I've never seen anything like this...
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Senior User
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From: Grand Junction, CO
I've never seen anything like this...
I just picked up a '99 Expy RWD with the 5.4. I was told it wouldn't crank and so picked it up for a song. If you knew how poorly I sing, you'd realize just how cheap that really is. It has 178k on it and everything is in immaculate condition.
The no crank issue turned out to be twofold. The connector for the starter activation wire was broken off. Easy fix. Installed a new connector. When I turned the key, after fixing the wire, I could hear the starter engage and try to turn the engine. No joy.
I crawled under and tried to turn the engine with a 1/2" ratchet. No joy. Reversed the ratchet and I can turn the engine backward all day long. Trying with the key again, the engine will turn over to the the same point and just stop. Back it up and try again, same result. It will turn over as far as I back it up and no more.
Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?
The no crank issue turned out to be twofold. The connector for the starter activation wire was broken off. Easy fix. Installed a new connector. When I turned the key, after fixing the wire, I could hear the starter engage and try to turn the engine. No joy.
I crawled under and tried to turn the engine with a 1/2" ratchet. No joy. Reversed the ratchet and I can turn the engine backward all day long. Trying with the key again, the engine will turn over to the the same point and just stop. Back it up and try again, same result. It will turn over as far as I back it up and no more.
Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?
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From: Grand Junction, CO
I made a mark on the balancer and rotated the engine counterclockwise just a little more than one full rotation, approx 370 degrees. I watched while my wife hit the key. The starter rotated the engine the full revolution plus about 3-5 degrees past where I made the mark and stopped. It appears to be stopping in the same spot.
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From: Sioux Falls Area
could it be hydrolocked?
as much work as it would be, pulling the plugs and cranking it over would clear it out if it was a hydrolocked.
i would try turning it backwards one full cycle, or 720° (two full revolutions). see if it stops at the same point in reverse. this would get the cams back at the same point in the cycle.
i think i'd stop using the starter to try and get it past the point where it wants to stop.... if it catches and tries to start, you are going to break something for sure. get it to spin over by hand first, then try to see if it will start.
as much work as it would be, pulling the plugs and cranking it over would clear it out if it was a hydrolocked.
i would try turning it backwards one full cycle, or 720° (two full revolutions). see if it stops at the same point in reverse. this would get the cams back at the same point in the cycle.
i think i'd stop using the starter to try and get it past the point where it wants to stop.... if it catches and tries to start, you are going to break something for sure. get it to spin over by hand first, then try to see if it will start.
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From: Sioux Falls Area
i don't think hydrolock is common for any engine, but it does happen.
could be fuel, could be coolant.
there is something mechanical keeping the engine from rotating. a stuck valve would do it, but you would find that within 360 degrees if spun backwards.
the only thing i can think of that would allow it to spin backwards 360 degrees and then lock up at the same point when spun forward is liquid in a cylinder. when spun backwards 360 degrees the intake valve will be open, giving any liquid a path of egress.
i think it would be well worth your time to pull the plugs and spin it over by hand a few times. then try it with the starter with the plugs out.
you got the 2v engine, so you shouldn't have any significant troubles with the plugs.
that's what i would do, anyway.
could be fuel, could be coolant.
there is something mechanical keeping the engine from rotating. a stuck valve would do it, but you would find that within 360 degrees if spun backwards.
the only thing i can think of that would allow it to spin backwards 360 degrees and then lock up at the same point when spun forward is liquid in a cylinder. when spun backwards 360 degrees the intake valve will be open, giving any liquid a path of egress.
i think it would be well worth your time to pull the plugs and spin it over by hand a few times. then try it with the starter with the plugs out.
you got the 2v engine, so you shouldn't have any significant troubles with the plugs.
that's what i would do, anyway.
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A broken piston rod will do it too, but that is usually accompanied by a clunk as the end of the rod hits something.
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From: Sioux Falls Area
true, i had not thought of that. i suppose it will spin either direction to the same point if the rod is broken off such that it does not fall out of the bottom of the cylinder bore.
if that is the case, though, he will not be able to spin it more than 360° in either direction, correct?
if that is the case, though, he will not be able to spin it more than 360° in either direction, correct?
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No that's not correct. A broken rod rarely stays in the cylinder bore, it falls out and hangs down. Now when the engine is rotated CW the rod is heading downward on the right side of the crank. Alternately when the engine is rotated CCW the rod heads downward on the left side of the crank. If something obstructs the downward movement on one side but not the other, then the engine can fully turn in one direction but be stopped from doing so in the other.
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From: Southern Cal
I can't imagine that engine hydrolocked unless the previous owner drove thru a flood and sunk it. I see you are in Colorado, is that possible? Pretty unlikely you could have a gasket fail and allow this. Maybe a 6.0 diesel egr, not a 5.4.
It really won't fuel hydrolocked with the efi so bending or breaking a connecting rod would be very severe, but possible.
A stuck valve would affect turning over either way. Maybe a camshaft chain but still, you'd feel it either way. If sat for a bit and water issue, the piston rings will stick at corrosion line but you'd still feel it on reverse cycle.
What's the oil look like, how about the coolant color? Any noise when turning over by hand?
It really won't fuel hydrolocked with the efi so bending or breaking a connecting rod would be very severe, but possible.
A stuck valve would affect turning over either way. Maybe a camshaft chain but still, you'd feel it either way. If sat for a bit and water issue, the piston rings will stick at corrosion line but you'd still feel it on reverse cycle.
What's the oil look like, how about the coolant color? Any noise when turning over by hand?
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I just came in from working on it. The oil is a little dark but otherwise looks good. No contamination. I got 6 of the 8 plugs out and tried turning it both directions by hand. At first it sounded like a little grinding. I was guessing dry cylinder walls. After turning it 3-5 revs in both directions, I figured it was safe to try with the starter. It cranked a few times, shot some crap out of one of the driver side spark plug holes (couldn't tell which one) and stopped with a clunk. No I can't turn it by hand in either direction. This doesn't bode well........