Seized motor

[edge24_99]

Thanks for the halp so far guys. I am tryingt o remove the passenger side lift bracket so I can take the valve cover off. I want to check the valve train to see if I messed it up. I am going to drop my pan and check the oil pump also. Is there a way I can test it or do I just replace it and see if it works? Is there any sensors I should check?...Thanks so far guys the beers are on me next time your in town

[Tiago]

oil pump my guess at this point, if you're gonna pull the pan, might as well put a new one in, only $45 bucks.

[Magnus]

Ok...

Chances are you weren't studying the oil pressure gauge when it shut off correct? You looked at teh gauge AFTER it shut off? It takes a short while to build oil pressure.

When you crank it, where does the noise come from? Did you guys drop the starter and check it? Perhaps the noise is coming from there.

If you did lose oil pressure and that is the problem, then prepare for a rebuild.

I'd check the starter first. If you can crank the motor by hand then the starter should be able to as well.

If your oil pump did go out it will be the first 3.8 failure I've heard of. When was the last time the oil & filter were changed?

[edge24_99]

I changed the oil and filter about 2mnth ago. So about 2k-2.5k miles...

I just pulled the starter and test it with my dad. It seemed OK.

As for oil pressure. I have never had a problem with it before. I wasnt driving so know I dont know what the gauge was doing.

And Tiago, a new pan or oil pump. Cause it looks like I have to take the front cover off my engine off to get to the oil pump.

[Tiago]

new oil pump

[black98V6]

man I really don't think it's an oil pressure problem.. I think it's starter, electrical or iginition related.. when I lost oil pressure on my old 2.8 and spun a bearing I could still turn it over and almost get it fired.. though it took alot of turning over.. if you can turn the motor over by hand but the starter can't I'd check the starter...
as magnus said if your not being able to start is related to an oil pump that has gone out than you might as well start shopping for a long block out of a junk yard or get be ready to rebuild.. simply putting a new oil pump on will not fix anything because peranent damage has been done..

if the starter doesn't seem to be turning the motor over right then I'd start there.. if the starter is turning the motor over fine but it won't fire then I'd look at fuel and ignition..

no I am not a trained professional mechanic.. and these are merely opinions based solely on what is written here.. but I REALLY believe you are looking in the wrong place..

edit: I see you have a manual.. have you tried to push start it?

[ August 01, 2002: Message edited by: black98V6 ]</p>

[93v6firebird]

he said under the valve covers that it looked dry... seems to me that the oil drained out and hasnt seen the valves since... which would lead me to believe its the oil pump

[pgriffith]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 93v6firebird:
he said under the valve covers that it looked dry... seems to me that the oil drained out and hasnt seen the valves since... which would lead me to believe its the oil pump<hr></blockquote>

I do think it is the oil pump but I think that under the valve covers looked dry because he drained the oil.

[93v6firebird]

Im so confused about what the hell has happened when...
all I know is that it is my belief that this sounds like an oil pump... is he now cranking the engine after the oil is drained? also I think it would take a little bit more time to make the valve train look dry then just draining the oil then taking off the covers..
but who knows, its hot and if its fresh oil it will move pretty quickly, but also coat pretty well there fore not really looking dry..
were there shavings in the oil after he drained it?

[edge24_99]

I put oil back in it so I could test it. The starter is good.

Could it be that my computer can tell the oil pump isnt working and wont let the feul pump send fuel? Isnt that how my senors work?

[3.4 slow to go]

Am going to paraphrase alot so.......

edge24_99 :So we stop at this light and the oil pressure suddenly drops and the car shuts down. Well we try to turn it over and it wont. We try to jump it and it dosnt take...am able to turn it [engine]with a breaker bar

3.4 slow to go: maybe the oil pump just died. most efi motors have a pressure switch hooked up to the oil pump. A safety device, sort of, to keep engine from running w/no oil pressure by cutting off power to fuel pump.

rockotman: I would check into the oil pressure/fuel pump interlock theory that 3.4 posted (I don't know if this interlock is employed in this car or not)

edge24_99 : Maybe the next step should be to replace the oil pump and see if that helps?

pgriffith: So before you post remember the oil pressure was way low. Like in the red part of the gauge. So what would cause this? I was thinking oil pump.

chas: if this is the same car from the post in the general forum about a loud ticking, i would be concerning about something wrong with the oil pump. like broken shaft on the oil pump or broken tooth. drop the pan and inspect the pump.

edge24_99: The chevy serivce guy said it sounded like a problem with my starter the way my dad described it. I still think it is more than that. So besides metal shavings how do I see if the oil pump is bad? ANything else I should check or look for?

* pgriffith: NO codes, before the car died there was no SES light...Also can anyone confirm that the 96 3.8 does have the oil pump saftey switch that shuts off the fuel pump? And if so would checking fuel pressure be a good idea?

**chas: as for oil pressure, i would expect a 'CHECK GAGES' light instead of SES. i doubt the presence of an oil pressure safety switch. wouldnt keep you from turning the engine over with the starter and causing damage

edge24_99: want to check the valve train to see if I messed it up. I am going to drop my pan and check the oil pump also.

Tiago NOS'd Bird: oil pump my guess at this point, if you're gonna pull the pan, might as well put a new one in, only $45 bucks.

**black98V6 :man I really don't think it's an oil pressure problem.. I think it's starter, electrical or iginition related....when I lost oil pressure on my old 2.8 and spun a bearing I could still turn it over and almost get it fired

pgriffith: I do think it is the oil pump but I think that under the valve covers looked dry because he drained the oil.

93v6firebird: Im so confused about what the hell has happened when...
all I know is that it is my belief that this sounds like an oil pump

main conscenus: oil pump.

*-I pulled a code today off my 95 Blazer, it wasn't showing an SES light.

**-True, the iol pressure switch would just cut off power to fuel pump, but still allow you to crank. You still haven;t told us if the fuel pump is getting power when cranking engine.

[chas]

in one of his other posts on a different thread he mentioned that the car was making a loud ticking that could felt in the steering wheel and pedal. that's quite a tick.

with fuel injection should be able to hear the fuel pump when you go to start the car. wait a few hours, open your door, depress plunger on door (so it stops chiming), put the key in the ignition and turn. if you hear a whine that stops after a sec or two that's the fuel pump charging the fuel system.

[pgriffith]

I drove his car also. I never felt the tick. I only heard it.

[black98V6]

sounds like it might be time to check fuel pump/pressure..

btw.. you can have a working fuel pump and still not get fuel because it's not creating enough pressure to run the injectors.. have had this problem also... was due to a broken ground strap to the fuel pump.. it had enough juice to turn but not turn enough..

the only reason I am suggesting this is becuase I am kind of unsure of how much it takes to get to our oil pumps.. an quick check of fuel pressure when turning on the key should answer theses questions without even getting you hands dirty..

[pgriffith]

UPDATE:

Edge pulled the oil filter and found LOTS of Metal shavings in there.

I think we are going to pull the motor.