Engine seized?

**seanparker3** · 02-08-2011

2000 gtp coupe
3.8 supercharged
bone stock

ok, I had been noticing a burning rubber or plastic smell for a couple of days but couldnt pin point it. I thought maybe there was some debris in the firewall on fire or something.. A few days later i went to the gas station grabbed something to drink and when i came out the car wouldnt start. All I was getting was one click from the starter. so i replace the starter and the same thing. I tried jumping the starter and it would only move the flywheel about half an inch. My old starter tested fine so I think i have eliminated the starter and battery. I have also tried to crank the harmonic balancer with a breaker bar and it will hardly move clockwise. moves counter clockwise fine. The car was running fine before it wouldnt start. Could my timing chain have broke and jammed everything up? I would appreciate any suggestions before i give in and have it towed just to find out my engine is shot.

**seanparker3** · 02-08-2011

also when i try to start it the starter clicks once and everything dies. even while being jumped.

**seanparker3** · 02-08-2011

can anyone tell me how to test that your engine is for sure seized? Can I turn the harmonic balancer if all plugs are not removed first? does the car have to be on? in neutral? etc? could something else be causing it not to turn? timing chain etc? would the engine at least try to turn over if the timing chain broke?

**fst4dr** · 02-08-2011

if the chain broke it would try to turn over yes. as for checking if it is seized put a big breaker bar on the crank pulley bolt and try to turn the motor clockwise if it moves than you are possibly lucky! just make sure you make one full rotation to check for any hard spots the motor may have developed. if it goes smooth all the way around than you should be good to go. as for the state of things this is a key off engine off test!

p.s. posting your problems multiple times within hours in the same forum will not gain you any friends dude. If someone can help they will! no need to let us all know 10 times about the same problem! *thank-you to whoever merged the threads

**seanparker3** · 02-08-2011

Well i cant turn it not even a half inch. am I screwed or what. I also heard you have to have the plugs and belt off to do that ... is this correct. I dont understand everything was fine I shut it off for five mins then all i got was a click from the starter when i tried to start it

**fst4dr** · 02-08-2011

well one of two things has happened either it has seized (likely) or it filled one hole full of coolant on shut down and is now hydro locking on that hole i would pull the plugs and try again if it doesn't go smoother than you have problems and if coolant comes shooting out of one of the spark plug hoes than again you got problems!

Taking off the belt won't hurt either because if you had an accessory or idler/tensioner pulley seize they have been known to stop an engine from turning over but it is rare

**seanparker3** · 02-08-2011

now that i think about it it did sound like one of the pulleys wasnt spinning right and maybe the smell was coming from the belt, but the belt seems to be working fine. sorry about the multiple posts I'm kind of freaking this car still has temp tags on it.

**seanparker3** · 02-08-2011

* the belt seems to look fine... Whats the best case scenario and worst case scenario if it still doesnt turn?

**fst4dr** · 02-08-2011

well the burning smell would deff. point to a seizing something so take of the belts and spin all the pulleys you will find the seized on easy enough but i am concerned because you say it spins freely counter clockwise (although I should mention that ideally you never want to spin it opposite of the normal direction of travel as timing chain tensioners and what not were not necessarily designed to be run that way)

**fst4dr** · 02-08-2011

if it still doesn't turn than you are looking at pulling those plugs and trying to turn it and watching for coolant if there is no coolant coming out of a hole or two or six than yup I would guess that motor is cooked and you will be dropping in a new used one. perfect time for an upgrade if you ask me series 3 anyone. oh and if coolant comes out than you are in it for a headgasket job

**seanparker3** · 02-08-2011

and if there is coolant coming out? knowing my luck the motor is toast anyone have ideas where to get a new used one in decent shape and whats a good price for a series 3? or 2

**fst4dr** · 02-08-2011

well as for a price that will be a local thing based on whats around you and for the coolant see the post just above about headgaskets

**seanparker3** · 02-08-2011

yeah sorry I didnt see that but thanks for the help!

**fst4dr** · 02-08-2011

Morad Parts Company - 3800 Motors, Transaxles, & Stock Parts

always a good place to check for engines

**seanparker3** · 02-08-2011

just please tell me theres another reason for this

**fst4dr** · 02-09-2011

sorry bud but if you do these few things than you will know what you are going to have to do as far as a repair and always remember that morads prices aren't always what you will pay if you go local I got a series 2 last year with 90k miles for $650 Canadian last year complete from pan to blower

**brandonl2000** · 02-09-2011

instead of a head gasket, could it not be that the plastic intake gaskets failed causing him to hydrolock on coolant?

**fst4dr** · 02-09-2011

rare they hardly ever go internal usually just external on these and it would be more prone to go into the oil if it did happen to go internal. also these engines are kinda known for some head gasket failures

also i should mention to the op if you end up doing heads make sure you take them to a machine shop to get them checked for cracks as this could cause it too. They will probably find small cracks between the valves but as long as they are small they are somewhat normal then. If they check out then have them cut the mating surface that goes to the block to ensure they are true before you bolt them back on

**seanparker3** · 02-09-2011

ok if there was coolant in the engine wouldnt it be toast anyway.. I thought coolant = death to an engine? Then again i dont know that much about engines? I found a supercharged l67 series 2 for 800. Im just worried about installation costs. I guess this is what i get for buying a 2000 gtp for 2500

**fst4dr** · 02-09-2011

hey i bought my 98 for 250 but i bought it knowing it needed any engine but as for labor i think they quote about 9 hrs and then they will get you for some fluids and other random stuff so probably like 1200 bucks out the door i am guessing so you will be in it for another 2000. but coolant in the engine does not always mean death, along as it was not run for with water in oil than you should be fine to do the heads change the oil and be back on the road.