A Bit Wierd This One!

[onslow]

I have recently bought a p reg galaxy it has only done 88,000 miles with full ford history,i was driving it today along the motorway when all off a sudden thw oil light started to flash?i imediately pulled over as it was making a knocking noise?i turned the car off went to restart it and it seemed as though the battery was flat?so i got towed home i had very dim indicators and no e/w so was deff flat battery.I had a spare at home so i chucked it on but all it does now is click?HAS THE ENGINE SEIZED!!i am charging the original one now see wat happens in the morning but think engine is gone,but seems weird for it to go just like that?i cant turn the bottom puley with a spanner but i cant get under there properly so maybe just me,all im asking is how do i tell if engine is seized and what do i do now??oh forgot to add its a 2 litre dohc,i been told the mondeos have same engine??like i say all it does no is click as though battery is flat sometimes clicks more than once sometimes just once??

[mumof4]

Have you checked the oil level?.It flashes to indicate low oil pressure.

[onslow]

Have you checked the oil level?.

 

Yes oil level is fine,just cant figure it out??

[mumof4]

alternator?..im just guessing here im afraid.....was the spare charged up?

[onslow]

alternator?..im just guessing here im afraid.....was the spare charged up?

 

The spare one had been sitting in my garden so maybe no good?but it did light up indicators etc,the noise was deff knocking but i imeediately stopped,but saying that the other day the engine was taping a bit i checked oil level it was ok and oil light did not turn on i just hope its not a seized engine!!!!

[onslow]

Was thinking that if the engine had seized then would there be no oil in engine??i say this because the dipsticl level is ok as it should be??the person who had this before me said oil light used to come on before but just flicker so he never thought it was nothing could he have damaged the engine??

[mumof4]

um..well..i dont know to be honest..as im trying to sort out an oil problem on my gal at the mo..

[raymac]

Although the oil level is correct it still maybe the engine knackered because unfortunately it sounds like it could be the oil pump that has failed,let's hope not though :wacko:

[onslow]

Although the oil level is correct it still maybe the engine knackered because unfortunately it sounds like it could be the oil pump that has failed,let's hope not though :wacko:

 

I have been reading up on these sezied engines and have seen that people take the spark plugs out and pour coke down there leave for a while then try rocking it in gear??would this be worth a try or maybe oil??also if it was seized would it do any harm trying to unseize it by towing it and puting it in gear??

[raymac]

if it's seized then towing it and putting it in gear will do more harm than good , might knacker the g/box and that will just cost you loads more :wacko:

[onslow]

think i have u it down to a seized engine as if i roll down a hill backwards then it just locks up!!should i try forwards??now wat i need to no is how do i get the head off?i am quite mechanically miinded so no some stuffi have taken the rocker cover off,do i take the cams out?disconect the change etc etc,any help would be much apreciated.

[Guest MATT jr]

is the starter even attempting to turn the engine over?

 

the clicking will be relays...

 

if the engine has seized - i would expect the fuse to blow on the starter motor, or some other sign of a seized engine.

 

if the oil pump failed - would the engine seize up so quickly?

 

could engine timing be at fault - something above mentioned the engine was tapping a bit the day before.

 

MJR

[Guest wolfie]

think i have put it down to a seized engine as if i roll down a hill backwards then it just locks up!!should i try forwards??now what i need to know is how do i get the head off?i am quite mechanically minded so knowinq some stuff have taken the rocker cover off,do i take the cams out?disconnect the chain etc etc,any help would be much appreciated.

 

 

unless your going to rebuild the engine I wouldnt waste your time stripping it down! if the oil pump has failed/lost oil pressure? your top end is toast, as is the bottom end :rolleyes: and your rings have most likely welded themselves to the bores

but if you want to check it out? you may find it easier to go in through the bottom and check how bad the damage is to the bottom end is first and then strip the top end!

Edited February 15, 2007 by wolfie

[mike99]

I think the clicking you hear is the starter solenoid, not relays.

 

Also there is no fuse to the starter positive terminal as it draws alot of amps and would probably blow alot. hence the heavy duty lead.

 

If you take off the caps on the camshaft you should be able to tell if they have been running dry.

 

Have you tried turning the engine over with the alternator drive belt off just to make sure the alternator isn't seized?

[Scorpiorefugee]

First question, which did you notice first, knocking or light and was the demise over a short period or instantaneous.

 

Your inital 'flat' battery could have been caused by continually trying to start a siezed engine. Did it turn over at all?

 

You can test the engine, either by trying to pull it round with the alternator belt or' easier' drop it into 5th and roll it forwards, or backwards if easier. Easy on a slope or may need two on the level.

 

Your spare battery would be flat if you'd left it on the shelf for a year or more, why was it a spare? If you wanted to keep it, charge it every 3 months - it shouldn't need much. If it won't hold it's charge over that period - sling it!

 

If you're jammed, it could have been oil starvation. But. if it was very sudden, dropped valve or cam drive failure is more likely, it makes one hell of a mess and you're searching breaker's yards I'm afraid.

 

I hope this is helpful and, with luck, totally irrelevant.

 

Ron