2016 Powerstroke engine seems seized
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Trailering
Joined: Apr 2016
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2016 Powerstroke engine seems seized
Was driving pickup one afternoon, out of nowhere it dies. I tried to restart it and nothing, no cranking or anything. At first I thought it was a fuel issue as it just stalled out of nowhere. But it won't crank at all even after letting it sit overnight. I didn't suspect it to lock up because I didn't hear any noise or lose oil pressure. It also didn't bring me to a screeching halt as I would assume a locked up engine would. It didn't get hot either. I'm stumped on what this could be. What is the best way to try and see if it's seized? How can I turn it by hand?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,530
Likes: 2,494
From: West Michigan
James....sorry to hear about the problems. What makes you think it is seized? These 2011's and up arent like older trucks/cars, where turning the key will make them turn over. On these, the trucks computer decides if it will turn over or not, so just a dead key doesnt mean the engine is seized. When you do turn the key, does the dash light up? Is there a CEL or anything? I'd pull the codes if you havent already. Could literally just be bad battery or two? Were they original?
Have you made any modifications to your truck?
Have you made any modifications to your truck?
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Trailering
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 16
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James....sorry to hear about the problems. What makes you think it is seized? These 2011's and up arent like older trucks/cars, where turning the key will make them turn over. On these, the trucks computer decides if it will turn over or not, so just a dead key doesnt mean the engine is seized. When you do turn the key, does the dash light up? Is there a CEL or anything? I'd pull the codes if you havent already. Could literally just be bad battery or two? Were they original?
Have you made any modifications to your truck?
Have you made any modifications to your truck?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,530
Likes: 2,494
From: West Michigan
If the batteries are low, or one of them has a short, the computer wont see enough juice to trigger the starter, so it will be like a dead key. If the batteries are original, probably time for a replace. or at least pull them out, and bring them to a parts store, and have them tested. just so you know, BOTH batteries have to be strong to start. they are connected in parallel, so if getting them tested, they need to disconnect one of the leads to isolate the batteries, or it will mask the problem (if there is one).
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Trailering
Joined: Apr 2016
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that is possible! This rig wasn't driven every day so some things like that may have been overlooked. If the batteries turn out to be in bad shape, then I will look into the alternator and seeing if it was the cause of the batteries going bad. I really appreciate your help!
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,377
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From: Frederick, MD
did you check all the fluids, that would be the first thing to do when you suspect a seized motor.
But sounds to like you may have a route to check with the charging system and batteries. Likely it quit charging as you drove and then died when not enough juice was left.
But sounds to like you may have a route to check with the charging system and batteries. Likely it quit charging as you drove and then died when not enough juice was left.
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Trailering
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fluids were all in check. Oil had been changed about 2k miles prior to it breaking down
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
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There are ways of using the starter to see if the engine is seized…but…not the kind of thing to learn on a forum. Find a mechanic you trust and have then check things out.
other than that…you could do a battery voltage test.
other than that…you could do a battery voltage test.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2018
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There is a big bolt in the center of the well of the crankshaft pulley. Get a socket, an extension to clear the pulley, and a long breaker bar for leverage. With that, try to rotate the engine clockwise. It will take some effort with 15:1 compression, but if the engine is mechanically unobstructed, it will turn.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,338
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From: Livermore Ca.
If both of your batteries turn out to be junk then you need to look at the alternator. Your truck goes to sleep after a few minuets of sitting. You should be able to let it sit for a week and it should still start. This sounds like batteries and alternator to me.
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Trailering
Joined: Apr 2016
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Here's where we are now. We put new batteries in and it fired up! It will idle fine but stalls when trying to accelerate. We replaced fuel filters and still having problem. We let it sit overnight and it fired up fine, died on us again. Now back to no cranking at all. It seems to me that it's the alternator or some other electrical gremlin. Thoughts?
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,058
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From: Too close to Houston
Pull the belt and try to start it again. We had the A/C clutch fail on our '00 V-10 and it acted for all the world like the engine was seized. Maybe you have an accessory that's dragging it down when it's stopped??
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,338
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From: Livermore Ca.
Make sure that you have all the wires connected to the sensors. Throttle position sensor may be bad. MAF sensor may be bad or unplugged. It's in the CAC pipe. If your batteries went dead then the alternator is junk. With new trucks especially with 2 batteries it does'nt take much to destroy the alternator. I would takt the alternator down to the parts store and they can test it. DON'T buy some cheap one.
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