What would cause my cars engine to freeze up and no longer run

Question 1

0helpful

3answers

Coolant leaking back of motor

Top or bottom?

Feb 21, 2016 • 1998 Isuzu Rodeo

tip

Bad fuel economy and lumpy idling - possibly causes

Excessive fuel consumption and 'lumpy' idling engine Possible faults:- Coolant sensor - engine is signaled as being 'cold' all the time, not just at start up, causing ECU to set longer injection cycle ø Low coolant level can prevent sensor being able to detect coolant temperature ø Faulty 'open' thermostat allows coolant to circulate without regulation and perhaps prevents the engine from achieving normal running temperatures. FPR - broken diaphragm allows fuel to enter the vacuum line and then into the inlet manifold. Additional source of fuel makes the fuel air mix richer causing a faster and lumpy idle. Vacuum leak - 'high oxygen' signal from O2 sensor causes ECU to set longer injection cycle. O2 sensor - 'high oxygen' sensor error causes ECU to set longer fuel injection cycle MAF - 'over reads' in error the amount of air entering causing ECU to set longer fuel injection cycle IAT - 'under reads' in error the temperature of incoming air causing ECU to set longer fuel injection cycle

on Jul 22, 2011 • Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cars & Trucks

tip

What is a freez plug??

A freeze or expansion plug is a small, metal, circular plug that lives in various places on an engine block. These plugs have a valuable function and an equally interesting origin. An engine block starts life as molten metal. In order to form an engine block, this metal is poured into a mold. When the metal cools off from a liquid to a solid, the engine block is born. As the mold is no longer needed, it is knocked away from the engine block. As most modern engines are liquid cooled, part of this mold also forms the cooling passages inside the engine and must be knocked away as well. The cooling jacket mold material is removed through the holes now filled by the freeze plugs.

Keep Your Cool
Along with filling holes, the freeze plugs have another function. Water expands when frozen. Metal on the other hand does not like to expand very much. If for some reason the liquid coolant inside the engine block freezes and expands, the freeze plug is designed to pop out of the engine block to allow coolant to expand out of the hole. The inexpensive freeze plug can save thousands of dollars in cracked engine blocks. While all this is fine and good, freeze plugs will sometimes leak and fail for reasons that have nothing to do with cold weather. Neglected engine coolant becomes corrosive and can eat away at freeze plugs from the inside out and cause a leak. For these two reasons, maintaining engine coolant is important—on the one hand to prevent corrosion from forming, and on the other to maintain the correct level of anti-freezing properties during sub-freezing cold spells.
Holey Moley
While replacing a freeze plug in itself is fairly simple, getting to it may be another story. In fact, this story can be a long one. As bad luck will likely have it, the leaky freeze plug will never be the one that is easier to see than the sun at noon on a summer day. The leaking freeze plug will be the one up against the back of the firewall or underneath nearly every other part connected to the engine. The additional unfortunate reality is that if one freeze plug has gone rusty with holes then the others are likely not far behind. The best time to replace freeze plugs is when the engine block is out of the car and up on a stand. If this is not an option then digging in and replacing that one leaking freeze plug may be the only answer.

on Mar 14, 2010 • Ford Explorer Cars & Trucks

0helpful

1answer

Water in oil

Water in oil is usually caused by a cracked engine block. This is a serious problem which could have been caused by the water freezing inside the engine. Water freezing in the engine could be caused by insufficient anti-freeze in the water. Of course the other possible cause of finding water in the oil could be by a defect in the metal structure of the engine block. Either way....that indication usually points to a worthless engine.

Mar 20, 2014 • 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier

0helpful

1answer

My 1997 subaru impreza squeals badly and then engine smokes

Hi this sounds weird does the smoke come out from the front engine covers? the squealing could be the cambelt trying to turn a semi or completly ceased waterpump which would cause the smoke after a while, also without the waterpump working properly the engine will leak water and anti freeze out the overflow and overheat really quickly

Apr 22, 2012 • 1997 Subaru Impreza

1helpful

1answer

Can I replace my dex coolant with regular antifreeze? in my 1997 chevy malibu and how

they say you cant mix different coolants but you can go to auto-zone etc, and buy a cheaper anti-freeze for general motors products. its a 50/50 mix for all gm cars and trucks.you can add this coolant to any brand of anti-freeze. its called universal type anti-freeze. to run a differant anti-freeze in it, you have to flush out complete engine and radiator because the dex-cool and the green stuff do not mix well and cause engine corrosion etc. dex-cool is reccomended for all chevy engines. good-day !

Sep 11, 2011 • Chevrolet Malibu Cars & Trucks

0helpful

1answer

My 2000 Grand Prix GTP runs great. However, the gas mileage has dropped to maybe 120-130 miles per tank and at idle there is a very strong odor of gas inside and around the car..noticed no drips on...

Following list of possible faults should help:-

Coolant sensor - engine is signaled as being 'cold' all the time, not just at start up, causing ECU to set longer injection cycle

? Low coolant level can prevent sensor being able to detect coolant temperature

? Faulty 'open' thermostat allows coolant to circulate without regulation and perhaps prevents the engine from achieving normal running temperatures.

FPR - broken diaphragm allows fuel to enter the vacuum line and then into the inlet manifold. Additional source of fuel makes the fuel air mix richer causing a faster and lumpy idle.

Vacuum leak - 'high oxygen' signal from O2 sensor causes ECU to set longer injection cycle.

O2 sensor - 'high oxygen' sensor error causes ECU to set longer fuel injection cycle

MAF - 'over reads' in error the amount of air entering causing ECU to set longer fuel injection cycle

IAT - 'under reads' in error the temperature of incoming air causing ECU to set longer fuel injection cycle

May 10, 2011 • Pontiac Grand Prix Cars & Trucks

0helpful

3answers

Will the freezeplug make the car run real funny if it pops out

If your Freeze plug pops out the coolant will leak out. The car will overheat and eventually (with in minites) run bad and then it will not run at all. The question is what caused the freeze plug to pop. If the coolant froze inside the engine you may have bigger issues than the freeze plug, There is a strong possibility that you have a crack in the block or heads or in the head gasket. This would affect the engine performance.

Apr 05, 2011 • 2000 Dodge Neon

3helpful

1answer

Where are the freeze plugs located on a 1997 chevy s-10 truck?

A freeze or expansion plug is a small, metal, circular plug that lives in various places on an engine block. These plugs have a valuable function and an equally interesting origin. An engine block starts life as molten metal. In order to form an engine block, this metal is poured into a mold. When the metal cools off from a liquid to a solid, the engine block is born. As the mold is no longer needed, it is knocked away from the engine block. As most modern engines are liquid cooled, part of this mold also forms the cooling passages inside the engine and must be knocked away as well. The cooling jacket mold material is removed through the holes now filled by the freeze plugs.

Keep Your Cool
Along with filling holes, the freeze plugs have another function. Water expands when frozen. Metal on the other hand does not like to expand very much. If for some reason the liquid coolant inside the engine block freezes and expands, the freeze plug is designed to pop out of the engine block to allow coolant to expand out of the hole. The inexpensive freeze plug can save thousands of dollars in cracked engine blocks. While all this is fine and good, freeze plugs will sometimes leak and fail for reasons that have nothing to do with cold weather. Neglected engine coolant becomes corrosive and can eat away at freeze plugs from the inside out and cause a leak. For these two reasons, maintaining engine coolant is important—on the one hand to prevent corrosion from forming, and on the other to maintain the correct level of anti-freezing properties during sub-freezing cold spells.
Holey Moley
While replacing a freeze plug in itself is fairly simple, getting to it may be another story. In fact, this story can be a long one. As bad luck will likely have it, the leaky freeze plug will never be the one that is easier to see than the sun at noon on a summer day. The leaking freeze plug will be the one up against the back of the firewall or underneath nearly every other part connected to the engine. The additional unfortunate reality is that if one freeze plug has gone rusty with holes then the others are likely not far behind. The best time to replace freeze plugs is when the engine block is out of the car and up on a stand. If this is not an option then digging in and replacing that one leaking freeze plug may be the only answer.

Mar 13, 2010 • 1997 Chevrolet S-10 Pickup

1helpful

2answers

Fan keeps running after engine is shut off

It is normal for the fan to run when engine is off. Engine temps actually rise when the engine is shut off, the heat will rise through the engine compartment. So a Coolant temp sensor controls when the fan shuts on and off, obviously based on the temps of the anti-freeze. The fans are a high draw item, but It would take much longer than an hour breakfast for the battery to run dead. I would check out the battery and charging system first. Is the CEL on? Let me know and we will trouble shoot from there. Thank you for using fixya.com

Oct 05, 2008 • 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Question 2

radracer2861

Expert 48 Answers
Posted on Apr 07, 2016

radracer2861

Expert

Joined: Dec 17, 2008

Answers

48

Questions

0

Helped

15317

Points

119

No oil or oil pressure , also check all belt driven components like alternator or a/c compressor or power steering pump and water pump one of listed items could seize and cause your engine not to turn over aka crank , not much info given on make and model of vehicle

Lynnette Labeau Apr 07, 2016

The car is a Pontiac grand am 1999 its my daughters car and the service engine had turned on and was low on oil she did fill but where ever she took the car to Said it was frozen /locked and they could not say what part of the car was causing it to lock up my thought is there has to be a way to figure out how to fix so thats is why im trying to find out how to get this car working
radracer2861 Apr 08, 2016

Best advise I can give is to find someone you trust to ck it out , just don't trust anyone don't care if its a 5 star shop , myself being a A.S.E Certified Tech 35yrs of working on vehicles I have heard horror stories from customers I had from being ripped of lied to ect .

×

Answer 2

Sean Piquet

Cars & Trucks Master 1,867 Answers
Posted on Apr 07, 2016

Sean Piquet

Cars & Trucks Master

Joined: May 16, 2009

Answers

1867

Questions

1

Helped

610184

Points

7259

1. In addition to very low or no oil level or very low or zero oil pressure (as pointed out by radracer), if you have a major coolant leak (such as with a burst or holed radiator hose) your engine will overheat very quickly without coolant flowing through it. In a short time it will seize up if you keep running it as well as blowing the cylinder head gasket and cracking the cylinder head(s) and engine block.

2. Retarding or Failure of Engine Lubrication

a) Failure of the engine oil pump = no oil flow and zero oil pressure. This will kill the engine if you run it in those conditions.

b) An excessive build up of sludge in your engine that can block oil passages and retard engine lubrication. This is caused by too few engine oil changes.

Related Topics:

Trustworthy Expert Solutions

What would cause my cars engine to freeze up and no longer run

2 Answers

radracer2861

Sean Piquet

Add Your Answer

Attachments: Added items

Related Questions:

Coolant leaking back of motor

Bad fuel economy and lumpy idling - possibly causes

What is a freez plug??

Water in oil

My 1997 subaru impreza squeals badly and then engine smokes

Can I replace my dex coolant with regular antifreeze? in my 1997 chevy malibu and how

My 2000 Grand Prix GTP runs great. However, the gas mileage has dropped to maybe 120-130 miles per tank and at idle there is a very strong odor of gas inside and around the car..noticed no drips on...

Will the freezeplug make the car run real funny if it pops out

Where are the freeze plugs located on a 1997 chevy s-10 truck?

Fan keeps running after engine is shut off

Not finding what you are looking for?

Cars & Trucks

Coolant leaking back of motor

Ask a Question

Check Out the Latest Top Trucks Report!

Top Cars & Trucks Experts

ZJ Limited

john h

Arnie Burke

Are you a Car and Truck Expert? Answer questions, earn points and help others

Manuals & User Guides

DIS9_Full.pdf. user-manual-1994...

DIS9_Full.pdf. user-manual-1994...

Rhonda_Docs.pdf. user-manual-2001...

Related Topics:

Trustworthy Expert Solutions

What would cause my cars engine to freeze up and no longer run

2 Answers

radracer2861

Sean Piquet

Add Your Answer

Attachments: Added items

Related Questions:

Coolant leaking back of motor

Bad fuel economy and lumpy idling - possibly causes

What is a freez plug??

Water in oil

My 1997 subaru impreza squeals badly and then engine smokes

Can I replace my dex coolant with regular antifreeze? in my 1997 chevy malibu and how

My 2000 Grand Prix GTP runs great. However, the gas mileage has dropped to maybe 120-130 miles per tank and at idle there is a very strong odor of gas inside and around the car..noticed no drips on...

Will the freezeplug make the car run real funny if it pops out

Where are the freeze plugs located on a 1997 chevy s-10 truck?

Fan keeps running after engine is shut off

Not finding what you are looking for?

Cars & Trucks

Coolant leaking back of motor

Ask a Question

Popular Questions

Toyota dashboard CD player won't eject

4.3 Firing order diagram for 4.3L v6 Chevy engine

BMW X5 Trans Fail Safe Program,

Diagram of 1996 ford ranger fusebox which fuse is

What does my check engine light trouble code $7e8 mean?

Check Out the Latest Top Trucks Report!

Top Cars & Trucks Experts

ZJ Limited

john h

Arnie Burke

Are you a Car and Truck Expert? Answer questions, earn points and help others

Manuals & User Guides

DIS9_Full.pdf. user-manual-1994...

DIS9_Full.pdf. user-manual-1994...

Rhonda_Docs.pdf. user-manual-2001...