Engine "locked-up" on a 2002 Chrysler Sebring V6?

B

Brad H

New member
So my in-laws were on their way to our house and called me with car trouble just a few miles away. They had their car towed to a nearby Chrysler dealership who has told us that their engine is "locked-up."

My father-in-law says that the car made a funny rattling or clicking noise as they got off of the highway, and then simply lost power a couple of miles later as they slowed for a stop light. When you turn the ignition now, there's literally no indication that anything happens at all. No clicking, no clunking, no nothing that indicates that the starter is doing anything. So my question is... How can I tell if it's... (1) ...really locked-up? (2) ...the innards are all melted together? (3) ...the timing belt has gone? (4) ...anything else?

The car had some electrical problems a year ago that they never got fixed (AC, locks, various other miscellaneous things), so it's possible that a warning light wasn't visible.

Thanks for any suggestions!
 
I would have someone else take a look at it. For the dealership to say the car locked up is strange because there are various reason why the engine doesn't run, and for it to seize up, there HAD TO BE some horrendous type of noise, banging or clanging, definitely not rattling or clicking.
 
Im sure the mechanics were right. The in laws were probably on a long trip to your house right? They probably didnt check the oil, right? It was probably a quart or more low when they started the trip & burnt off some more on the way & then the pistons seized up in the cylinders. You can start taking parts off if you want to & check, but my guess is that if youre asking how you can check these things that you dont know how to take all these parts off. If you think the first mechanic was wrong then take it to a 2nd guy & dont tell them the first diagnosis. See if he comes up with the same answer.
 
try to crank it does nothing locked up
try to turn motor over by hand wrench on lower crank pulley cant mov eit motor locked up

when a shop tells you its lockup its lock up

truth is dodge Chrysler never been a great car to own and sorry but Sebring way low on list
 
In all the years of playing with cars I have found only once that the starter
was causing the engine to appear to be locked-up. There very seldom is
any type of fanfare or huge explosion type scenario with engine failure. It
always is just a loss of power and slowing down process with 2 or 3
thousand dollars worth of damage and the possibilities are numerous!
 
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