Car Just died at stop sign and now will barely turn over

The only reason I can see for disconnecting the torque convertor is MAYBE the torque convertor clutch locked to the impeller. But even then, there are no clutches applied which would cause the engine to not turn. The input shaft is connected to the turbine inside the torque convertor and has no physical connection to the impeller (case) unless the TCC were locked and somehow a clutch pack were remaining applied. This certainly sounds like an engine failure, in which case unbolting the torque convertor will help out to pull the engine.

you do kinda need them bolts out or you risk f ing up the t converter and pump when separating from the trans. unless you take the engine and trans out and separate them out of the car.

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Originally Posted by hitman92499

The only reason I can see for disconnecting the torque convertor is MAYBE the torque convertor clutch locked to the impeller. But even then, there are no clutches applied which would cause the engine to not turn. The input shaft is connected to the turbine inside the torque convertor and has no physical connection to the impeller (case) unless the TCC were locked and somehow a clutch pack were remaining applied. This certainly sounds like an engine failure, in which case unbolting the torque convertor will help out to pull the engine.

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My thoughts exactly. If the transmission shifts from park to nuetral just fine, and car rolls just fine when in neutral, then the engine should turn, especially with a breaker bar. I used a breaker bar on the crank pulley bolt, and it didn't move even a hair. No need to pull spark plugs if you're using a breaker bar. [I did pull each spark plug after the engine stopped, they were in perfect condition, and I put them back in]

What about the timing chain? Any chance the timing chain could have snapped and become lodged?

Pull oil pan...loosen rod and main bearing caps...rotate engine. That's my suggestion.

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Originally Posted by hitman92499

Pull oil pan...loosen rod and main bearing caps...rotate engine. That's my suggestion.

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if getting the pan off while in the car was that easy.


mc fly. your car, did it make any noise at all the weeks before it locked up? usually there's some signs that you've got a problem. and then it lets go.

No noise, nothing. Everything sounded great, never ran better. After I did the LIM Gasket, UIM Gaskets, updated UIM, coolant passage blockoff, new water pump, valve cover gaskets, new spark plugs, new spark plug wires, replaced coils with a better condition GM ones, AC recharge, and cat delete, it ran it's strongest and smoothest ever. I was on a road trip, like I said. I was 4hrs from home, watching a movie on a laptio with a sounds system going, both plugged into a power inverter. While the movie was going the car started to act like it was going to die, and then it did. I figured the battery was just drained from running so many things.

It's really odd that everything seems like it's in tip top shape, except that it is locked up.

My thoughts....

Saw you pulled the belts. I didn't see you say you pulled the plugs.

My reasoning for pulling the belts is a possible bad accessory. The plugs should be pulled to rule out a hydrolock. You did work in the UIM/LIM area and replaced a lot of things. If one or two key things were out of place or let go...you can end up hydrolocking. Which would give you all the symptoms you described.

FWIW you can not unbolt the TC with the motor locked up. Well..maybe with a plasma cutter, but you get the point. Trying is futile, may as well go bang your head against a wall.

Torque converters don't often lock up and seize a motor. It's very uncommon and nearly unheard of in the 3800 community.
Bad bearings don't typically seize a motor fully either...not without some type of warning sounds. I say don't typically...since you posted in a thread where it appeared to have happened.

A locked up 3800 will almost always be a broken rod or spun rod bearing. If it happens suddenly it is probably a broken rod. If it ticks, then knocks, then looses oil pressure then locks up over a period of like 30 minutes its probably a rod bearing. As said above the only reason to unbolt the convertor is to pull the motor. The convertor would have to have lockup stuck on AND have a something broken inside the trans locking it internally, all of that happening at once with no warning would be nothing short of magic. It doesnt matter if the car was driven by your great grandma and had the oil changed every 2500, it can still spit a rod out of the block on a whim if it so decides. Heres a pic from a job I did in feb. 2001 Intrigue driven by a middle aged women. BTW the pan had to come off in the car to get the convertor bolts off, not a big deal

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...53743447_n.jpg

Bill,
Nothing wrong with the spark plugs. They are in perfect shape, no water, no oil, no nothing. They are clean and like new. There is no water blocking a piston from moving, there is nothing. I'll do it again anyway [but this time actually try turning the motor while their out] for grins and giggles I suppose.

Thank you Anthony for your input. From what you are saying, then it must be a rod that went. Maybe I had a fatigued rod from when the Manifold Gaskets failed and hydrolocked... then, 6 months later the rod finally gave out instantly without warning. But, then started again within the engine because the rod wasn't fully obstructing anything, and then 2miles down the road it locked it... which also didn't damage anything else, not a spark plug, or hole in the block, or anything to allow any fluids to go where they are not suppose to.

The only experience I have with such an instant failure has been when a timing chain goes. So, what happens on these motors when a timing chain goes? Anyone know?

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Originally Posted by McFly1999

Maybe I had a fatigued rod from when the Manifold Gaskets failed and hydrolocked... then, 6 months later the rod finally gave out instantly without warning.

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this is the answer. and that is what happened.

its over johnny.

these motors hardly seem to break the timing chain. especially on a stock motor. i've not heard of one since joining here, thats for sure.

timing chain could possibly lock the engine, but I would guess it would fall to the bottom of the timing cover and the motor would just turn over dead because the cam isnt spinning. I have seen rods fail and not come out of the block. The engine in that picture didnt leak, have coolant in the oil or have any damaged plugs. The piece of block didnt come loose until I pulled the pan off. I did a L36 in a 99 Bonny also, that one spun a bearing, drove 10 miles with a rod knock and no oil pressure then locked up. By the time we got there to tow the car it had cooled down enough that it would crank over again, i drove it on and off the trailer, and into the shop after it had already completely seized once.

Yep. Seen them snap a rod and it wedges whats left against the bottom of the cylinder. As stated I'd bet that last hydrolock bent/weakend a rod and boom goes the dynamite, lol.. At least it was a quiet death :)