Engine Seized

[samh]

You guys helped me last week replace the turbo on my 86 930. It was a big job for me but today I celebrated what I thought was a job well done. I jumped into my car to take a test drive and when I turned the key just a big grunt. Nothing at all turned. First thing that came to mind was the battery, charged for six hours and still the same grunt. By the way, my car ran great with no problems or hint of problems before I got the big idea of swapping the turbo and the wastegate spring. The only thing I can think of is moisture getting into the engine somehow when I had the innercooler off. I have made myself physically sick worrying about my engine. If any of you can think of any solution, it will be greatly appreciated.

[silverc4s]

Sam,
relax, I seriously doubt that your engine is seized, as from what you say, it was running when you started this work, and now it won't turn over at all. Even if it is hydrolocked, it was not running at the time, so the damage should not be catatstrophic.

Step one; Remove the spark plugs from all six cylinders and examine them. Do any or all of them look abnormal in any way? Could be wet, oily, gap closed up, etc...
If this all looks okay, try to turn the engine by hand, (socket on the crank pulley nut with a breaker bar, clockwise rotation.)
Tell us more about all that you did. Why do you think moisture got into the engine while the intercooler was removed. Is the car outside? Could anyone have "messed" with anything?
Take your time, and keep us in the loop on your efforts...

[samh]

silverc4s,

The removal of the plugs is a good idea and will do that first thing in the morning. As far as the work done to the car: replaced the turbo with the 7200 model and changed the spring to a 1bar spring in the wastegate. In doing this, I removed the bumper and then was able to get to the turbo. and I also removed the innercooler. Your question as to the car being outside the answer is yes, the engine bay is outside as I back my car over a ledge that enables me to access the underside of the rear. My moisture control wasn't the best and I am reasonably certain that some condensation did get into the intake although very little. I am positive that no one messed with my car. Thanks for your relpy

[beepbeep]

Chill out...there is no posibility you could hydrolock you car unless you tried to run it w/ barn-door pushed down and no spark or you dropped something hard straight into the intake.

Probably just electrical problem.

[Zeke]

samh, you did check the battery, right? I mean anyone who changes out his turbo isn't slacking. But those batteries go away on their own with no warning. If the battery shorted internally, you could charge it for 6 hours or 6 days, it still won't start your car.

BTW, I like the ledge idea. I was recently doing some work on my race car backed up to the end of the trailer. I wonder where I can build a ledge?

[Wayne 962]

Pull the plugs, then see if the engine spins by hand...

-Wayne

[samh]

Thanks for the help everybody. As soon as I get my morning coffee down, I will try removing the plugs and turning the engine. I will post results

[bell]

also make sure it's in nuetral when you turn it by hand
(yes i did that once......took a second to figure out )

[samh]

I found some water on top of the butterfly on the air intake under the innercooler. I must now assume that more water than I expected has gotten beyond this butterfly valve thus causing the seizing. I am still trying to remove the plugs but as you know they cannot even be seen from the left side of the engine bay. Do you think that turning of the engine will help the water problem? I can beat myself up all day but it just aint getting the car fixed. Thanks for helping an idiot.

[bell]

when you turn the engine by hand with the plugs out the water will drain out the exhaust ports into the exhaust and out the plug hole........
depending on how much water is in the intake tract will determine how many full rotations you need to turn the engine by hand......2-3 full rotations should cover it if that's the case and it was really loaded up.

i would spray some wd-40 or something in the plug holes immediatly after you turn the engine.....rust can show up pretty quick if you can't get the engine to fire up ..........anyone agree?

[Rick Meemken]

WD40 or fogging oil ASAP!!!!

[silverc4s]

Sam,
Keep going, sounds like you are getting to the solution here...

[ruf-porsche]

Once you have the plugs out you can spin the engine with the starter. Just make sure the distibutor cap is off, you don't want a spark incase their is some gas being blown out the spark plugs holes.

[350HP930]

Condensation shouldn't have been a problem.

Are you sure the car didn't get rained on when the intercooler was off?

If not I think you are worried about the wrong thing. Engines have to deal with condensation all the time whether the intercooler is there or not.

[samh]

Well, it took me all day to get my plugs out but sweet success. My engine turns over like a charm. It was water and yes 350hp it did get rain through my shop towels as my back end is stuck out into the elements. I will post and let you know if it fires up but it will probably be tomorrow afternoon before I can get everything back together. Thanks everybody

[beepbeep]

uhh ohh...i hope you didn't bent anything by trying to start it while hydrolocked.

[350HP930]

Even if if it didn't bend anything the hydraulic pressure would have forced water by the rings so in addition to the top end flush you will also need to flush the lubricaion system too.

[350HP930]

Oh yeah, if enough water went down the butterfly to lock the motor you might also want to make sure that the compressor scroll is also not full of water for the same reason.

Let this be a lesson to all pelicanites that when you partially disassemble your engine you should not leave it exposed to the elements.

[silverc4s]

Amen to that.