I need HELP - 1994 Land Cruiser engine acts like its seized (1 Viewer)

[MightyGerbil]

A few weeks ago the truck started to slow down on the interstate and acted like it had no power. I pulled over and turned off the motor. After it would turn over but would not start. I got it towed home and have been working on it since. I replaced fuel filter thinking it may be clogged, checked FPR and pump and all looked good - fuel was flowing from the fuel pressure regulator return line. Fuses looked good and just replaced fusible link so that is good. I noticed my distributor was leaking oil inside and under the cap so decided to replace with OEM dizzy. I completed that last night and still no start. I read about potential no start issue with the A442F transmission - basically need to put transmission in neutral and 4wheel drive into neutral, then try to start it. Then move it back to park and start the truck - this is supposed to unlock the TC and fix the no start. I did this and it acted like it wanted to start. Then I noticed the OD button was activated, so I took it off OD and the truck started up. I was super excited that I found the issue! Then this morning the truck started right up but I could hear a rattle coming from the motor that I had not noticed before, I moved it in the back yard. Then went back to it this afternoon and it won't start again. But now its very hard to turn the motor over. It started but quickly stopped with a hard squeal and now the engine acts like its seized - won't move at all. I tried turning the motor by hand with a ratchet and it won't budge. The engine had an oil change recently and the dip stick shows full.

Does anyone know why this happened and what I can do?? Could this be a hydro lock in one of the cylinders from a bad injector?

 

[NeverFinis]

Welcome to ih8mud. What year and motor are we talking?

Step 1) Pull the spark plugs for inspection.
Step 2) Then try to turn the motor over by hand.
Step 3) Drain the oil and inspect
Step 4) Remove oil filter, cut open, and inspect

 

[MightyGerbil]

Okay, I can give that a try. Its a 1994 LC with the stock 1FZ-FE motor. Motor has 287K miles

 

[Augustiron]

What oil filter was used at the oil change?
Brand and part number

 

[MightyGerbil]

What oil filter was used at the oil change?
Brand and part number

OEM filter here's the part number:23300-69045

 

[60 toy ota]

if you want to rule out the rotating assembly do the above suggestion and remove the spark plugs, see if it turns. If that doesn't work, you may need to pull your oil pan and try to locate your supposedly seized bearing. you'll need to rotate the crank if you want to separate the engine and transmission.

 

[MightyGerbil]

I pulled the spark plugs and still can't turn the motor even using a pry bar. The plugs are greasy but the cylinders look dry.

 

[MightyGerbil]

Spark plug #6 looks like it had water sitting on it outside the combustion cylinder - discolored compared to the others

 

[MightyGerbil]

The distributor I put in was brand new from the Toyota dealer. Could anything have come off of it to bind the engine? Before I took the old dizzy out, I rotated to TDC with the rotor pointing to the left edge of the distributor electrical connector. Then pulled it out and aligned the new gear with the mark and positioned the rotor to the same location as it was when I removed the old one. I did not drop anything in the distributor hole while replacing it.

 

[NeverFinis]

Will the motor turn over with the starter, but without the spark plugs?

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

The distributor I put in was brand new from the Toyota dealer. Could anything have come off of it to bind the engine? Before I took the old dizzy out, I rotated to TDC with the rotor pointing to the left edge of the distributor electrical connector. Then pulled it out and aligned the new gear with the mark and positioned the rotor to the same location as it was when I removed the old one. I did not drop anything in the distributor hole while replacing it.

that is kind of what I was thinking. Perhaps something happened with the new distributor and it became mechanically bound. I've seen the drive gear come off on different engines, the roll pin sheared. I can't remember how the 1fz dizzy is built. Maybe pull the distributor and see if it spins.

 

[MightyGerbil]

Will the motor turn over with the starter, but without the spark plugs?

I have not tried to turn it over with starter with the plugs out. Need to go hook up the battery again and will try it.

 

[MightyGerbil]

that is kind of what I was thinking. Perhaps something happened with the new distributor and it became mechanically bound. I've seen the drive gear come off on different engines, the roll pin sheared. I can't remember how the 1fz dizzy is built. Maybe pull the distributor and see if it spins.

Should I try to take it out and see?

 

[MightyGerbil]

I have not tried to turn it over with starter with the plugs out. Need to go hook up the battery again and will try it.

But since the cylinders are dry, don't think it will make much difference. Can't turn it by hand.

 

[NeverFinis]

I mean, it isn't a good sign that you can't turn over the motor by hand without the spark plugs installed. I was thinking you blew the HG and the engine was hydrolocked.

I assume the transmission and/or the t-case is in neutral when trying to turn the motor over..

Yes, I would inspect the distributor. I assume the bolt holding it is still in place.

Check your accessories as well: alternator, A/C Compressor, idler pulleys, etc to make sure they aren't seized.

 

[MightyGerbil]

I mean, it isn't a good sign that you can't turn over the motor by hand without the spark plugs installed. I was thinking you blew the HG and the engine was hydrolocked.

I assume the transmission and/or the t-case is in neutral when trying to turn the motor over..

Yes, I would inspect the distributor. I assume the bolt holding it is still in place.

Check your accessories as well: alternator, A/C Compressor, idler pulleys, etc to make sure they aren't seized.

Yes, its in neutral when trying to turn over.

I pulled the distributor and all looks good.

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

Should I try to take it out and see?

I would. I see from the pictures that it is woodruff keyed, not pinned. That doesn't mean the gear couldn't have come loose. I mean, it's not super likely, but stuff happens. Do you have a borescope you can check inside the cylinders with? Who knows, maybe it lost a keeper and dropped a valve. Internet vehicle diagnostic work isn't always easy. you can also remove the starter to check. I've seen starters sieze with the bendix out.

 

[MightyGerbil]

I have a borescope but won't be able to check until the weekend. Just looking into the cylinders through the spark plug holes the cylinder tops look rusty. Thats not normal - right? The truck has been running fine since we got it but have only had it for a few months.

 

[NeverFinis]

I don't think it is awful for the outside of the plugs to look rusty. Just bad valve cover seals.

Yes, use borescope.
Maybe take the valve cover off and inspect.
Drain and inspect the oil for glitter.

 

[mudgudgeon]

I have not tried to turn it over with starter with the plugs out. Need to go hook up the battery again and will try it.

Drop the oil and see if you have metal in the oil.
If you can't turn it over by hand, doesn't sound promising at all.