Siezed Engine?

[Habib]

Guys, Just wanted to ask whether any of you has experienced this odd problem...
I've just owned my 98 4.5 for a couple of months and done no more than three hundred miles in it. The other day, I drove the car to a shopping centre, not 40 miles away, found a parking space after ages, stopped the car as normal with no abnormalities recorded in terms of Oil pressure/temperature/ odd noises or smoke.
On my return to the car 2 hours later, The solonoid would click, but no turning of the engine. (I suspected a dead battery and called the RAC) They connected their backup battery....still the same. When the engine failed to turn by rocking the car in gear, I was starting to look a bit worried. I sent the car down to Joospeed, but alas he was too busy to work on it. The car has then gone to SFR engineering where the started motor has been removed and the engine is still solid???. (I have been down and witnessed this). Now the engine has to be removed and stripped to diagnose the problem.
Any Ideas lads? Has anyone experienced an engine siezure without the car being thrashed at the time?? also has anyone used SFR before?
All replies appreciated?
Regards..Habib


>>> Edited by Habib on Wednesday 15th October 20:08

[Habib]

Thanks Olly,
The engine was still siezed after the starter motor was removed (no starter motor, engine in nutral and a spanner on the crank..... did not turn a bit....in either direction!!)
Joolz put me on to SFR as he had 12 weeeks backlog!

[Habib]

Thanks Guys, Appreciate all the help and yes it does make me feel better that someone has heard of SFR.
The car was pushed in both directions in 2nd and 5th.
SHPUB, in the case of the Rover V8, would the engine turn at all in gear or even in neutral? With the experience SFR is quoting, I cant imagine him not knowing how much force to use to turn an engine with the plugs still in. He did show me that a 4.2 standing next to mine was easy to turn with a spanner.
I'll keep you guys updated with what he finds..... thanks again

[Habib]

Shane from SFR is working on the car tomorrow (removing the engine). Initial suspicions are on a bolt or similar dropping off and wedging itself in the timing chain????

Apparently the timing chain cant be checked/replaced with the engine in the car and the gearbox needs to be removed before the engine can come off ??
I'm sure the engine rotation will be checked when the gearbox is off and before the block is removed.

My checkbook is dreading the end bill!!!!......

[habib]

Found the problem....Gearbox was taken off, out fell two mangled 4mm bolts. Shaun says they are bolts from the starter motor. One from the current motor and one from the previous one. Since the starter motor is directly on top of the bellhousing and the cluch is directly under it, one of the nuts fell into the clutch creating havoc and finally lodging itself between the flywheel/clutch/engine? Anyway he says the engine is now free again.

He told me the clutch needed replacement which he is going to do tomorrow and I've asked him to remove the CATs while he is at the job. ..... phew. Thank god it wasn't a full strip down of the engine as originally thought!!