Seized Engine After Transmission Replacement

Asked by tyler May 14, 2021 at 03:38 AM about the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 i Grand Touring Hatchback

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

So I had a mobile mechanic stop by for a weekend and replace the
transmission in my vehicle.  He said he was able to get the job done very
easily and didn't run into any issues.  After everything was put back together,
the car did not start (When it was before the job started) and you could hear
the starter clicking but not being able to turn the engine.  I went to check the
crankshaft pulley a couple days later and was unable to rotate it in any
direction.  My engine is surely seized.  Is there an idea on what exactly could
have possibly happened to the engine while the transmission replacement
was going on?  It'd be hard to bend any valves without being completely
inside the engine, right?  I'm hoping to see if I can't get him back here to
maybe do the job over again and see if he can't see where the mistake
happened.  Maybe there is something I can do for a possible simple fix?  

2 Answers

Make him fix it. Obviously he screwed up the job badly. You did not start and drive the car before paying him? Stop the payment if you can!

1 people found this helpful.
155,265

When trying to turn the engine by hand or with a breaker bar at the crankshaft pulley you should remove all the spark plugs. This will prevent the engine from building any compression that will make the engine very difficult, if not impossible, to turn by hand. That way you can know for sure if the engine is seized. I would suspect that the problem is actually with the transmission he installed. If the torque converter in the transmission can't turn for some reason the engine will not be able to turn either. The two are bolted directly together. Hope that helps! Jim

1 people found this helpful.

Your Answer:

MAZDA3

Looking for a Used MAZDA3 in your area?

CarGurus has 1,325 nationwide MAZDA3 listings starting at $2,900.

Postal Code:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    Vandura_3644
    Reputation
    780
  • #2
    Jimmy Skobyak
    Reputation
    760
  • #3
    Ed92626
    Reputation
    630
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Honda Civic
204 Great Deals out of 4,033 listings starting at $1,999
Used Mazda MAZDA6
6 Great Deals out of 206 listings starting at $4,490
Used Toyota Corolla
140 Great Deals out of 2,270 listings starting at $3,495
Used Toyota Camry
49 Great Deals out of 1,110 listings starting at $2,500
Used Mazda CX-5
80 Great Deals out of 3,301 listings starting at $5,700
Used Honda Accord
50 Great Deals out of 965 listings starting at $2,995
Used Mazda MAZDA3 Sport
34 Great Deals out of 747 listings starting at $3,900
Used Hyundai Elantra
159 Great Deals out of 3,069 listings starting at $1,995
Used Honda Civic Hatchback
15 Great Deals out of 457 listings starting at $12,995
Used Mazda CX-3
28 Great Deals out of 674 listings starting at $10,900
Used Lexus IS
17 Great Deals out of 400 listings starting at $5,888
Used Mazda MX-5 Miata
6 Great Deals out of 175 listings starting at $6,995
Used Subaru Impreza
28 Great Deals out of 642 listings starting at $3,999
Used Volkswagen Golf GTI
15 Great Deals out of 515 listings starting at $1,704

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.