F-Body Europe

My Firebird's engine siezed last week, at least I got it through inspection first. It happened last Monday, the monsoon day, although I didn't drive the car in the rain. It sat outside all day and when I went to start it, it turned once and froze. I though it was the battery because I saw some water sitting on top, but it tested fine. So I thought the starter failed and I tried a push start, but the wheels locked up when I engaged the clutch. I called ADAC and he pulled 4 of the plugs and one looked like it may have been wet, but I don't know how water could have gone in. Even if the air filter got wet during the rain, I don't think it would be enough water to hydrolock the engine, especially that fast.

It's sitting at a shop to be looked at, but I don't know what to expect. I hope it's something like the starter frozen to the flywheel, but that seems too optimistic.

that can get expensive

good luck..

I would pull all plugs and turn the motor over with a breaker bar and socket on the harmonic balancer bolt.

If it turns that way , then go ahead and engage the starter for about 15 secs . Repeat 4 times or when water stops coming out, which ever is longer.

Thanks. Hopefully there isn't much damage, I really didn't want to do engine rebuilds or upgrades while over here.

The more I think about this, I just can't see it as hydrolock. I don't know how or when that much water could have gone in. I'm hoping it's something simple like the starter locking onto the flywheel.

Johnny, I just got back from vaca. I am so sorry to hear you are having problems. Let me know if you need any help.

Thanks for the offer Brian.

Wish I was there to help you to man, how you liking the AOC, your about out of there aren't you, been over two years now hasn't it?

Any updates Johnny?

Thanks man. I'm actually at HQ USAFE now, I made the move when I got back from Florida last summer. I have a one year extension too, so I'm here until next spring!

How's Hurlburt treating you?

The engine is running, but something's broken. There was noise in the bellhousing or tranny and something clunked it's way down when the engine was turned by hand. The tranny has to come down for inspection, but hopefully it's not the tranny! The thing was a brand new Viper spec T-56.

Wow. I didn't realize the trans was built also. Has the starter been pulled yet?

There should be no reason the trans would fail just setting there.

The flywheel and clutch were installed by a shop in Florence about two years ago (4-5k miles). They were GM certified, but maybe they screwed something up. I'm don't think it's the tranny, but who knows, parts break.

Possibly a pressure plate or slave cylinder bolt worked loose and fell out.

Good, but i'm getting out in 3 months, got a cross train in the Reserves with the 920th rescue wing down at patrick and i'm going to chase my kids, got here and decided I needed to be a bigger part of thier lives, and the only way I can do that is to get out and move down there, tried EVERY option to stay active and get down there, still trying to slip an ART slot wiht this cross train to loadmaster so we'll see, if I get it, I'll be exstatic:) I'll be working towards two retirements every day:)

Hope you get the car worked out and glad you got it started at least:)

Good luck on your ART job. I was one for over 15 years and it is a pretty good life. But trust me, it doesn't mean that you will necessarily get to spend a lot more time with your kids. As aircrew, that may not be the case at all. You won't normally be gone for as long at one time, but you will be TDY more often. I had no complaints though. The job was good to me. Hope you get it.

Well, it's not looking good right now, this is from an email I got from the base garage: "Our tech removed your transmission to troubleshoot the cause of the noise, found that it was not the cause. With the tranny out, still cannot rotate the engine. We suspect that there is internal engine damage. We cannot repair the engine but can replace it if you wish( you supply parts)."

Any good engine shops around here?

Give the place that did my LS1 a call ... Andy does pretty good work ... tell 'em hello from me ... http://www.danys-garage.de

Johnny, are you looking to repair or replace. I would wait to pull it and start breaking it down from above. Pull the heads and/or pull the pan. You should be able to see any damage from there. I would be happy to help.

I don't want to just buy a new engine, I imagine the failed part can be replaced as long as it didn't do other damage. I don't have the time to do this myself, so that's why I'm looking for an engine shop. Thanks for the link Garry.