1. Engine Won't Turn Over: When you try to start the car, the engine may not crank or turn over at all. This is a classic sign of a seized engine.
2. Unusual Sounds or Knocking: Before the engine seizes completely, you might hear unusual noises, knocking sounds, or metal on metal grinding noises coming from the engine compartment.
3. No Compression or Low Compression: A seized engine will have very low or no compression in the cylinders. This can be checked using a compression tester.
4. Sudden Loss of Power: If the engine seizes while driving, you'll experience a sudden and complete loss of power. The car will come to a stop, and you won't be able to restart it.
5. Smoke from the Engine: A seized engine can generate excessive heat, which can cause the oil and other fluids in the engine to burn and produce smoke. You might see smoke coming out of the tailpipe or from under the hood.
6. Engine Overheating: A seized engine can lead to overheating of the engine components. The temperature gauge may rise rapidly, indicating a problem with the engine cooling system.
7. Seized Engine Smell: A seized or overheating engine can produce a distinct burning or metallic smell.
8. Metal Shavings in the Oil: If the engine has seized and damaged internal components, metal shavings may be present in the engine oil.
9. Engine Won't Rotate by Hand: If you remove the spark plugs and try to rotate the engine by hand using a wrench on the crankshaft pulley, you might find it difficult or impossible to turn the engine.
10. Check Engine Light: In some cases, a seized engine may also trigger the check engine light on your dashboard.
It's important to note that not all of these signs necessarily mean that the engine has seized. Some issues may be related to other engine problems. If you suspect that your engine might have seized, it's best to have it inspected by a qualified mechanic for proper diagnosis and repair.
