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Re: Non GMC Daily driver no crank, new battery, new starter [message #271514 is a reply to message #271509]

Mon, 09 February 2015 14:45

Bullitthead

Messages: 1411
Registered: November 2013

Karma: 5

Senior Member

Before you condemn the starter or battery or the engine, do a couple of tests...
1) Turn the engine over by hand in normal rotation (clockwise). If you can't turn it by hand, the starter can't do it either.
2) If it won't go clockwise, turn it backwards a little to see if it will move. DO NOT GO BACKWARDS MORE THAN A QUARTER TURN (90 DEGREES AT THE CRANK). If it moves, at least the engine is not frozen from galled rings or bearings.
3) Remove the spark plugs one at a time and try to rotate the crank clockwise after you remove each plug. Or you can remove all of them at once if you want, but one at a time will show you which cylinder is hydrolocked, because when you are under the fender turning the crank it will be hard to see all or any of the plug holes unless you have a qualified helper.
4) When/if the crank frees up, check what comes out of that cylinder. If it's coolant, it's time for a rebuild. HOWEVER, it could be FUEL, from a stuck injector, and this is a much less expensive repair. If it is fuel and you clear the cylinder by hand cranking, cycling the key will probably not fill it up again because Chrysler does not energize the fuel pump until rotation is detected by the cam & crank sensors. Ford and GM have a 2 second prime when the ignition is turned on, Chrysler/Mitsubishi need to energize the ASD relay to make the pump run.
5) If you cannot turn the crank backwards or forwards by hand with an 18 inch ratchet or breaker bar, just loosen the starter bolts so it can move some and retry hand cranking to make sure the starter is not jammed into the ring gear on the flywheel/flexplate.
6) If it's an automatic trans, it would be rare for it to lock up, but manual trannys can get engaged in 2 gears at the same time due to worn out shifter linkage and then they will be locked. Also, if it's a manual, the clutch can fail to disengage and if the parking brake is on and it is gear, the starter will not overcome that.
7) You should be able to overpower the accessory drive belt with your hand cranking, but the starter might not have enough moxie for that. You will be able to see if that is the problem during your hand cranking.
Cool

Since there is such a severe voltage drop at the battery (should not drop below 75% of battery rest voltage during cranking), I'm betting the starter is getting the necessary current to crank the engine, and the engine is hydrolocked with coolant or fuel. Let's hope for fuel, and pull the dipstick and smell the oil or even see if the oil on the stick will light up with application of fire, and check the level to see if it has risen over where it should be.

Terry Kelpien ASE Master Technician 73 Glacier 260 Smithfield, Va.