fuel rail pressure sensor goes bad and the ECU thinks that the pressure is 0 it will hold the injectors open longer to let you limp home while in reality you have full pressure. It doesn't take long to fill up the cylinders, ask me how I know.
Hope you get your issues solved.
As for hydro locking, not sure if it is the same on GM or not but for Fords if the fuel rail pressure sensor goes bad and the ECU thinks that the pressure is 0 it will hold the injectors open longer to let you limp home while in reality you have full pressure. It doesn't take long to fill up the cylinders, ask me how I know.
Hope you get your issues solved.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Check to see if raw gas streams out. If it's not siezed up and the starter is OK the starter should turn the mill over with no problem.
If its a mechanical sieze (valve) oil seize the starter won't do a thing.
Was it running OK when you shut it down?
How long was it shut down?
We had a 327 in a 56 Chevy seize at the drag strip once. Low oil and my buddy ignored the pressure. We pulled the plugs, squirted in some oil through the plug holes, filled it with oil, put the plugs back in. Starter would not turn it, but we pushed it with a wrecker, bump started it in 2nd gear and it fired.
Got it on the trailer got it home and tore it down. Belive it or not ther was no damage. We rebuilt it anyway, but a mechanic friend of our said it would have been ok to use the old rings etc.
Good Luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 104
From: Des Moines Iowa
It has manual trans...........just put it in 4th or 5th gear and give it a little push / rocking motion, and see if the engine will turn, if yes, check battery, if no, you've got something binding........given your recent clutch / flywheel replacement, I'd guess that's where your problem is. You can go ahead and remove spark plugs and alternator belt and try those approaches, but I'd be really surprised if you had hydro-locked motor or bad alternator.
Let us all know what you finally discover to be the problem!!!
Let us all know what you finally discover to be the problem!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
I bought a car once that had "a seized engine" when I finally got time to look at it.
I put up on a hoist and found a hole in the flywheel inspection cover so I removed it and turned the engine over in reverse and a rock fell out.
It turns out it was wedged between the flywheel and the starter, I replaced the starter and flywheel and drove it for 2 years.
Then sold it for waaay more then I paid for it.
I put up on a hoist and found a hole in the flywheel inspection cover so I removed it and turned the engine over in reverse and a rock fell out.
It turns out it was wedged between the flywheel and the starter, I replaced the starter and flywheel and drove it for 2 years.
Then sold it for waaay more then I paid for it.