Siezed Engine?

Siezed Engine?

Author
Discussion

Habib

Original Poster:

47 posts

247 months

Wednesday 15th October 2003
quotequote all
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

olly

2,174 posts

285 months

Wednesday 15th October 2003
quotequote all
Just a clicking when you try & start sounds more like the starter motor is dead (which is reasonably common on Cerbs). Bump starting a Cerb is not recommended (nor any car with cats, as it damages the cats), but what gear where you trying it in ? (the higher the gear (2nd or 3rd even), the easier the engine will turn). I wouldn't advise getting the engine take out until the starter motor has been checked, and even the wiring to the engine ! Call Jools & book a time for him to have a look at the car...

Good luck !

Habib

Original Poster:

47 posts

247 months

Wednesday 15th October 2003
quotequote all
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!

olly

2,174 posts

285 months

Wednesday 15th October 2003
quotequote all
I can't imagine a Cerb engine is that easy to turn on the crank using a spanner. Might be worth taking out all the spark plugs & trying again (MUCH less effort involved !)

Certainly doesun't sound right the engine seizing in those conditions (I presume the engine had plenty of oil in it?). Where did you buy the car ? Private or Trade ? If it was trade, I would suggest speaking to the garage ASAP !

If Joolz recomended them, then they must know what they are talking about/doing !

andy4200

5,006 posts

274 months

Thursday 16th October 2003
quotequote all
sorry i cant comment on your problem, haven't had anything similar, yet.... but
If SFR is a guy called Shane, near manchester, then Joolz recommended him to me also for my clutch problem and he seemed really clued up and really nice guy. If it makes you feel any better....

Boosted LS1

21,190 posts

261 months

Thursday 16th October 2003
quotequote all
You need to put it in gear and push it forwards. If it won't budge then it's siezed. You could try second gear. Turning it with a spanner on the crank and the plugs fitted won't be easy. This simple check may save you a strip down/labour.

shpub

8,507 posts

273 months

Thursday 16th October 2003
quotequote all
Had similar problem on a Rover V8 that turned out to be a clutch problem where the clutch was jammed and so the engine would not turn. It equally be a problem with the jack shaft jamming and also stopping the engine turning over. The engine isn't seized in this case more jammed but the symptoms are similar.

Habib

Original Poster:

47 posts

247 months

Thursday 16th October 2003
quotequote all
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

shpub

8,507 posts

273 months

Thursday 16th October 2003
quotequote all
Wouldn't turn irrespective of the gearbox.

GreenV8S

30,232 posts

285 months

Thursday 16th October 2003
quotequote all
It's conceivable that the starter motor has jammed on the flywheel when you went to start it, in which case removing the starter would free it up. Clutching at straws but probably worth ruling these possibilities out before you go for the expensive options.

Boosted LS1

21,190 posts

261 months

Thursday 16th October 2003
quotequote all
Well maybe it looks like the gearbox needs to be removed first and then try to turn the engine?

Habib

Original Poster:

47 posts

247 months

Thursday 16th October 2003
quotequote all
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!!!!......

dannylt

1,906 posts

285 months

Thursday 16th October 2003
quotequote all
You should be certainly able to turn the engine over with a longish crank, with plugs in. You do this as part of the clearance checking.

I'd say it can't be the jackshaft broken jamming, and you'd be seriously unlucky to just suddenly have a bolt drop off - I hope it's just something stupid and obvious!

danny

Boosted LS1

21,190 posts

261 months

Thursday 16th October 2003
quotequote all
I tend to think it will be something simple to

habib

Original Poster:

47 posts

247 months

Monday 20th October 2003
quotequote all
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!!

Boosted LS1

21,190 posts

261 months

Monday 20th October 2003
quotequote all
Well who the f**k left them in there! Glad it was simple after all, what a relief for you. An inspection hatch would be useful

andy4200

5,006 posts

274 months

Monday 20th October 2003
quotequote all
Good news then.... in a sense!!!
At least it wasn't as bad as you initially thought.

Andy

expat

13 posts

248 months

Tuesday 21st October 2003
quotequote all
Habib

With the money you are likely to save by not having to get the engine rebuilt, ask Shaun about getting a set of Ohlins installed. He put a set on my Cerbera a few months back and the transformation in the handling is incredible

gazzab

21,112 posts

283 months

Tuesday 21st October 2003
quotequote all
Are ohlins still £2.5K or more?
Did you take the rear ARB off?

expat

13 posts

248 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2003
quotequote all
They are about that if you go for the top of the range ones with the remote reservoir. No I have not removed the anti roll bar, does this improve the handling?

However, a while back when the bracket holding the ARB to the wish bone broke I never notice any difference to the handling but that was before I took the Cerbera on a track day.