3.8 locked up?

**MichEE** · 05-15-2010

My wife was driving her '99 GP today for about 5 min and it just quit at a stop light. I went to tow it home and it cranked over and seemed like it wanted to start but did not. I then checked spark by taking adjacent wires off on the spark pack and they arced across each other so I assumed that it was getting spark. I towed it home and was going to look into it further so cranked it again. It popped and now it won’t crank at all. It is a GT with 175K miles and we've had it since it was almost new with 26K on it. It is in great shape and I’m not ready to replace it yet - it has way too many new parts on it – need to save some funds too! Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. I think the next step it to take out the plugs and see if it cranks. Thoughts??

**Warbeaver** · 05-15-2010

this is just a huge shot in the dark, but me and my dad were servicing a 96 chevy berretta and we swore the engine was locked up. We took the serpentine belt off and tried to start it, and it started! turns out, the AC compressor was locked up and the car wouldnt crank because the belt was grabbing on a seized up pulley.

maybe try taking the belt off and see if that does anything. just a thought. it was a big surprise to me when it happend

**TorqueAutoMotiv** · 05-15-2010

take the belt off and try cranking it by hand check turning it at the crank

drain oil to see if there is any metal in it

then check for fuel checking at the shradder valve works see if it squirts fuel out

do you know if the oil light came on or if there was any weird noise before it died

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 05-15-2010

Just throwing this out there but there could be a small chance the cps went bad.

But do what Torque said, with the oil and taking the belt off.

**TheOtherNick** · 05-15-2010

Originally Posted by Fivefingerdeathpunch

Just throwing this out there but there could be a small chance the cps went bad.

But do what Torque said, with the oil and taking the belt off.

It will still crank with a bad cps.

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 05-15-2010

Originally Posted by 01GTP

It will still crank with a bad cps.

True, just saying because he said it died at a stop light.

**TorqueAutoMotiv** · 05-15-2010

yea when it rains it pours with car repairs one thing goes out takes out other things

hard to diagnose online though start simple though

**MichEE** · 05-15-2010

thanks gang. I'll take off the belt and try and see if it cranks by hand. it was turning over though so I think is it the top end. It did not make any funny noises and no metal in the oil... yet.

**topswap** · 05-16-2010

Could be a bad ignition module

**MichEE** · 05-16-2010

Originally Posted by topswap

Could be a bad ignition module

I was thinking that too but would that cause it to not turn over at all?

**TheOtherNick** · 05-16-2010

Originally Posted by MichEE

I was thinking that too but would that cause it to not turn over at all?

IIRC the car will not turn over if the icm is completely junk.

**MichEE** · 05-16-2010

really... well... we'll find out tomorrow night. I tear into it. Thanks for the tips.

**TorqueAutoMotiv** · 05-16-2010

if it turns by hand with belts off
then its all ectrical as said icm

fuses could be the culprit
id also check for power at the starter basic stuff

when you turn the key does it do anything?

**MichEE** · 05-17-2010

yes, it cranked over at one point - actually gave me enough time to check spark and determine that was OK. Now it does not crank but you can hear the starter engage and try to turn over... the "click and nothing" routine when you turn the key. I am thinking that it is likely not an electrical or electronic issue but I’m crossing my fingers it is something simple.

BTW… if the timing chain did go or skip a tooth is there enough piston to valve clearance to keep from damaging a piston or is not?

**Bio248** · 05-17-2010

if the timing chain skipped teeth then it broke. the stock timing chain won't skip teeth.

**MichEE** · 05-18-2010

Originally Posted by Bio248

if the timing chain skipped teeth then it broke. the stock timing chain won't skip teeth.

you're right it appears as if one of the gears are BROKEN!! Good call. The gears are plastic from what I hear.

We got it to turn over consistently after turning over by hand. We think that the gear broke a piece of it got jammed into the gear and chain. After working back and forth we freeded it up and we able to consistently turn it over then. We we then able to check and make sure we had spark and fuel.

Now what...???

From what I have learned it is a time consuming job that requires some specialty tools - neither of which I have. So... much to my dismay I'll be having someone else do this. Any suggestions? I heard that I should replace the waterpump while I'm there. Anything else I should do? Gaskets?

Thanks for all the help gang!!

**Bio248** · 05-18-2010

the gears are metal. the plastic piece is the tensioner which leads me to believe that's what broke. no tensioner changes ever on this car? they get worn down, crack, break, and take out the chain with them.

**TheOtherNick** · 05-18-2010

The only special tool you need is a hermonic balancer puller. they can be had for $15 or so at an auto store. Then you need some 1/4" bolts for the puller. Then the cam bolt is IIRC 1 1/4" socket, crank is like a 15/16" those are about the only special things I can think of.

**MichEE** · 05-19-2010

Originally Posted by 01GTP

The only special tool you need is a hermonic balancer puller. they can be had for $15 or so at an auto store. Then you need some 1/4" bolts for the puller. Then the cam bolt is IIRC 1 1/4" socket, crank is like a 15/16" those are about the only special things I can think of.

I plan on having someone else do this since I am taking night classes. Anyone I should stay away from or suggestions on who I might go to?

**MrTube** · 05-19-2010

Not really part of the thread but. These engines have a tensioner on the timing chain? Does this keep the cam timing dead on as the chain wears or does it still drift with wear\slack?

my last SBC 350 had 226K on the chain without a tensioner and I always wondered how far the timing was off.