Mystified with car problem

[honda]

My son's 2002 MG TF 1.6 cc. Last week he drove 45 miles to visit a friend. On eventually returning to car the engine would not turn over so his friend and 2 others tried to push start it but when my lad let the clutch up the the car stopped abruply as if he'd put the brakes on. Called breakdown who gave his car a jump start,got it going, and told him to get battery checked. So he drove the 45 back, on arriving home he stopped the engine and immediately tried to start it again but just a very loud click from starter motor. A week later after trying a jump start, a push start, a new battery, a new starter motor, a new start solenoid and checking all fuses the starter just gives a loud click. Today I realised that when in any gear and with 2 people trying to to push it it's impossible to move it, it's as though something internal is seized solid but yet the breakdown got it started AND my lad drove the 50 miles home. Any ideas or suggestions as it's doing my head in ??
BTW all the old parts which I replaced have since been found to be working fine.

 

[DaveHerns]

What gear are you trying to jump start it in? Engine can't be seized. Your problem sounds like a bad connection on the battery terminals or the earth strap.

 

[Burnerman]

Now that's a strange one!
I think I'd start by putting a spanner on the crank pulley, and see if the engine will turn freely.....if so, the starter should work, or at least allow the car to be push started.
Then, I'd remove the starter motor and have a look at that...I've had one that came loose and was jamming things - a Citroen, that one. I realise it's been replaced but feel for chafed teeth on the flywheel ring gear.
Have you tried firing up with the clutch pedal depressed?
John

 

[Burnerman]

Ask your son if he found the gear selection to be different in any way......obviously something is locking up somewhere - can't think of an engine issue but perhaps a transmission one. Depressing the clutch pedal when starting would disconnect this, of course.
John

 

[honda]

David. Tried push starting in 2nd gear. Have cleaned all connections.
John. Will try turning engine with spanner. I checked all teeth on starter and lightly greased before fitting and also checked ring gear best I could through small aperture. Still same if I try firing up with clutch pedal depressed. Son says gear selection was same as always.
Just to add that I also removed all spark plugs and two of us tried pushing car in gear but could not move it.
Any futher thoughts, suggestions or ideas most welcome.

 

[DaveHerns]

Just to add that I also removed all spark plugs and two of us tried pushing car in gear but could not move it.

Wierd..... When it drives , does it drive normally without any feeling of anything dragging?

 

[Burnerman]

OK, so you can push the car in neutral which discounts any sticking brake problems, but as soon as you put it in gear it locks up?
Has to be a driveshaft or transmission problem, unfortunately.
(PS its not a good idea to grease a ring gear due to clutch dust issues but no worries here).
John

 

[Burnerman]

Time to get the rear wheels into the air and give them a spin.....you'll feel any drive train issues (UJ's etc) and see the diff is ok. The wheels will spin in opposite directions, of course.
John

 

[honda]

On his way home Dave my son said it was cruising at 80 mph lol. Everything normal.
Will get rear wheels up and see what happens John. Thanks to both.

 

[honda]

Well, with rear wheels up and gearbox in neutral the wheels spin fine (in different directions ) with no strange noises. Same when in gear with only slightly more resistance. Does this tell you anything John ?

 

[Burnerman]

Sounds just fine to me!
Just looking back at your original post again, presumably they weren't trying to push start the car in first gear? That would put so much drag on the thing that it probably wouldn't turn over, but you say the car was locked up in any gear.
So - either the brakes have locked on and then mysteriously released themselves which could explain the locking, or somehow the engine had a partial seizure - hence the starter issues. Presumably the oil and coolant levels are fine?
What is the state of play now.....is the car starting up OK? Got me really puzzled, this one!
John

 

[honda]

Still the status quo I'm afraid. Brakes have never locked on John and oil and coolant levels are fine Only thing I haven't tried yet is turning engine via crankshaft pulley to see if it's free. Son can't recall what gear he put it in when trying jump start. Do you know in what direction I turn the pulley ?

 

[norseman]

Bump-starting use third gear, second is too low.

 

[Burnerman]

The usual K series engines are clockwise rotation, I'm pretty sure.
I'm at a loss with this one.....engines don't lock up then come free again and I'll bet the engine turns freely with a spanner.
So, if you put the car in say, third gear, handbrake off, it still won't move when you try to push it?
John

 

[HERTS P&D]

What happens when you jump start it? Does it turn over?

Andy