roiltide

New Member
Hi all!

Not quite sure what's going on here so I'd appreciate input.

Three weeks ago the water pump in my SIII 2.25 diesel started leaking water, and I ordered a replacement.

I did not leave the engine sitting with the pump off, they were directly swapped a few weeks ago. While the rad and fan were out, I also replaced the fan belt today - went to check the tension in the belt and found that the crankshaft pulley isn't turning at all. The engine and crankshaft pulley were running just find three weeks ago.

In the intervening three weeks it's been sat garaged, not moving.

I haven't tried starting the engine for fear that, if something has badly seized, that could damage the engine further.

I'd appreciate any advice on what might have happened, what I can try to un-seize the engine, and/or whether trying to start the engine would be advisable.

If more information would be helpful please don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks in advance for any help!
 
Hi all!

Not quite sure what's going on here so I'd appreciate input.

Three weeks ago the water pump in my SIII 2.25 diesel started leaking water, and I ordered a replacement.

I did not leave the engine sitting with the pump off, they were directly swapped a few weeks ago. While the rad and fan were out, I also replaced the fan belt today - went to check the tension in the belt and found that the crankshaft pulley isn't turning at all. The engine and crankshaft pulley were running just find three weeks ago.

In the intervening three weeks it's been sat garaged, not moving.

I haven't tried starting the engine for fear that, if something has badly seized, that could damage the engine further.

I'd appreciate any advice on what might have happened, what I can try to un-seize the engine, and/or whether trying to start the engine would be advisable.

If more information would be helpful please don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks in advance for any help!
So you cannot move the crank pulley with the engine turned off?
Start it up and see what happens, I reckon all will be okay.

Ps welcome to LZ.
 
Check the obvious like it is all out of gear! Then put a larger bar on it. If it is stuck tight enough that it wont turn with a large bar on the crank the starter will not turn it, but I doubt that is actually the case.
 
So you cannot move the crank pulley with the engine turned off?
Start it up and see what happens, I reckon all will be okay.

Ps welcome to LZ.
Hiya, thanks for your reply!

Yes that's exactly right. I am unable to move the crank pulley with the engine off, but I was able to spin it freely a couple of weeks ago.

I'll see if I can get it started and will report back.

Thanks for the welcome, I really appreciate it!
 
Check the obvious like it is all out of gear! Then put a larger bar on it. If it is stuck tight enough that it wont turn with a large bar on the crank the starter will not turn it, but I doubt that is actually the case.
Thanks for the reply Dag, I really appreciate it.

I don't currently have a large enough socket for the crank, but a breaker bar is on my shopping list anyway, so I'll sort this soon.

Thank you again for your advice!
 
You're sure it was the water pump leaking? Just wondering if it might have been the head gasket leaking both in and out. Unlikely.
 
Give it a start but keep the bonnet up just in case. Nowt worse than a hole in your bonnet.

Just kidding 😉 if it’s a seized engine the starter won’t turn it. When I smashed the top end to bits with a snapped timing chain the starter wouldn’t budge anything. 👍
 
Hiya all -

Thanks for the help and useful advice. I was able to get movement when rocking it in gear, and the starter then turned it over first time.

Of course, since then I've now developed some kind of weird new issue with the charge light not working but... hey ho - it is The Order Of Things.
 
Hiya all -

Thanks for the help and useful advice. I was able to get movement when rocking it in gear, and the starter then turned it over first time.

Of course, since then I've now developed some kind of weird new issue with the charge light not working but... hey ho - it is The Order Of Things.
Keep an eye on your coolant level.
 

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