Seized Engine, not turning at all (Page 1/1)
Cruzenoob SEP 01, 11:43 AM
Greeting everyone,

I was working on my fiero V6 1987 Manual to get it running, since I got no spark before I cranked the engine a couple of times until I found the ignition coil is faulty. So the next day I changed it, tried to crank the engine to see for spark and suddenly nothing, you just hear a *click* sound. -> Checked the Battery it is full -> I was curious, so I put the car in N and tried turning it clockwise by hand -> not possible

I thought the starter is stuck, so I unbolted it and tried to turn it again by hand -> nothing

Engine had fresh oil

I was told to see if the shaft where the distributos sits on maybe fell out and somehow got stuck when getting the distributor out for adjustment -> removed the distributor and it was sitting properly in place.

I also removed all spark plugs and went with a inspection camera inside to see if something got stuck -> nothing.

I filled in each cylinder some engine oil and also sprayed some rust penetrant and let it sat for 24h -> still seized.

I read the alternator can get stuck, and prevent the engine from turning, so I loosent the belt and it is still seized.

I know another option would be to drop the oil pan and look inside, but I have seen you need to lift the engine and its way more work that it look likes.
Does anybody maybe have a suggestion what I could try before removing the oil pan?

Would be happy to hear any suggestions from you guys, best regards
82-T/A [At Work] SEP 01, 12:58 PM

quote
Originally posted by Cruzenoob:

Greeting everyone,

I was working on my fiero V6 1987 Manual to get it running, since I got no spark before I cranked the engine a couple of times until I found the ignition coil is faulty. So the next day I changed it, tried to crank the engine to see for spark and suddenly nothing, you just hear a *click* sound. -> Checked the Battery it is full -> I was curious, so I put the car in N and tried turning it clockwise by hand -> not possible

I thought the starter is stuck, so I unbolted it and tried to turn it again by hand -> nothing

Engine had fresh oil

I was told to see if the shaft where the distributos sits on maybe fell out and somehow got stuck when getting the distributor out for adjustment -> removed the distributor and it was sitting properly in place.

I also removed all spark plugs and went with a inspection camera inside to see if something got stuck -> nothing.

I filled in each cylinder some engine oil and also sprayed some rust penetrant and let it sat for 24h -> still seized.

I read the alternator can get stuck, and prevent the engine from turning, so I loosent the belt and it is still seized.

I know another option would be to drop the oil pan and look inside, but I have seen you need to lift the engine and its way more work that it look likes.
Does anybody maybe have a suggestion what I could try before removing the oil pan?

Would be happy to hear any suggestions from you guys, best regards




First question I would ask is... has it ever been running before? ... as in, do you know the history of the engine? It's generally pretty uncommon for an engine to simply not be able to turn from one day to the next without anything else going on.

The only thing I can think of is maybe the manual transmission is stuck in gear, or something else is seized that's making it difficult to turn (like an alternator or a compressor, or water pump). I've seen water pumps seize up like this before.

Can you tell me how you're turning the engine? I assume you're trying to turn it by hand using the crank bolt (clockwise). Try removing the serpentine belt, and double-check to make sure the transmission is in neutral, and then try seeing if you can crank it by hand (with the spark plugs removed.


I just looked again, and you're in Austria, which won't really help you. But if you need a running engine... I'm going to be picking up an entire cradle from a 1987 Fiero GT, minus transmission. I need everything from it, except the actual engine itself. So, worse case... and you want a motor... you can have the engine and heads (assembled). I was told it was running before removed. I need everything else from it though, as I'm building up a 3.4. Let me know... worse case I can put it on a pallet for you and ship it to you. You can have the engine totally for free, you'll just have to pay for the shipping / freight to Austria.
Dennis LaGrua SEP 01, 12:58 PM
Seized engines are not that common on Fiero engines unless they were run without oil. Reach down with a wrench and a breaker bar and see if you can rotate the engine slightly by the bolt on the harmonic balancer. If there is movement the engine is not seized.

------------------
" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

Cruzenoob SEP 01, 01:28 PM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
First question I would ask is... has it ever been running before? ... as in, do you know the history of the engine? It's generally pretty uncommon for an engine to simply not be able to turn from one day to the next without anything else going on.

The only thing I can think of is maybe the manual transmission is stuck in gear, or something else is seized that's making it difficult to turn (like an alternator or a compressor, or water pump). I've seen water pumps seize up like this before.

Can you tell me how you're turning the engine? I assume you're trying to turn it by hand using the crank bolt (clockwise). Try removing the serpentine belt, and double-check to make sure the transmission is in neutral, and then try seeing if you can crank it by hand (with the spark plugs removed.


I just looked again, and you're in Austria, which won't really help you. But if you need a running engine... I'm going to be picking up an entire cradle from a 1987 Fiero GT, minus transmission. I need everything from it, except the actual engine itself. So, worse case... and you want a motor... you can have the engine and heads (assembled). I was told it was running before removed. I need everything else from it though, as I'm building up a 3.4. Let me know... worse case I can put it on a pallet for you and ship it to you. You can have the engine totally for free, you'll just have to pay for the shipping / freight to Austria.



Thank you very much for responding, yes today I removed the serpetin belt, cause I was thinking the Alternator is somehow stuck, I loosen the 13mm bolt from the alternator and it was actually stuck in place, but when I hard pulled on the belt it finally moved, and I could turn the alternator by hand and also the water pump by hand. I am turning by the 19mm bolt on the crankshaft. No it was not running before, the car was sitting 2 decades in a garage, but It was not seized back then and I also had it cranking a couple of times looking for the error because I didn't have a spark on my spark plugs. (Ignition coil was showing infinite ohm) So I replaced that part and now its seized

I was kinda worried it is some crankshaft bearing or something that that the oil didn't reach and it rubbed together.

I had the same thought like that, that somehow the car is in gear, and when I press the clutch it is not engaging properly. I placed my phone in the engine to record, and I pressed the clutch and saw on the video that the lever is changing from left to right as I was changing the gears. But Idk if it is enough proof to say that it is not faulty.

Thanks for the offer, but I currently don't have the space neither the equipment to change a engine

[This message has been edited by Cruzenoob (edited 09-01-2024).]

Cruzenoob SEP 01, 01:45 PM

quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:

Seized engines are not that common on Fiero engines unless they were run without oil. Reach down with a wrench and a breaker bar and see if you can rotate the engine slightly by the bolt on the harmonic balancer. If there is movement the engine is not seized.




Thanks for the reply, If I am honest, I had to google what you mean by that So the harmonic balancer sits behind the crankshaft pulley? I need to loosen the crankshaft pulley bolt, remove the pulley itself and the turn it clockwise like I did on the crankshaft to see movement?

You mean it is possible the pulley bearing got stuck ?

I forgot to mention, when I use a big wrench and go tiny bit forward then backwards on the crankshaft, you can hear something inside the engine locking, like it wants to turn but something is preventing it. As the guy above mentioned, maybe it is somehow in gear, but the gearstick is in neutral position (car has been sitting for more than 20 years) so there might be many thing wrong. I forgot to try to install the wheel again and turn it, just to be 100% sure it is in neutral ^^