General motor question

Topic: General motor question (Read 2202 times) previous topic - next topic

General motor question

May 27, 2011, 02:36:48 PM

So I have been trying to fix this car for my sister, it's a 1995 Chrysler LeBaron. About 3 years ago, the motor mount bolts broke and ruined the driver's side CV axle, and the car has sat since then, hasn't been started up since. Now, I have already fixed the cv axle and motor mounts, and now I'm in the process of fixing the power steering pump pulley (it broke). Now to get the pump back in I have to remove the crankshaft pulley to allow enough room to clear the PS pulley, but when I try to loosen the nut for the crankshaft pulley, the crankshaft doesn't turn, leading me to believe the motor has locked up from sitting. I know on other cars I've had, if I put a breaker bar on the CS pulley bolt, I can manually turn the motor, but I have never worked on a FWD Chrysler, but I believe I should be able to turn the CS by hand like any other car. Does it seem maybe this motor is locked up from sitting for 3 years?

General motor question

Reply #1 – May 27, 2011, 02:58:40 PM

You do have the car in neutral correct ?

General motor question

Reply #2 – May 27, 2011, 03:01:52 PM

I think so....let me check....

General motor question

Reply #3 – May 27, 2011, 03:03:27 PM

Car was in park.....but I just tried it in neutral and no dice....

General motor question

Reply #4 – May 27, 2011, 03:08:31 PM

Then I would say there is a problem

General motor question

Reply #5 – May 27, 2011, 03:10:38 PM

That sucks. I even removed the belt and used my 1/2" ratchet and a 24" pipe wrench as a breaker bar and it just won't move. I feel bad for my sister because she has put some money into the car, and I probably shoulda checked into that first knowing that it sat for 3 years.

General motor question

Reply #6 – May 27, 2011, 04:02:16 PM

Maybe I should try pulling the plugs and putting a little oil back there?

General motor question

Reply #7 – May 27, 2011, 04:22:15 PM

It certainly wouldn't hurt

General motor question

Reply #8 – May 27, 2011, 05:18:45 PM

Make sure you didn't install a bolt that was too long somewhere (eg into the crank pulley and its now binding against the block). If the pistons are stuck, there will probably be a little give when trying to turn it over due to slop in the crank/rods/pin.

If that fails, check to see if the timing belt is still in once piece. (Not sure if it's interference or not).

I would also check the dip stick for water. Preferably, drain the oil and check it.

If the oil pan is easy to service (on some fwd it is) you might want to take a peek inside to see whats up.

Failing the above, the following is one way (and there are many):

Pull the plugs and put some Marvel Mystery oil (or trans fluid) in each cyl. Shouldn't need too much. Let it sit overnight.
Tomorrow, start by slowly rocking the crank back and forth. Hopefully it's a little surface rust on the rings is all. If it breaks loose, turn it over several times by hand to get it moving again before using the starter.

It should turn over fairly easy.

General motor question

Reply #9 – May 27, 2011, 06:27:07 PM

Are there any drive belts still installed? you might have a seized alternator, A/C compressor, etc. Remove all belts and try it.

I don't think the 2.2's and 2.5's were interference engines.

General motor question

Reply #10 – May 27, 2011, 06:57:14 PM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;360746

Are there any drive belts still installed? you might have a seized alternator, A/C compressor, etc. Remove all belts and try it.

I don't think the 2.2's and 2.5's were interference engines.

I removed both belts, well, the serpentine belt was already off and the other belt just drove the A/C compressor which I removed also. But that was my first thought a frozen compressor. And it's the 3.0 v6 motor, I'm gonna pull the plugs and throw a little fluid in there and let it sit overnight and go at it again tomorrow.

General motor question

Reply #11 – May 27, 2011, 07:21:33 PM

try using the starter, just to see if itll move any. possibility the starter is seized/stuck against the flexplate.
im betting on you couldnt do it because the plugs were in there.

General motor question

Reply #12 – May 27, 2011, 09:53:01 PM

Quote from: Ductape91;360750

try using the starter, just to see if itll move any. possibility the starter is seized/stuck against the flexplate.
im betting on you couldnt do it because the plugs were in there.

I removed the starter when replacing the front mount, I don't think it is stuck.

And are you thinking the compression is too high and maybe I should remove the plugs and try again? All the other rimes I have done this the plugs were still installed in the car...

General motor question

Reply #13 – May 28, 2011, 12:17:16 AM

the only time i ever had a hard time turning a motor with a ratchet was incidentally on a chrysler 2.7v6, was ridiculously hard to turn with the plugs installed. almost stripped the crankbolt on it and that was just trying to get it up against the pulley, it was not crossthreading or anything like that.
i do not know why as it had not sat unused for more than a few weeks.

General motor question

Reply #14 – May 28, 2011, 12:23:32 AM

Huh. Than maybe I'm having the same issue. I will pull some or all of the plugs (since I have to anyway to get some mystery oil in there) in the A.M and give it another go.