Engine seizing

[brianpavlovic]

Hello everyone- I have a question. I drove my car and went through a puddle. Everything is fine so far. Well, I get back in, and the volts start going down and then the egine just shuts off. I had it towed to Moore Chevrolet and they told me that the engine is seized. I need some help either locating the problem or getting another engine. What should I do or who should I contact? I already e-mailed Kotze.

Brian

610 745 1857

[Y2KFRC]

Brian, how deep was the water??? Did they say hydro lock???? If that happened you may want to call your ins. co. If it was hydro lock you could have bent a rod. Sorry :(

[brianpavlovic]

The water was not that deep about 1'' worth. The thing is, is that the car drove fine. I parked it for about one hour and then started it up again, still everything was fine. Temp was good and everything. About 10 minutes into driving, the VOLT light came on and then the volts started to go down.....
14......13........12........11.........10 and then the car just shut down. Maybe its the voltage regulator, alternator, or something else, I don't know. Why should I call my insurance co?

Could you call me?

610 745 1857

[Y2KFRC]

It doesn't sound like a hydro lock was the temp light on or any lights that would have warned you? If you had full coverage the inc. co may help with repairs but it doesn't sound like that. Maybe Mike will be on line to help.... I'd surely get a second opinion though.

[brianpavlovic]

Okay-
I read some stuff about hydrolock and I really don't think it was that. Whatever the problem, it made the volts go down and the car simply shut off. That's all. This little problem may cost me my engine and a lot of money. I already called Michigan Recylcers and they are taking care of me. He even gave his cell phone to contact him. But here's the thing, how trustworthy are they? He said that he has an engine with 20k on it for me, but how do I know that he is telling me the truth and I am not putting in another "lemon" in my car?! I don't mean any disrespect, but does anyone have any experience with them?


p.s. How about the voltage regulator? Could that be a problem?

-Brian

[DavisZR1]

Hi Brian,

No disrespect intended, but I was talking to FL at a car show and I had read your post about your tranny problem. FL told me that Mike was looking at it for you, however, from reading the posts following, it seems that you went to another tranny guy and had some major problems afterwards. Maybe there was an issue with money, but quite honestly, my friend, you will get what you pay for. Mike should have been the guy you used for your tranny in the first place.

Now, it seems that you're having trouble with your engine, (if that's what it is) and you are still scrambling around again and asking advice, and going to any mechanic that fits your budget. Well, you can bring it to this one and that one, looking to take the cheapest way out, but in the end, it will cost you much more. You also posted on Outten Chevrolet to ask if they have an engine. Why did you have it towed to Moore Chevrolet? Then you question Michigan Recyclers and I would assume that you also doubted Corvette Kotze, because you ultimately brought it to some fly by night, because the price was cheaper. Why don't you go to Pep Boys for a complete rebuild of your engine? In my wildest dreams, I can't believe that you would disregard using a top notch mechanic, like Mike, who would give you the best price, best advice, and from what I've heard, he's the most honest mechanic you could ever find. I also know he is local to you. So, after following all your posts, I'm amazed and mystified. Wow, I wish I had someone in my neighborhood that I could trust. Not to mention the convenience of it all. You've got an ideal situation with Mike, yet you're still not trusting and you're scrambling :nono: around. Good luck, hope you make the right decision. Why don't you contact Mike, instead of posting here for him to call you.

[FXGS]

Pep Boys rebuilds engines? :lol:

[UtahZR1]

Brian, I'm not a mechanic, but I had a similar problem with my ZR1. Did you smell anything burning? The alternator on mine had a bad bearing and froze. You might want to check that out. Good luck.

[fatherlarry]

Davis, some people just don't know and are very cautious. Sometimes they get burnt a lot.

Brian, as far as what Utah ZR1 said about the alternator bearing, a lot of times the bearings on the earlier years C4's go bad and freeze up. If you didn't disconnect the belt and try to turn the engine with a breaker bar on the crankshaft pulley, it would seem as if the engine was seized when it actually wasn't.:smoke:

[DavisZR1]

Originally posted by FXGS
Pep Boys rebuilds engines? :lol:

I don't think so...do they?:rolllaugh

[brianpavlovic]

I would like to thank everyone who had something to say. I called Mike Kotze and I do believe that he is a life saver. I would appreciate it if some people would not put words in my mouth. Thank you very much.

-Brian
p.s. Why don't YOU go to Pep Boys!

[DavisZR1]

If you spoke to Mike, why don't you share with everyone else. It may be helpful to someone else with the same problem.

Also, I wasn't putting words in your mouth, just by reading your posts it is easy to see that you're confused and aren't sure, yet seem to doubt the advice that people spend time to give. You seem to ask questions and then doubt the answers. Look at the work that FL put into your vin # question. He must have spent a lot of time on getting that together to help you understand your vin #, and you didn't even acknowledge with a thank you post.

Sorry if I seemed annoyed with you, but I was. No problem though, just had to get that off my chest. Hope there are no hard feelings. I just like to get to the point, and maybe this will help you realize how Corvette owners communicate with each other.

PS. I know of some Pep Boys that do a great job on diagnosing a problem for all cars plus Corvettes.

[brianpavlovic]

First of all, I would like to thank Father Larry for all the work he put into the VIN# research and the post! Thank you for all of that. I appreciate it. I really do. Second, I called Mike Kotze today and would like to publically thank him and give "him" his props! He was very patient with me on the phone, called me like he said he would and diagnosed the problem without even looking at my car, just listening. This man is a corvette guru, just like everyone has been telling me. He told explained that when the VOLT's started to go down but the engine TEMP stayed at 180 deg., there is NO way the engine seized! The reason why the guys at Moore Chevrolet could not turn the engine by hand is because they did not realize that the ALTERNATOR was fried like a frenchfry and so locked up the pulley including the serpentine belt. Mike said that they could get the biggest torque wrench and no one would be able to turn it. The belt is so tight, the engine produces a lot of torque, and not to mention the fact that the ALTERNATOR locked the pulley and belt. He asked me if they took the belt off and then tried turning it! Well, when I called, they said "...i think so" So I responded back could you please check to make sure and take the belt off. Well, Mike Kotze was right, no surprise there, and once they got the belt off, the engine turned real easy by hand! Mike Kotze saved me from purchasing a new engine, the labor, and everything else which totaled about $3,000!!!!!!!! Wow, is he a life saver!!!! He mentioned that dealers often overlook this and just replace perfectly good engines just because they forgot to try to take off the belt!!! If anyone out there has this problem, check the alternator!!!!!!

Just from my past experiences, I really need to deal with people before I can trust their advice. Just because people think someone is great, doesn't make them great. You know? I am new to this forum and newer to corvettes. If I offended anyone, I apoligize. I am just being careful and getting to know everyone in here.

Once again, I would like to thank Father Larry for his extensive research on my VIN# and hugs and kisses go out to the Corvette Guru Mike Kotze! Thanks you very much from the bottom of my heart and Sophia!

p.s. Sophia is my 1984 corvette's name She's hot!!!

-Brian

[FinWolf]

Wow I can feel the love in the room now. Lets all go out and get cheese steaks.:guiness:

[DavisZR1]

Originally posted by FinWolf
Wow I can feel the love in the room now. Lets all go out and get cheese steaks.:guiness:

Lets all go out and get cheese steaks:cheers: :wave: ;bt :clap: