Seized Engine...Checklist to make sure? (1 Viewer)

[cosfj40]

This has been one bad week, which may have gotten worse. I recently replaced the coil, rotor, condenser, points and distributor cap. After doing so I took my FJ40 out for two rides: one that lasted ten minutes, then another the next day that lasted maybe fifteen minutes. During the latter drive, as I went up a hill, the motor acted like it lost compression, then quit. When trying to restart it the engine did not turn over; instead, it issued a very loud click. First thing I did was replace the starter, but still got the same result...click, no turn over. I pushed it a bit, and popped the clutch with it in third gear...still no luck. After that I removed the plugs, tried to start it and still nothing. A friend told me the motor is probably seized. I checked the amount of oil in the fitler. There was very, very little. Are there any other checks I can do to make sure this is the case? Also, if it is seized, do you think the block is damaged when the motor obviously did not throw a rod since no loud sound was made when this happened?

 

[CruiserStuff]

Try turning the key several times (just the spring-loaded position) in a row and see what happens.

Then, use your jack handle and put it through the front bib and into the crank pulley.....(use the end of the jack handle that hooks into the hole on the factory bottle jack....it is designed to fit into the crank pulley for hand-cranking). Make sure the truck is in neutral and try turning the engine this way. If you can't turn it, you may have serious problems. I don't think you do, though.

When you tried to pop-start it, what happened? You were in third gear, 2 hi, right? Did you have enough momentum?

 

[CruiserStuff]

You "checked the amount of oil in the filter" Huh? What does your dipstick read?

 

[cosfj40]

You "checked the amount of oil in the filter" Huh? What does your dipstick read?

It reads above full by about half a quart.

 

[CruiserStuff]

ABOVE full? Did it look milky? When was the last time you changed the oil and how much did you put in?

 

[cosfj40]

ABOVE full? Did it look milky? When was the last time you changed the oil and how much did you put in?

Nope, doesn't look milky. I replaced the oil two-three weeks ago. Replaced gaskets on oil pan, valve cover, etc. I put 8.5 quarts, which is what the owner's manual stipulated. At that time the oil was correclty on full.

 

[cosfj40]

Try turning the key several times (just the spring-loaded position) in a row and see what happens.

Then, use your jack handle and put it through the front bib and into the crank pulley.....(use the end of the jack handle that hooks into the hole on the factory bottle jack....it is designed to fit into the crank pulley for hand-cranking). Make sure the truck is in neutral and try turning the engine this way. If you can't turn it, you may have serious problems. I don't think you do, though.

When you tried to pop-start it, what happened? You were in third gear, 2 hi, right? Did you have enough momentum?

Enough momentum to where the tires screeched a little.

 

[Pighead]

Can you turn the engine by hand?

 

[cosfj40]

Any other thing I can use for the crank pulley except the jack handle (don't have one)?

 

[CruiserStuff]

do the jack handle thing.....

 

[Pighead]

(don't have one)?

Still available from the dealer, 25 bucks or so.

 

[CruiserStuff]

you can fab something - drill a hole through some other jack handle (or something similar) and put a bolt through it with the head cut off to make a "T" that will fit in the crank pulley location.....

or ask to borrow one from a local cruiserhead.....

 

[cosfj40]

I'll try and contact Trevor. Toyota wanted $83...a bit much for a part I would probably only use once.

 

[inkpot]

Can you turn the engine by hand?

Howdy! Pull the spark plugs and then you should be able to turn the engine over by hand, as long as the tranny is in neutral. It will require a complete teardown to find the cause and evaluate the damage. John

 

[lostmarbles]

I guess you know the cause?

I'm told the oil pump on those engines is driven by the distributor shaft. So if you had the distributor out and didn't re-engage it properly (with the oil pump) when re-installing it - you'd end up with no oil pressure.

Sorry you had to experience this.



PS. The only way to determine the extend of the damage is to strip the motor completely down - unfortunately

 

[CruiserStuff]

I still don't think it has seized....

 

[Pighead]

So if you had the distributor out and didn't re-engage it properly (with the oil pump) when re-installing it - you'd end up with no oil pressure.

Sorry

I still don't think it has seized....

Well,
1) Can you turn the engine by hand?
Sparkplugs out, use a crankhandle, whatever...does the engine move?
B) Did you have the distributor out ?
III) that might answer some questions...

 

[cosfj40]

Pulled all the spark plugs, and tried to crank the engine by pulling on the fan belt...no give at all.

 

[cosfj40]

Well,
1) Can you turn the engine by hand?
Sparkplugs out, use a crankhandle, whatever...does the engine move?
B) Did you have the distributor out ?
III) that might answer some questions...

Yep, pulled the distributor to put in new points...I'm guessing that's what did it. The oil pump in these things is ran by the distributor, correct? So if the distributor is not in correctly, no oil gets to the engine...unless the oil pumps in these things go out...do they or is their operation entirely dependent on the distributor?

 

[Pighead]

Yep, pulled the distributor to put in new points...I'm guessing that's what did it. The oil pump in these things is ran by the distributor, correct? So if the distributor is not in correctly, no oil gets to the engine...unless the oil pumps in these things go out...do they or is their operation entirely dependent on the distributor?

Yup, oil pump is driven solely by the distributor, and it takes a little finesse to get it seated properly. These oil pumps don't just fail, it's usually operator error. Sorry