How do you know if your engine is locked up?

**JaguarS4R** · 03-20-2011, 01:37 AM

Help me diagnose, these are the symptoms:

1. I go to crank it and it tries to start with NO actual cranking, when I turn the key, all I get it a "vrooooooooom" noise and NO crank, I take my hand of the key and its still doing it by itself for about a few seconds after

2. I wait a few seconds again and now I just get a "CLICK" from the battery and all the lights DIM like it doesnt even have power to start, terminals, are hot and I wait about 5 min, then it does the "vroooooooooooooom" cranking again.

1. Is the motor locked up?
2. I took the oil cap off to see the chain tension and it was NOT loose, it looked nice and tight.

**meteck** · 03-20-2011, 01:54 AM

Put a socket on the crank pulley and try to turn it.

**JaguarS4R** · 03-20-2011, 01:56 AM

In DRIVE or NEUTRAL, or does it matter,

**meteck** · 03-20-2011, 01:57 AM

It doesn't matter.

**JaguarS4R** · 03-20-2011, 02:05 AM

how much is it supposed to turn over, very hard or freely???? or just a bit?

**Edwin NL** · 03-20-2011, 03:46 AM

How is your starter?

**GSXRliterbikz** · 03-20-2011, 08:03 AM

You will want it in neutral unless the rear wheels are off the ground. Sounds like a starter issue though.

**JaguarS4R** · 03-20-2011, 09:28 AM

would hitting it with a hemmer help, the starter that is, while trying to start it

**E30trash** · 03-20-2011, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by JaguarS4R

would hitting it with a hemmer help, the starter that is, while trying to start it

You might get lucky by hitting with a hammer but I doubt it. Does sound like a starter though.

**lawdog8234** · 03-20-2011, 09:36 AM

Sounds like the solenoid is not pushing the bendex on the started therefore not engaging the flywheel or you my have some teeth missing from the flywheel.

**FLOWE38** · 03-20-2011, 10:07 AM

The car doesnt need a starter it tries to start but doesnt

**JaguarS4R** · 03-20-2011, 10:15 AM

the car does NOT crank though, when it tries to start, the sound is NOT a CRANKING SOUND, but instead a "VROOOOOOOOOM" Sound that stays on for a few seconds even after I take my hand off the key

**noodlesandsam** · 03-20-2011, 10:27 AM

Could be a bad solenoid on the starter. Your sound effects are not good enough

. On an automatic, turn the crank in park is fine.

**JaguarS4R** · 03-20-2011, 10:33 AM

well the motor actually is NOT bad, the timing change did move over when I took the oil cap off, now, its either this starter or NO compression, how would it start with NO compression, would it still crank or what would happen?

**AquilaBMW** · 03-20-2011, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by JaguarS4R

the car does NOT crank though, when it tries to start, the sound is NOT a CRANKING SOUND, but instead a "VROOOOOOOOOM" Sound that stays on for a few seconds even after I take my hand off the key

Not to be funny, but is it more of a Whirring sound you hear as opposed to Vroom? That had me confused initially as it sounded like the car fired up.

If it is a loud whir, then I go along with it being starter issues.

**JaguarS4R** · 03-20-2011, 10:40 AM

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2kYl_MEvQo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2kYl_MEvQo[/ame]

sounds like this

**pizzaman09** · 03-20-2011, 10:48 AM

That is an interesting sound. You say that the starter motor is actually cranking the engine over or it is just making that sound without any engine crank.

**AquilaBMW** · 03-20-2011, 10:50 AM

That definitely sounds like a starter, and I don't think he is getting any crank on that engine at all.

**FLOWE38** · 03-20-2011, 10:51 AM

It sounds like this

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWnMxJp97-o&feature=player_detailpage#t=2s[/ame]

**JaguarS4R** · 03-20-2011, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by pizzaman09

That is an interesting sound. You say that the starter motor is actually cranking the engine over or it is just making that sound without any engine crank.

correct, im just getting that sound with NO crank

**redpicker** · 03-20-2011, 10:54 AM

Does it have spark plugs?

rp

**lawdog8234** · 03-20-2011, 12:17 PM

BAD SOLENOID!!!! starter motor is turning that why it is hot too the touch after you try to crank. If the motor is not turning over then the bendex on the starter has not engaged the flywheel. The solenoid forces the bendex into the flywheel teeth.

**JaguarS4R** · 03-20-2011, 12:51 PM

So bad solenoid= I need a new starter

**lawdog8234** · 03-20-2011, 08:26 PM

If you have not done so when you remove the starter look in the hole toward the flywheel to make sure it has no teeth missing! Hate to buy a starter if it is not the issue.

**JaguarS4R** · 03-22-2011, 08:44 AM

Update: motor was locked up and I pulled on it while someone cranked and I was able to unlock it, I then took the plugs out and most were drenched with oil, I'm checking for compression today, my guess is hydrolocked not sure??? How could this happen, car has lower miles under 100k

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