Never thought I'd be making this inquiry but here's the short on what's happened.

The Story: Wife's 97 I30 cut off while driving yesterday. Dash lights all lit up and power steering went bye bye.

Symptoms made me think "charging" issue. Swapped in new battery, but car won't start. Battery I pulled tests as "good". Stumped, I checked oil - (cars been burning or leaking oil for the past 4 months. Haven't had a chance to truly trouble shoot) - dipstick is practically dry, almost "baked on" looking brown film. "uh oh"

My thoughts: Possible engine seizure? I say possible because per the Mrs, the oil light was flickering only, never was it full on. I know from personal experience with my own car doing the same thing, that the light will stay on if your really super low on oil.

My real question: How can you confirm an engine has seized? Are are there any other ideas on what would make the care shut off and refuse to start?

Observations:
Car has over half tank of gas

Battery removed and battery installed are confirmed "good batteries".

When trying to start, engine won't roll over at all, just a brief "juk" sorta sound, not the typical Rapid clicking or "chuga, chuga" you get with other common issues.

Wife says she didn't see smoke when she pulled over (I assume only that a true siezure would be accompanied by smoke).

Checked the fuel fuse for the heck of it. It was good.

The Mrs. isn't a gear nut like myself, so even if there was smoke, she really may not have noticed it.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Capitone

 

Sounds like it ran out of oil since the starter cant even turn it so I would assume it is seized up.

 

Thanks Kevlo. That being the worst case scenario, if it is truely siezed, is it safe to say that the engine is done or are there tricks to possibly unsieze it?

 

No, but you said the engine was already burning oil so I would just swap out the engine, www.car-part.com has engines for less than 500 bucks

 

No oil??? engine prolly did seize up.

 

Well I never got a chance to truely trouble shoot the oil loss. My thoughts were it was probably the oil pressure switch but I see what your saying. Thanks for the link and info!

-Capitone out-

 

Yes, engine seized

Unseize it by installing a used engine

 

Pull the plugs, and put a wrench on the crank snout pulley nut.
Easy turn, engine not seize. No turn, engine seized.

 

every symptom you described tells me that engine is seized up and is toast. there is no saving it.

 

Sounds like it is toast to me. Definitely gotta stay on top of how much oil is in it if it is leaking out. Did she not notice any knocking or unpleasant sounds coming from the engine before it seized?

 

Yep just like everyone else I agree that your engine is most likely seized.

And just like another member said, try turning the engine over manually, that is your best bet to confirm whether your engine is still usable. I think you might have to take off the passenger wheel to have enough room to do it.

 

If you need an engine let me know.

 

how do u turn a engine over manually??

 

i would say throw some oil in it and see if you get lucky, it will still need an engine but you could at least move it to wherever it needs to go.

 

your wifey just seized her engine...time for another one

 

crank pulley has a bolt on it put a rachet on it and turn