Why is my engine locked up?

[mayolives]

I have a 1994 Ranger that I bought in non running condition. It has about 100k miles on the clock. Owner said it ran when stored a few years ago. It's a very nice and clean truck. I drained the old gas tank, changed the oil, put a little lub in each cylinder hole, installed new spark plugs and give it a good check over before trying to start the engine. It has an automatic trans. When I tried to start it up the engine spun freely but would not fire. Then I ordered a code reader to try to find the problem. Now when I try turn it over to read the codes the engine is locked up. Will not budge. I removed the starter thinking it could cause the look up but no go. In all my years of working on many cars, I have never had this happen. Again, at first attempt the engine spun freely but would not fire. Now it's locked up tight as can be. Any ideas for me? What am I missing? I know little about auto transmissions. Could the transmission cause this? Pleas help.

 

[Shran]

What engine do you have?

A code reader is not going to help you here. I imagine you are dealing with either a mechanical issue (cylinders full of fuel/coolant/water/oil/etc and it's hydrolocked) or an electrical issue that is causing the starter to not function.

First off I would pull your spark plugs and use a ratchet and socket to turn the engine by hand with the crankshaft pulley. Go slow and watch for a gush of fluid coming out of any of the cylinders. If you can make several revolutions without any major resistance and you're not seeing a bunch of coolant or fuel come out of any where, your issue is probably electrical (IE, starter solenoid, starter itself, battery cables, ignition switch, etc.) If you do get a bunch of liquid coming out of any of the cylinders, let us know what it is, coolant being the one I would worry about - maybe it was parked because of a cracked head for example.

I would almost bet money that your initial no start issue was related to a fuel issue, are you sure the pump is working and clean? Sitting for a few years is almost certain to result in a bad pump and fuel lines full of nasty fuel. Really old fuel sometimes will not even burn and it's pretty easy to hydrolock an engine that way.

 

[AHenry014]

Leaning on the above, pull the plugs and see if it will turn over by hand. What comes out is where you look.

I was working on wiring on a vehicle that required several key cycles to diagnose. Once I got that bit sorted, I attempting to start the engine. It made some degree of revolution and locked up. I tried the key again and it started...on 7 cylinders. A stuck open fuel injector (my initial thought in your case), and a high torque starter broke a connecting rod. I learned a lesson that day.

 

[mayolives]

What engine do you have?

A code reader is not going to help you here. I imagine you are dealing with either a mechanical issue (cylinders full of fuel/coolant/water/oil/etc and it's hydrolocked) or an electrical issue that is causing the starter to not function.

First off I would pull your spark plugs and use a ratchet and socket to turn the engine by hand with the crankshaft pulley. Go slow and watch for a gush of fluid coming out of any of the cylinders. If you can make several revolutions without any major resistance and you're not seeing a bunch of coolant or fuel come out of any where, your issue is probably electrical (IE, starter solenoid, starter itself, battery cables, ignition switch, etc.) If you do get a bunch of liquid coming out of any of the cylinders, let us know what it is, coolant being the one I would worry about - maybe it was parked because of a cracked head for example.

I would almost bet money that your initial no start issue was related to a fuel issue, are you sure the pump is working and clean? Sitting for a few years is almost certain to result in a bad pump and fuel lines full of nasty fuel. Really old fuel sometimes will not even burn and it's pretty easy to hydrolock an engine that way.

Shran, Thank you for the response. Before I tried to turn the engine over, I scoped all the cylinders. They all looked clean and smooth with no liquid present. It is not hydrolocked. This was before I serviced it. I mentioned that I put a few drop of lub (ATF) into each cylinder after I looked into the cylinders and then replaced the spark plugs. This truck was well maintained. All the belts and hosed are in very good shape. Remember when I first decided to start it the engine spun freely. Now when I try it just clicks. I again removed all the spark plugs and removed the starter and tried to spin it with a socket on the crank sprocket. No luck. As to a fuel issue, when I first tried to start it and it was spinning just fine, I tried starter fluid into the intake. It didn't even try to fire. It would just spin. The engine is a 2.3L. I'm stumped.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Have you tried to spin it without the plugs in it?

 

[Shran]

Was it making any unusual noises when you were cranking it? There isn't really anything on an automatic transmission save for maybe the torque converter nuts getting really loose that could lock up an engine. I don't suppose you can scope inside the bellhousing?

Have you scoped the cylinders again since removing the plugs?

If you can't turn it over by hand with a ratchet on the crank pulley with the spark plugs out and the starter removed, I guess I'm not really sure what to say. 2.3's are a non interference engine so you're not running into the valves or anything like that. If it made at least a few revolutions with the starter, it shouldn't be stuck rings or a rust ridge either.

Does it move AT ALL in either direction or is it totally locked up solid?

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yeah, what they said... I would put a ratchet on the crank bolt and try turning it either direction, turning it backward you have a chance of slipping the timing belt but at this point I would risk it... The 2.3L's aren't really known for blowing head gaskets, it's more cracks between the valves letting pressurized coolant in not usually gravity fed coolant into cylinders... There's the possibility of a broken rod if something dumb enough happened, sometimes they break without windowing the block or oil pan which would suck...

 

[mayolives]

Yes I have attempted to turn it both ways with the crank pully and no go. When it was spinning freely, it sounded normal. Then I wanted to read any codes displayed on the dash, thinking the problem was electrical, but they were to dim to read. So I bought a reader and by the time I used it the engine was locked. I suspect something internal has taken place. I really don't want to pull the engine. I'm too old to start that venture. I may just try to find a buyer of a non running nice truck. Buy I still open to any other ideas.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Lights are dim, just clicks... battery is good?

Pull the plugs and look in the bores. Try to crank it without plugs.

 

[mayolives]

Lights are dim, just clicks... battery is good?

Pull the plugs and look in the bores. Try to crank it without plugs.

The battery that came with it was shot so I replaced it with a new one. I have all the plugs out when attempting to turn it over.

 

[lowspeedpursuit]

You're trying to bar it over with the serp belt off, right? Like if you do have locked accessories and you push hard enough you should hypothetically slip the belt, but my honda would stall if I accidentally engaged the A/C clutch with a blown compressor.

 

[SenorNoob]

New doesn't mean good. Check voltage sitting then again while cranking.

 

[bobbywalter]

i have had automatic trans pump gears lock up and make you think the engine was siezed.

but usually will hear a squeal for a split sec

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

My 1st thought:
Is there any possibility that while you had the plugs out before you try turning it over originally that something could have fallen into one of the cylinder and you did not see it.
Then while you was cranking it over the small thing that fell into the cylinder heated up and basically melted.
Then when you stopped cracking it over and it cooled down and locked everything up.

My next thought: piggybacking off of what @lowspeedpursuit said.
As was stated earlier maybe something else is seized,
I.E.
Water pump, power steering pump AC compressor or alternator:
And that other component being seized and while you still have the belt on it is preventing you from turning over the motor.
I'd try taking the belts off and then see what you get.

That's my thoughts added a long with the others.

Good luck brother.