I just wanted to post this information as a FYI for anyone having engine problems.

A couple of months ago my 2000 F250 V10 wouldn't start after an oil change. It wouldn't turn over at all. When I would turn the key it would make a quick 1 second crank sound then nothing. Every time I turned the key it would do this. At first I thought maybe it was the starter or battery so I replaced both, but still nothing. Then I started thinking about the engine being hydrolocked or even worse, blown. I tried to hand crank it with a socket on the crank bolt but couldn't turn it clockwise or counter clockwise. I was sure my engine was shot as it has 197000 mile on it. I took it to a buddy who was a ford mechanic and he helped me pull the plugs and attempt to hand crank it again, but still nothing, so I assumed the engine was blown and not hydrolocked. I was going to have the engine rebuilt but as we were removing everything to pull the engine we found the problem. The AC compressor was so locked up it was locking up the belt. Both my mechanic and myself thought for sure the engine crank would be strong enough to overpower the ac compressor but it wasn't. The belt was so tight that we had to cut it and pry it off. I replaced the ac compressor and all the other good stuff related to it, replaced the spark plugs and sure as **** it started right up.

I have read some threads on here about engine problems and thought I'd share this experience. It saved me 3000 so hopefully it will save someone else some money and time. I never had any of the blown engine signs such as funny sound or whinning, white exhaust smoke, dirty oil, stalling, or anything else. The truck was running fine prior to the problem. Like I stated above I had just changed the oil and even drove it home 25 miles. It was after it sat overnight and tried to start it in the morning that the problem started.

 

That is very good info there. I guess serpentine belts grab better than one thinks. Hopefully you get another 197k out of the engine.

 

Always pull the belt when any engine seems locked! A friend bought a Chevy 4X4 S10 5 years old from a Ford dealer for $800. They told him the engine was locked, he took it home removed the belt and it started right up. He put a new smog pump on it and drove it 4 years, then sold it for $4,000.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

I wonder if a '99 with a 6-rib belt would have been able to crank?

Good story

 

I thought you were going to say it wouldn't start cause it had to much oil in it, since you said you just got the oil changed.

 

Good post. Thanks for sharing.

 

I had the same thing happen on a ford diesel van. A/C compressor locked up.