1996 Honda Civic Hydro Locked Engine

DDESOTO

MEMBER
1996 HONDA CIVIC

Engine Mechanical problem
1996 Honda Civic 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Manual

I have a cold air intake installed on my Honda Civic; Today after a freak thunderstorm and about three large areas of water my Civic stopped running. When it stopped it felt like someone slammed on the brakes. Now the engine will not turn over. It feels as if it has seized. What am I looking for as far as damage or repair? The carburator is/was filled with water as well as some water in the plugs.

3 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

The engine may be hydraulically locked, remove the spark plugs and crank the engine over, do not look into the spark plug holes as if water is in the cylinder it will be ejected with great force, do this and let me know what you find.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Friday, July 16th, 2010 AT 2:15 AM

DDESOTO

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Hi Mark, I get no movement from the engine. The only thing I get when I turn the key is clicking. I tried to move the pulleys by hand and they don't move. I removed the plugs shortly after the problem occurred; all of the plugs have a black burnt residue and smell of burnt oil as well.

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Friday, July 16th, 2010 AT 9:29 AM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

HI there, if you can't turn the engine over by hand with the plugs out, I would be thinking the worst, you should be able to put a socket and extension bar on the crank shaft pulley, you may have to remove the front wheel to access it, if the engine will still not turn over, remove the starter, if it still will not turn, then I feel the engine is seized.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Friday, July 16th, 2010 AT 9:38 AM