My sister did not want to put a transmission into this car. So, five weeks ago she gave it to me. I had a rebuilt transmission put in. Reading about potential problems, I had new timing chains and tensions put in. Then, I gave it as a gift to my son.

Last night the engine froze up. Any ideas as to what may have happened and if it is related to the work I had completed? The engine had 104,000 miles on it. It was originally owned by my sister in Chicago, then a different sister in Scottsdale.

 

Meant tensioners.

 

Hi,

Welcome to the site.Too difficult to tell from here if work done on the tensioners could have cause this problem, but the potential exists with tensioner replacement. There are about a hundred mistakes that could have been made. If done by a competent tech, then probably not, but lots of DIYers do these tensioners.

 

The shop that did this is a good shop (I hope) with a lot of Jag experience.

Checking out this "Cylinder wash" idea. Howver, not sure if that applies when the starter con not turn over the engine.

 

timing tensioners are a problem on the 4.2 ? didnt know that.

Pour oil into the cylinders and see if it will free it up. I cant beleive this motor locked up ?

 

This is a 4.0.

So, with the engine frooze up, I amy not have major problems?

 

I must slow down my typing. I MAY not .....

 

your son probably flood the motor, or started it and then shut it right off. either way if it is infact that, drop some oil in there and let it soak up a bit (for some hours) and then disconnect your fuel and ignition relays. turn the motor over, and reconnect everything.

If it works, then your golden. tell your son to run the car longer before he shuts it off.

If it doesnt, took you 1 hour labor, 10 hours standby, and $3 oil just to see if it works.

your thread title says 2008, and in your other post I read I realized its a 98.

Free advice, take it for whats its worth.

-vic

 

Welcome, if you use proper forum you would get quicker responses .

 

From the first post, I was like "Damn that is some serious driving to have 104,000 on a vehicle in about 2 years!"

 

I guessed the 08 part was wrong. This is NOT a cylinder wash issue, if you said the engine locked up and I'm not a fan of putting oil in the cylinders as a correction for this problem because of potential damage to the Catalytic converters. There are better ways, but this is off target.

Again, we're trying to diagnose a frozen engine condition online. If I were there, in person, I'd have the advantage I'd need to correctly diagnose the problem. I'd start by ensuring I have a healthy battery as this is essential on this car. Not just checking that the lights come on, but battery voltage. Then I'd begin removing the cam covers so I can determine what has the crank frozen.

Bottom line - you don't want to continue to force a cranking situation until you are confident you're not doing further engine damage by doing so. I would offer to you that it should be brought back to the techs who replaced the tensioners, if you trust them.

 

I'll try to find out what happened and report back.


The mechanic do changed out the timing belts was:

Ken Bohl's Auto Service
602-381-8233
5209 E. Thomas Road
Phoenix AZ 85018


Getting the sequence of events from a teenager is difficult. However, this is what I believe happened.

1. My son tries to start the engine. He hears like mini-explosions from the engine, it runs very rough and he turns it off.
2. He tries to restart it and it will not start. Based upon his description, it sounds like the battery is fine but just will not turn over.
3. I try it the next day. It sound like metal hits immediately and nothing happens. We call AAA. They check the battery and find it is OK. Try to start it again while the AAA guy watches. He says he works on race cars and he sees the flywheel move slightly and then bounce back. He believes the engine has seized up.



I have messages to Bohl's automotive. We will see what happens. I do not know the reputation of Bohl's. My own mechanic has never worked on Jag and stated he has never even looked under the hood.

The only mechanic I know of in Tucson is British Automotive. Anyone out there from Tucson with any experience with these people?


Jim

Thank all that have responded. I truly appreciate the feedback.

 

To everyone helpful in my discussions earlier, it was not the mechanics fault after putting in the new tensioners and timing belt (or chain, whatever). I dropped an exhaust seat. so, I bit the bullet, found and engine with 65,000 miles on it, from California, bought it and had it put in. I'll keep my fingers crossed.