Hello. The LT4 in my ’96 CE seized last weekend. I was doing a track day at a local road course. Last session of the day, about halfway through the warm-up lap, a really loud nasty sound started up from the front of the car. It sounded as if something was being turned on a metal lathe. I pulled into the pits, and at idle the sound was more like a grinding sound than a lathing sound. I started and stopped the engine a couple times to try to figure out what the sound was. The last time I stopped the engine, it stopped more abruptly than an engine normally does, and would not re-start. I could hear the starter engage, but it was meeting an immovable object… I also cannot turn the engine manually with my big breaker bar on the crank pully nut.
In trying to diagnose the problem, I pulled the starter motor, hoping that the solenoid had shorted and engaged the starter at speed. That was not the case, but after pulling the starter and the flywheel inspection shield, the bell housing is full of metal shavings!! I can’t see any damage to the flywheel itself, but I can’t see the clutch side. I should say that all the other accessories, PS pump, water pump, etc, are OK. I included a couple shots of the shavings, and one of the starter, which I think looks OK.
About 7000 miles ago, I had a McLoed clutch and flywheel installed to replace the failing dual-mass flywheel. I’m thinking maybe something worked loose, but I can’t think of what. Anybody ever have this happen?
Thanks for your help!
In trying to diagnose the problem, I pulled the starter motor, hoping that the solenoid had shorted and engaged the starter at speed. That was not the case, but after pulling the starter and the flywheel inspection shield, the bell housing is full of metal shavings!! I can’t see any damage to the flywheel itself, but I can’t see the clutch side. I should say that all the other accessories, PS pump, water pump, etc, are OK. I included a couple shots of the shavings, and one of the starter, which I think looks OK.
About 7000 miles ago, I had a McLoed clutch and flywheel installed to replace the failing dual-mass flywheel. I’m thinking maybe something worked loose, but I can’t think of what. Anybody ever have this happen?
Thanks for your help!
