Engine trans question

[essner]

Hey guys I have a quick question, ,maybe not so quick lol....I have a daily driver that I was driving the other day it was running perfectly fine until I got to a stop light, it just died...when I went to start the car again the starter just clicked (once)... I thought could be a bad starter but the starter couldn't shut the car off once it's already started right? Second I thought maybe it could be the alt. But then the alt can't be the cause of the car just cause the starter to click once could it? I also checked battery voltage and its good... Tried to jump it also and same just one click from the starter. I was also wondering if it could be that the flex plate is jammed up against the starter not allowing the motor to turn...

Please help thanks,
Devan
Posted via Mobile Device

[homemade87]

sounds like your alt has stopped working. Once the battery gets so low the engine does not have enough power to run. If you have drained you battery running the engine with no alt It makes it very hard to jump. The low battery will suck the power and none will get to the starter. Charge the battery or get a known good battery and see what happens. If you can get it cranked check the voltage and see what you are getting. You could also take the alt to your local parts store and have them check it. Good luck

[GASoline71]

Depending on the year of vehicle... It might be the voltage regulator. Up until 1972 or 1973 the alternators in Chevy/GMC trucks were externally regulated with a little black box mounted on the radiator support by the drivers side headlight.

Pull the regulator out and have it tested. Or if internally regulated alternator, do as described above and have it tested. An external regulator is about $20 bucks...

Gary

[meatwagon83]

dead alternator

[GASoline71]

Not necessarily. If it's an internally regulated alternator... yes. But if its an earlier model externally regulated alternator, then it will most likely be the voltage regulator on the radiator support.

Gary

[meatwagon83]

ok after re-reading his first post he said a jump wouldnt work and the battery is at full voltage, to me that means battery cables or connections, make sure the positive cable isnt melted to the exhaust manifold grounding the system out

[essner]

But would a bad alt cause the motor not to turn manually?
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device

[homemade87]

So you are saying the motor is locked and won't turn with a socket on the harmonic balancer bolt. How did you check for this. Did you hear some sort of mechanical noise when the motor shut down.

[essner]

Originally Posted by homemade87

So you are saying the motor is locked and won't turn with a socket on the harmonic balancer bolt. How did you check for this. Did you hear some sort of mechanical noise when the motor shut down.

Yes, it won't turn with a socket, I checked this after I checked the battery and starter just to see if it would turn but it didn't...no sound when the truck shut off, I just checked
Posted via Mobile Device

[homemade87]

You definetly have a mechanical issue then. You should beable to take the inspection cover off the trans and look to see if you have a issue at the flywheel or starter. Starter may have come loose and locked itself to the flywheel. I would check the accessories on the front of the motor as well just to be sure you dont have a bearing that locked that may have stalled the motor at low idle and may also be keeping you from turning the motor. Take the belts off to do this. If nothing there , There is only one other place . The internals of the engine. That means the engine has to come out and break it down. Hope it dont have to come to that .

[GASoline71]

Don't turn the engine by the bolt that retains the balancer. If it shears, you got big problems. There are proper tools to use to turn a crankshaft. Did you try turning it with the plugs out? If not... it will be a bear to turn, as your fighting cylinder compression.

Gary

[kf4jfk]

My '64 did this to me the other day. I found that the ground cable that went to the batery terminal was full of corrosion and not letting a full load get to the starter. The truck would just click and then lose power. After cutting off an inch of the ground cable and cleaning most of the corrosion off of the wire, the truck has been starting great every since.

[storm9c1]

Originally Posted by kf4jfk

My '64 did this to me the other day. I found that the ground cable that went to the batery terminal was full of corrosion and not letting a full load get to the starter. The truck would just click and then lose power. After cutting off an inch of the ground cable and cleaning most of the corrosion off of the wire, the truck has been starting great every since.

A few posts up he confirms it's a mechanical lock up. Can't turn the engine at all. This eliminates electrical problems. Need to diagnose the mechanical problems as recommended above (first take off belts and work from there).

[kwmech]

I think there is more to the story that is not being disclosed, Full mechanical lockup? just stopped, no noise,, overheating?

what kind of car,truck?