If you can swing the extra $800 - $1k over what a used motor costs, I would definitely do that. How many miles are on your S and are you planning on keeping it?

I'd call these people and see how much they want for the motor installed. Apparently free towing, water pump etc, plus no shipping charge, or shipping the core back. That may work out in your favor, considering they are in California.

Take care,

George

 

Why not spend a few hours or a few hundreds buck to see if your engine truly is trashed- or not. Terminal internal engine problems occurring at exactly the same time as a complete electrical failure makes no sense.

 

I would be careful here. It would be best to go with the same year as that which came out of the car.
I know it can't be from a later year than what was originally in it.

 

Actually I think it's the opposite. You can swap in same or newer year, BUT you have to meet the emissions requirements of the motor's year (if newer), not the chassis.

You aren't allowed to swap in older motors as apparently the CA emissions standards keep getting tougher over the years.

CA also has 1976 and earlier cars exempt, but it ends there, no 25 year rolling exemption, as most other states have while things reach "classic" status.

Take care,

George

 

I'm with you. It would be a nightmare to shell out that type of coin only to have the car not turn over and realize it wasn't the motor all along.

 

Take drive belt off and get a socket and breaker bar and put it on the crankshaft pulley. If motor turns over your golden if not she is locked up.

 

Agreed. Have it checked out first. Don`t put the cart before the horse my man.

 

You're right.. I got it bassackwards...

 

I don't know enough about auto gearboxes so I'll ask this and you can all explain LOL - could it still be in gear and that's why it (appears it) won't turn over?

I guess the answer is that the ATF pressure isn't there so it can't be in gear, but is that it?

 

ATF pressure doesn't mean anything.

If the shifter cable or bushing broke the trans COULD be in gear. But simply turning the car on and moving the shifter to neutral will tell you that. If it rolls freely in neutral, then it's not in gear.

Take care,

George

 

Thanks. Wondering what tdc tried.

 

Wouldn't explain the apparent total electrical failure.
nor actually his wrench-crank test. Autobox in gear should roll relatively freely.
Hand cranking you'd onlyhave to turn the tq-converter vanes....not move the car. I think?

 

Correct, the torque converter shouldn't be locked up without the engine running.

The electrical / engine flameout seems so strange to me.

If it were mechanical and the motor siezed up, then that wouldn't explain the car losing lights, dash power etc...

I agree there needs to be much more diagnosis on this car.

Take car,e

George