Seized 2.3

[shugsterc]

while drivin home the other night red light at water temp was flashing so i stopped the car..steam pouring from bonnet tried filling up with water but it just leaked straight back out...figured water pump knackered,...engine would still run...next day went to move it so could put on trailer and engine seems seized tight..wouldnt turn at all..it was really hot..if the water pumps seized would that stop the engine turnin over?..cheers 2.3 petrol s reg

[seatkid]

The head could have warped/cracked and water got into the cylinders.

 

Try removing the spark plugs and see if it will turn over.

 

BTW I hope you didnt try to top up water with the engine hot - recipe for disaster as the haed can crack/warp because of cold water onto red hot metal.

[sparky Paul]

Auxiliary belt would slip if the pump was siezed, you would still be able to turn the engine over but the belt wouldn't sound happy. You can drop the belt off to check.

 

It could well be water locked, as seatkid suggests.

 

Also, what state is the engine oil in?

[shugsterc]

oil level fine let engine cool down before tryin to fill it ..ill take plugs out tomoz and see if itll turn over..def sounded tight and seized tho...cheers

[sparky Paul]

oil level fine

 

Does it look and smell normal?

 

Also, is it turning over but tight, or is it siezed up solid?

[shugsterc]

oil level fine

 

Does it look and smell normal?

 

Also, is it turning over but tight, or is it siezed up solid?

seemed to be seized solid...wouldnt turn at all just a slight movement and a tight squeel noise..have to rocker cover off just now engine still solid so think ill need to strip it back and could be lookin at a new c/head

[sparky Paul]

I would get the plugs out as seatkid suggested, drop the auxiliary belt off, then get a spanner on the crank pulley and turn the crank back and forth. It should tell you a great deal.

 

If it's hard to turn at the crank, and always feels stiff without any initial slackness, your problem is likely to be crank related, main bearings or big ends. If there's an initial looseness before locking up, then it could be head or balancer shafts.

[shugsterc]

theres plenty oil in the engine so not expectin a prob at the bottom end..had it in gear rockin the car and nothin moves..still to take plugs out as my plug socket too wide for the holes...will get them out an see im pistons move ok..if still solid the heads comin off

[sparky Paul]

If you can't see any movement at all when you rock it either way, I'd be surprised if it's water locked.

 

If it is siezed, it's more likely to be bottom end. If you had it really scorching hot, you could even have a piston that's picked up and siezed in the bore.

[dbc]

The 2.3 motor is pretty tough. The bottom hose came of the rad when my missus was driving mine and she drove it for a few miles not realising until it started to seize and smell hot!!

 

Filled it up with water and ran it for several months OK. The head gasket had a minor leak and eventually got round to taking the head of getting it skimmed and a new gaskets kit. Been good as gold since.

 

As other have said, plug out as a first port of call.....

[shugsterc]

ok its not seized..engine was locked solid when trying to turn over but when i took the belt off the alternator to get into water pump i noticed a wee bit movement..pulled belt off into gear an rocked it..was lookin ok..battery in turned over fine..water pumps solid so figure it was jammed tight and holdin the crank via belt hence wouldnt turn over..phew..now just to try get the water pump off..

[sparky Paul]

Sounds like very good news! :blink:

[shugsterc]

got out to car for a bit today water pump nearly off just cant wiggle it out as no space..disconnected engine mount at top and jacked engine up still cant get the pump out...got 2 bleedin fingers now so callin it a day ..must be an easy way to get it out..cheers

[shugsterc]

if anyone else is doin this job dont jack the engine up...take the engine mounts off then lower the engine and itll fall out easy givin loadsa room...

[shugsterc]

in short if your water pumpneeds changed...take plastic undertray off slacken off tensioner..13mm 14 or 15 on tensioner push it up slacken belt and take off from wing..up top air box out the way jack under engine for support take top engine mount off and lower engine..pulley off water pump then 5 10mm bolts and pumps off..clean face i used instant gaskit as well as the rubber 1 that came with pump..then new pump on then stick it back together..easy and quik...when u know how

[shugsterc]

in short if your water pumpneeds changed...take plastic undertray off slacken off tensioner..13mm 14 or 15 on tensioner push it up slacken belt and take off from wing..up top air box out the way jack under engine for support take top engine mount off and lower engine..pulley off water pump then 5 10mm bolts and pumps off..clean face i used instant gaskit as well as the rubber 1 that came with pump..then new pump on then stick it back together..easy and quik...when u know how