Seized motor?

[CSVT1214]

I'm posting to help out a local SVT owner that either hasn't signed up yet or account hasn't been fully activated.

He stopped by my house the other day and told me the night before he was getting on the car hard through a right hand sweep down the highway. Oil light came on, CEL came on, and then the car lost a lot of power. It was still running with no knocking or anything to indicate a spun bearing.

He shut it off when he got home and then it wouldn't fire up again. Here's the strange part.

Try to start the car and the fuel pump primes, PATS light looks good, but the starter doesn't appear to be making any attempt to move. The lights do not dim like usual during a start when the ignition is turned to START.

We tried to pop start the car into 1st gear and the wheels lock hard when you let up the clutch.

Drained the oil and it's clean as could be.

Here's what has been tried so far:

Disconnected serpentine belt to rule out possible seized up A/C compressor
Checked oil for metal shavings, none found.
Starter looks almost brand new and it's getting power.
Hit the starter while trying to start.
Disconnected battery.
Checked all fuses and relays.
Reset PCM.
Changed clutch position switch.
Attempted to pop start, no luck.


I would think if the motor is seized, the starter would try to move and just lock up. The lights should dim while it does this as power is being drawn from the battery for the starter.

Not a single light in the car or outside dims when you try to start.

 

[Redlineracer12]

Try just turning it over with the crankshaft pulley bolt (18mm) from the Passenger side. If it turns over without too much difficulty it's not seized up completely. If you can't budge it that would indicate its locked up tight.

 

[98TredSVT]

I would also guess if you can't even turn the motor over by push starting it then it would be siezed. Think of all the momentum you have, 3000lbs going and then the motor holds the wheels from moving at all.

 

[Tony2005]

The engine is "seized".

 

[Imo000]

yup, sounds like its siezed. BUT to be 100% sure, try to bump start it in 5th gear. If the tires lock up, the engine is siezed for sure. Also turn the engine over by hand at the crank or remove al the plugs and try to turn it over by hand then.

Why in the world did he keep driving when all the lights came on and lost most of the power? When the car was trying to tell him something, he should have listened.

 

[tjzollman]

hey i think i have the same problem but i had to take my engine out and put it back in all i did was replace a valve and now it feels as if the engine is locked up. the starter will try to turn over but nothing happens it sounds like a dead battery so i hooked up some cables to the battery and when i do that the starter sounds like it is locking up! i cant tell if its the engine or just the starter. but i just bought the starter a week ago and tested it and it was good! so how do you free up a seized engine? sorry this is so long i just want my car back!! any help?

 

[Matt R]

Once it's seized up, all you can do is replace it.