? Engine seized ? Replacement engine - help needed

[DKG]

I was driving my 2019 1.9 5-5-speed T6 today. Pulled on to a dual carriageway from the adjoining roundabout and was accelerating. Changed up to 3rd and suddenly lost all power as if the engine stalled. A message on the dashboard said 'start engine manually'. Luckily, I was on the inside lane so let the vehicle come to halt on the verge.

I turned the ignition off and back on. The usual dashboard lights came on and went off. I tried to start the engine but it didn't fire up. However, even though I had released the key the starter was still trying to crank the engine. I turned the ignition off completely and tried again and got the same result.

I don't know if doing that drained the battery but on the fourth attempt nothing happened no cranking over, no clicks, nothing. Still no warning signs on the dashboard.

I called out the RAC and notified the police as I was on a busy dual carriageway partially blocking the inside lane. As the RAC was taking too long police called their recovery to move the van and took me to a nearby service station.

When the RAC arrived they plugged in the diagnostic and the only error code that came up was 'Starter blocked'. The technician connected jump leads and there was a clicking noise but nothing else. He then put a socket on the crank shaft and tried to turn the engine but couldn't shift it. He said he thought the engine had seized. He said the cam belt cover was loose and took it off to look at the cam belt. He said the cam belt was in place and put the cover back on. He queried whether the cranking over of the engine on the verge had caused the cam belt to shift hence the loose cover even though all appeared well with the cam belt.

Engine has done 86k and I got it at 83k. It was serviced when I got it. Had the turbo replaced at the end of March and I've done about 500 miles since then. The engine is a CXGB.

If the engine has seized am I looking at a rebuild or replacement? Any idea of possible cost?

Any advice/help would be appreciated. I'm in Lincoln so any recommendations for getting work done would be useful as well.

Many thanks

Dave

 

[manfrotto]

Based on what you have described, I don't think the engine is seized.

You will need to get some better diagnostic done to determine if it an electrical issue or fuel related.

Eg - It could have a failed fuel pump which csused it to stop, and then a failed starter motor (or blown fuse) from excessive cranking.

A good VW independant workshop will have the diagnostic tools to determine the issue(s)

 

[DKG]

Based on what you have described, I don't think the engine is seized.

You will need to get some better diagnostic done to determine if it an electrical issue or fuel related.

Eg - It could have a failed fuel pump which csused it to stop, and then a failed starter motor (or blown fuse) from excessive cranking.

A good VW independant workshop will have the diagnostic tools to determine the issue(s)

Thanks for the reply and fingers crossed you are right. I'll try and find somewhere nearby to investigate further as I will need to get it there unless they can come out to it.

Thanks again - Dave

 

[PhillH]

It’s a shot in the dark but try taking the auxiliary belt off. My sister had a Seat and alternator over run pulley seized and would not let the engine turn over but that was from being park and starting the engine not actually running. Seizing while running would probably shred the belt

 

[Dellmassive]

The starter blocked code comes when the engine computer can't see the engine turning over...(Rpm crank signal)

I had the same code when I had a loose starter motor battery cable previously..

So you need to check if the engine really is ceased or if it's just a starter motor problem.

 

[Fat Eric]

Hopefully the engine isn’t seized, there are plenty of things that could cause this issue and should be easy to diagnose.
I once had a Mini Cooper S that was diagnosed from another garage with a seized engine, the alternator was broken and the engine wouldn’t turn over.

 

[PhillH]

Hopefully the engine isn’t seized, there are plenty of things that could cause this issue and should be easy to diagnose.
I once had a Mini Cooper S that was diagnosed from another garage with a seized engine, the alternator was broken and the engine wouldn’t turn over.

Same as I mentioned above.

 

[T32Rich]

Seems odd that RAC couldn't move the Engine with a socket on the crank. Being the sceptic that I am, and having moved much bigger engines by hand, I would want to try that for myself, removing as much potential to lock up as possible. Aux belt off, someone depressing the clutch if it's manual, maybe even starter motor off. Good luck with solving and hopefully not to big a hit