2005 Jeep Liberty 3.7L v6 - Engine Locked Up??

[FirefighterJon]

Bought a 2005 Jeep Liberty 3.7L v6 as a secondary vehicle that I could fix up and use as a backup 4x4. The previous owner claims that the vehicle was turned over on the passenger side and that once they got it towed back, it would never start, that he believed the motor had seized up. Are there any minor problems that could be the reason the engine isn't starting, like motor oil on the heads?

Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[twowings]

Disconnect the battery, get a breaker bar and a socket and try to turn the engine over 360 degrees....that will tell you if it's seized...if it won't turn over, pull plugs and put a couple of tablespoons of Marvel Mystery Oil in the plug holes and let it sit for a couple of days...then try to rotate the crank again...if it's not seized, then you need spark, fuel, and air to start it....make sure you have all three....look for disconnected wiring, empty fuel tank, clogged airbox, etc....I don't know if that year had auto fuel shutoff in case of rollover but you might research that....of course, make sure all fluids are up to the mark...

 

[M38 Bob]

I'd simply pull plugs and attempt to crank. Water, oil, no liquid will compress. If a cylinder has very much of any liquid and is on the compression stroke it,ll seem locked up.


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[ltd02]

Bought a 2005 Jeep Liberty 3.7L v6 as a secondary vehicle that I could fix up and use as a backup 4x4. The previous owner claims that the vehicle was turned over on the passenger side and that once they got it towed back, it would never start, that he believed the motor had seized up. Are there any minor problems that could be the reason the engine isn't starting, like motor oil on the heads?

Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Isn't starting and isn't turning are two very different things. Which is it?

 

[FirefighterJon]

Alright I know this is a little late of a reply but I couldn't get it to turn over with a breaker bar and socket. I pulled the plugs and put some oil to help break it up. The battery was dead so I put another battery in from abother jeep and tried turning the key. I just quickly clicked the key as if I was trying to start it and then back off. The crank turned about 1/4 an inch each time and between all of the turning probably moved 3/4 of the way all around. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[FirefighterJon]

I'd simply pull plugs and attempt to crank. Water, oil, no liquid will compress. If a cylinder has very much of any liquid and is on the compression stroke it,ll seem locked up.


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Also, with the coil packs and spark plugs out the times when it was turning 1/4 it was pushing fluid back out

 

[megatone]

Pull the serpentine belt off and try to rotate the engine.......I bought a convertible IROC Camaro one time with a "seized" motor.....I towed it home and found that the alternator wasn't spinning freely. Once I removed the belt and turned the key, the engine fired right up......Paid $800 for the car!!!!

 

[FirefighterJon]

Pull the serpentine belt off and try to rotate the engine.......I bought a convertible IROC Camaro one time with a "seized" motor.....I towed it home and found that the alternator wasn't spinning freely. Once I removed the belt and turned the key, the engine fired right up......Paid $800 for the car!!!!

The belt is already off unfortunately

 

[libertybob]

Hydro lock

So with all 6 plugs out of the heads you pumped fluid out of the cylinders. Any coolant in the cylinders? With blown head gasket coolant can leak into the oil sump as we all know. If enough coolant leaked into the oil sump it could cause hydro lock from the oil sump. How long did the engine sit before being turned over? Usually takes a long time sitting before corrosion forms in a cylinder. An old trick I have used in the past is to put about 1/2 cup of auto trans fluid (any type or brand new) in each cylinder and let it sit for 3-4 days, then turn over the engine with a pull bar (no plugs in engine). Trans fluid is a great lube and rust preventive. Put a socket on the damper bolt and oscillate force to try to move the pistons up and down to free them. Hope you got a good price on this Liberty.

 

[FirefighterJon]

So with all 6 plugs out of the heads you pumped fluid out of the cylinders. Any coolant in the cylinders? With blown head gasket coolant can leak into the oil sump as we all know. If enough coolant leaked into the oil sump it could cause hydro lock from the oil sump. How long did the engine sit before being turned over? Usually takes a long time sitting before corrosion forms in a cylinder. An old trick I have used in the past is to put about 1/2 cup of auto trans fluid (any type or brand new) in each cylinder and let it sit for 3-4 days, then turn over the engine with a pull bar (no plugs in engine). Trans fluid is a great lube and rust preventive. Put a socket on the damper bolt and oscillate force to try to move the pistons up and down to free them. Hope you got a good price on this Liberty.

Yeah the fluid that was being pumped out was transmission fluid that I had previously put in and let sit for a couple of days. The jeep has been parked at the sellers house for a few months before I bought it. I got a decent price I think just trying to figure out any possible ideas before buying another motor