need some opinons

ademily87 · May 9, 2011

Me and my buddy just picked up a red 98 cobra....for $1500. Has 122k miles on it. Said he was driving down the road and the car just shut off like it ran out of gas. No knocking, smoke, or anything of that nature. He got it towed to a mechanic and the mechanic said it was locked up. The motor doesnt turn over or anything, but I'm thinking its something electrical...

The fuel pump kicks on fine and the battery has plenty of juice. And do these cars have starter solenoids? Cause I was gonna try to start it by jumping the starter solenoid lol couldn't find it though. When you turn the key I can hear a clicking but I can't tell if its the starter or not.

I haven't seen much, but I've never seen a perfectly running car just have the motor freeze up without smoking or knocking or anything. I looked under the car and it was dry as it could be, so I know it didn't blow oil anywhere.

Have any of you seen or heard of a perfectly good running car just seize up without a rod knock or smoke or ANYTHING??

I'm pretty sure the mechanic was just trying to make some money off this guy.

What do you guys think?

Marvin97 · May 9, 2011

I have first hand seen an engine just lock up from no oil. I was riding in it,(was my moms old van) and we were moving along and all was well. Then it just shut off while going down the road. Pulled over and couldn't get the car to even turn over. Pulled the dipstick and it was bone dry. Locked it up without any kind of warning.

So why exactly do u think it is electrical? If u think it's not really locked up, put the car in neutral, ebrake on, and pull the spark plugs out of it. Then put a wrench or a socket and breaker bar on the crank bolt and turn it like you're tightening it up. The motor will either turn over or it won't.

Or u can jump the starter to see if it's locked up, the solenoid is attacked to the starter and can be jumped there.

uncltrvlnmatt · May 9, 2011

There is a relay for the starter in the ffuse box. Not sure which one it is though. As stated above try turning the crank on the balancer bolt. It is not necesary to pull the plugs, but it will turn over easier due to no compression

mod46stang · May 10, 2011

Ive only heard of one other car do this it was the a\c compressor clutch locked up try to take the belt off to see it the motor will turn over sorry to hear about your problem hope this helps make sure all your +and- wires are good