Hi guys,

I have a standard 2.0 blacktop zetec in the car, I’ve just had it out and back in after doing a clutch change, and starter motor didn’t seem to be working.
I’ve now realised it’s because it can’t turn the engine.

I have just had a breaker bar on the main crank bolt on the front of the engine and cannot turn it by hand, is that an obvious indication that my engine has seized, or is there something else stupid I could be doing?

It’s a bit concerning as I’ve only had the engine out for a few weeks....!

Any help or suggestions appreciated

Thanks
Andy

Starter stuck on the ring gear? That would make it impossible to turn over...

Also make sure to remove plugs before trying to turn it over by hand. No point in trying to fight the compression

Hi, just took the starter off, no luck, also just removed two spark plugs, also no difference.
I have just remembered that the engine was easily spinning when I changed the flywheel yesterday, so actually must be something to do with it bolted into the gearbox (also put a different bell housing) so maybe it’s fouling on something....

Guess I’m taking the engine back out again....

What flywheel and what bolts. Long bolts will lock the engine solid as you describe.

Right, found the problem...

It was originally the standard 2.0 flywheel, I changed that to a 1.8 flywheel and standard clutch.
It turns out the the flywheel doesn’t quite fit in the bellhousing which is a bit weird, although have also changed from a standard cast iron wellhousing to an alloy one, must be a bit smaller I guess...

If there's no movement at all, then I'd guess the flywheel/clutch is fouling on the new bellhousing. If it is you'll have to split the engine/box. There should be some sort of witness marks where it's fouled.

Should type faster

[Edited on 22/4/18 by adithorp]

Cars, got to love them

quote:

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Originally posted by big_wasa
What flywheel and what bolts. Long bolts will lock the engine solid as you describe.

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Thanks for the help guys, on another note, from testing at the weekend i found that the biting point of my clutch is really high.

I have just put in a new clutch, so have gone from:

Zetec 2.0 with cast iron bellhousing type 9
standard flywheel, clutch and CT133 release bearing

to:

Zetec 2.0 with alloy bellhousing type 9
zetec 1.8 flywheel, clutch and CT133 release bearing

I've adjusted the cable so there's only a little bit of slack but the biting point was where you almost come off the pedal.

Is this likely to just be because the 1.8 flywheel is thinner than the 2.0?
And is it something i should be concerned about?

Thanks,
Andy

I would imagine that if your clutch is now at the very highest point just before you come off the pedal that as it wears you will find that you will just have to keep tightening the cable up as the clutch wears or you will be getting slip.

Seems that your clutch/flywheel and bell housing combo are on the upper echelons of compatibility.

Although some clutches wear the other way thinking about it. My old Integra type R clutch was on its way out at the bottom of the pedal, so required a full depression to release it. It could be just because its new.

To be fair though I wouldn't worry too much either way, clutches last about 60k even when beat on - so its really not the end of the world if you have to adjust it a couple of times throughout its life.

[Edited on 23/4/18 by Perpetrator]

CT133 is a deeper clutch bearing which may not be correct for your new flywheel.
Bellhousing may be shorter and input shaft spigot may be touching the rear of the hole in the crank

Which 1.8 zetec flywheel have you used? it needs to be an early focus/late escort one IIRC, that then should work with the CT133, but with a 1.8 mondeo clutch, not the escort one.


[Edited on 23-4-18 by loggyboy]