ZT 120 1.8 no turbo K series engine locked solid

Peakyblinder · 22nd July 2023, 14:28

Hi Ladies and Gents

You guys are my last chance before my trusty ZT 1.8 K Series 120+ of seven years ownership goes off to the breakers yard or similar. The sorry story is as follows.
Car was driving great three weeks ago parked her on my drive ready to journey again later.
Yesterday went to start her and she made that horrible but normal your battery is flat noise when trying to turn her over so tried to jump her and still she tried but wouldn't turn over.
Called the RAC and they diagnosed a faulty starter. I had a spare new one bought just in case of such an eventuality and they kindly fitted it . Still the same would not turn over, she tries but its like she has massive compression or something. I would gladly give someone a couple of quid if they are nearby to Romford Essex and could take a look because at the moment things are not looking great. She didn't overheat beforehand and has plenty of oil no mayo on the stick no mayo on the filler cap either.
This has totally perplexed me and I don't really want to scrap her if I have missed something stupid I could have checked.
Hoping you can save her. She only has one owner before me and 64,000 on the clock!

Lagetha · 22nd July 2023, 14:53

Have you tried turning the engine over by hand - you'll need a big socket (not sure of size but possibly 24mm) and a lever on the crankshaft pully, behind the offside (driver's side RHD) wheel and arch lining.

Peakyblinder · 22nd July 2023, 15:05

Thanks Kevin will give it a try

Popcorn · 22nd July 2023, 15:53

Take the spark plugs out and try turning it over, have someone looking for water coming out and of which pot.sounds like it's hydrolocked

Rover 75 Tourer · 24th July 2023, 19:01

May or may not be relevant, my 1.6 k series locked up on the first start up of the year. Turned out to be hydrolicked on no 1 cylinder. Cause, slightly slack inlet manifold 1st three next to cam belt end of engine. Tightened them and restarted engine after putting plugs back in.

Dont know why studs came slack I have never done any work on this engine in the 5 years of ownership. There was quite an amount of coolant blasted out of the plug hole when I first spun engine over after removing plugs.

22nd July 2023, 14:28	#1
Peakyblinder Newbie MGZT Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Romford Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	ZT 120 1.8 no turbo K series engine locked solid Hi Ladies and Gents You guys are my last chance before my trusty ZT 1.8 K Series 120+ of seven years ownership goes off to the breakers yard or similar. The sorry story is as follows. Car was driving great three weeks ago parked her on my drive ready to journey again later. Yesterday went to start her and she made that horrible but normal your battery is flat noise when trying to turn her over so tried to jump her and still she tried but wouldn't turn over. Called the RAC and they diagnosed a faulty starter. I had a spare new one bought just in case of such an eventuality and they kindly fitted it . Still the same would not turn over, she tries but its like she has massive compression or something. I would gladly give someone a couple of quid if they are nearby to Romford Essex and could take a look because at the moment things are not looking great. She didn't overheat beforehand and has plenty of oil no mayo on the stick no mayo on the filler cap either. This has totally perplexed me and I don't really want to scrap her if I have missed something stupid I could have checked. Hoping you can save her. She only has one owner before me and 64,000 on the clock!

22nd July 2023, 14:53	#2
Lagetha Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Bolton Posts: 309 Thanks: 180 Thanked 42 Times in 34 Posts	Have you tried turning the engine over by hand - you'll need a big socket (not sure of size but possibly 24mm) and a lever on the crankshaft pully, behind the offside (driver's side RHD) wheel and arch lining. __________________ I am Kevin, the car is my Viking shield-maiden, Lagetha! 2000 Rover 75 1.8 Classic SE in Moonstone Green/Black Leather seats and Sandstone Beige Interior (purchased 10 April 2022) 2002 Rover 25 2.0 IL TurboDiesel - gone but not forgotten, you can follow Deric's adventures on YouTube at Boaty's World and Project Nigel. AllegroMan is restoring Deric now. (Owned 25/10/2022-15/05/2023)

24th July 2023, 19:01	#5
Rover 75 Tourer Avid contributor Rover 75 tourers(4)400turs(3 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Largs Posts: 219 Thanks: 3 Thanked 67 Times in 56 Posts	K series locked up May or may not be relevant, my 1.6 k series locked up on the first start up of the year. Turned out to be hydrolicked on no 1 cylinder. Cause, slightly slack inlet manifold 1st three next to cam belt end of engine. Tightened them and restarted engine after putting plugs back in. Dont know why studs came slack I have never done any work on this engine in the 5 years of ownership. There was quite an amount of coolant blasted out of the plug hole when I first spun engine over after removing plugs.

22nd July 2023, 15:05	#3
Peakyblinder Newbie MGZT Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Romford Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Thanks Kevin will give it a try

22nd July 2023, 15:53	#4
Popcorn Loves to post 55 cdti tourer slush box executive grill Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Sheffield Posts: 380 Thanks: 40 Thanked 85 Times in 72 Posts	Take the spark plugs out and try turning it over, have someone looking for water coming out and of which pot.sounds like it's hydrolocked