Siezed LS1 - revisited

[09851]

Hey guys, it is me again with an update. Last week I reported to you gentleman that my engine had possibly siezed. All replies set my mind at ease as all indications pointed to an electrical problem at that point. Well, just hung up the phone with the GM dealer in town. They are asking me to produce maintenance records because they believe it is indeed siezed. At that point I asked, "did you scan the computer?" The response, "well no, not yet. We put a boost on it and it won't turn over." I inquired if there was not a more effective means of diagnosing an engine problem this day in age. The service advisor said that they were going top put a breaker bar on the end of the crank and see if it will spin over by hand. Does something not seem quite right here? I did not want to start getting pushy as I am a parts technician not a mechanic.

Any and all input would be appreciated at this point.

Jamie Stringer

[DeWynter]

well the breaker bar method is probably the esiest way to determine if its seized, or if ther is some kind of breakage in the engine that is preventing it from turning. I think that running the scanner on it is only going to tell you what might be wrong with the electronics. I guess if they can hear the starter engage but not see the motor turn or hear it turn then if I was in their position I would assume a sieze or somthing broken preventing it from turning too. Just an opinion. If it does not turn then they can move on from there.

[Fastbird93]

well the breaker bar method is probably the esiest way to determine if its seized, or if ther is some kind of breakage in the engine that is preventing it from turning. I think that running the scanner on it is only going to tell you what might be wrong with the electronics. I guess if they can hear the starter engage but not see the motor turn or hear it turn then if I was in their position I would assume a sieze or somthing broken preventing it from turning too. Just an opinion. If it does not turn then they can move on from there.

Exactly what he said. It should be able to be turned over by hand with a breaker bar.

[09851]

I just thought that this day in age, there were a little more sophistocated. OBD II? Seeing as how the SES light was flashing before it failed, it had to be throwing codes, no? I guess we will just have to wait and see. i will keep you guys posted. Thanks for the input.

Jamie

[DeWynter]

does the car not have to be running on 93' plus like the 86'-92' to retrive codes?

[Joe 1320]

Codes at this point won't mean much. The rotating assembly must be able to spin before anything else will be of any meaning.

[N20LT4Bird]

I just thought that this day in age, there were a little more sophistocated. OBD II? Seeing as how the SES light was flashing before it failed, it had to be throwing codes, no? I guess we will just have to wait and see. i will keep you guys posted. Thanks for the input.

Jamie

The OBD system wont tell you if the engine is seized. THe PCM does not monitor mechanical things such as oil pressure, fuel pressure, broken internals, etc. Putting a bar on the crank is the method that I would use.