7MGE - diagnosing a new car

[Grandavi]

I just bought an 1987 MKIII with a 7MGE. The engine doesnt turn over and the PO provided no info on what is wrong other than "it wont start".

Can anyone point me towards where I can start to figger out if the engine is seized or just "funky". Currently when I turn the start, I can hear it engage but thats all (it doesnt turn over). The rad is not full (I have no idea if there is any fluid in it at all yet) and the oil is black and at the bottom of the dipstick.

My best guess is its seized, but I would like to find out if there is any way to know prior to pulling the engine and dealing with it. If I have to pull the motor, I think I will tear down the car for parts (nice blue leather interior in it.. and quarters aren't bubbled yet)

Any tips or pointing me to where I can go read regarding diagnosing it would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[SRZMK3]

if its seized then the crank pulley wont turn

hit the starter with a hammer

check voltage mabey it needs a jump

fill the damn radiator

try getting a bunch of friends push the car down the road while you with the ignition on try to drop the clutch in attempt to kick start the car. if it makes no engine churning sounds then the engine is seized.

 

[Grandavi]

Getting to the crank pulley doesnt look as easy as it did on the old chevys.. lol. I will see if I can squeeze my arms in there with a big socket wrench (assuming its a 17 mm bolt on the crank pulley) and see if I can actually hand turn the engine. If it turns, generally it usually means its not seized.. then that would be a starter issue I think.
I was looking at the power steering reservoir (its in a different location than on GTE's.. I assume thats normal) and I am wondering if she was low on oil and tried adding oil to that.. lol. There is oil all over the fender wall near it so either its leaking good or someone dumped some there.

Amazing how many younger folk dont get taught the basics with cars any more..

ah well. I will go out and see what I can find out tonight, now that I have it in the garage. Be nice if it ran (even poorly) so I could clean the body and engine compartment. I like seeing what I'm working with rather than getting road dirt/salt all over me..

 

[Devin LeBlanc]

If you use a 19mm wrench down in between the fan/shroud usually it has just enough to slip on the edge of the crank pulley bolt. That was the first thing I did when I went to look at my car, check the oil cap, check the oil level, and check to see if the motor rotated freely.

 

[Grandavi]

man.. thats a hard area to get into.. so far.. no go. I may have to either live with very scratched hands or take off the fan shroud.. lol

I have heard a faulty starter but I have never experienced a seized engine. You can hear the starter click in (and the lights all go off...) but it wont turn. That may be normal on a seized engine. I dont have anyone strong enough around me yet to help me try to push start it (its a slight hill going into my garage so I dont want to push it out and then have to push it back in by myself. I did try rocking it in first gear, but couldnt get it to move the crank at all. Again.. that may be normal. If I remove the spark plugs, will that make it easier to turn (no compression with the spark plugs out.. so that may simplify it)
Time is my biggest enemy. How I long for those teenage years when I could spend an entire evening with the car without anyone bothering me..

 

[Devin LeBlanc]

Just jack the car up and put a boxed end 19mm on from the bottom and see if you can turn it..

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

That ^^ and the bottom of the fan shroud comes of easy, just a few clips hold it on.

 

[Grandavi]

Well.. putting the car up on stands tonight. Wondering something.. (seeing as I have 4 of these MKIII's...) how hard is it to put a 7MGTE into a 7MGE car? (I would be pulling it out of a car with rusted quarter panels and putting it into this.. so its a 88 MKIII 7MGTE into a 87 MKIII)

Am thinking it wouldnt be all that difficult considering the 88 is running with the 7MGTE in it fine. Just a bit of wiring from what I can see and perhaps a ECU swap?