atlasrising

1996 b5, a4 quattro, 5spd. 207k.

had it on jacks for 6 weeks, repairing the rear end. got it all back together and the engine seized... i pumped up the tires, filled the fluids, jumped started with a cable and then the engine seized. the lights are on, the fuel pump sounds, the starter clicks, but the flywheel or pistons are locked. click clik click. nothing.

at first the engine rotated just a little, then it clicked-locked, then the lights flickered and i thought the ignition switch fried. but then the ignition switch worked again and the dash lights all are fine. but the engine doesn't move, the starter clicks and nothing.
car rolls in neutral, transmission and drivetrain are free, but put it in gear and the wheels and engine a locked.

i sprayed some wd40 in the pistons, let it sit, let tried turning the crank wheel, stuck as can be. im not sure, but i think the starter jammed in the flywheel, does this sound like correct, does this happen, and how? did the jump start from another vehicle ruin the starter?

if it's not the starter jammed, what could of made the engine seize after simply sitting for a few weeks?

thanks for any info.

Prospeeder

That sounds very strange. I would remove the timing belt covers and see if maybe something got in and jumped time. I just had a 2.8 passat in and a small piece of plastic got under the belt, jumped time and actually broke a couple valves off and the engine would not move.

It might be worth removing the starter or be sure that nothing fell into the bell housing and is jamming the flywheel.

Nemick

Sure sounds like a low battery to me. I can't see why it would seize up just from sitting while you worked on the rear end.

atlasrising

was being jump started from another car. engine clanked slow, once. then stuck

abjb

+1 on the timing belt.

Might be a good day to buy a lottery ticket.

207k, definitely time for the second timing belt, maybe you got REAL lucky and didn't destroy the head, might not even bend any valves.

SmoothJimmo

put a battery charger on it overnight.
fwiw, I have witnessed many failed jump starts with the small gauge, "useless" jumper cables offered at box stores. I then offer my heavy duty cables and voila! the engine starts up pronto. Cheaper than the proposed teardown.

rrrrraudi

Have you tried removing all spark plugs and looking inside? Might be hydro-locked? Also could try putting in gear without the plugs in to see if still locked.

atlasrising

went to remove alternator and starter, pulled of the belt and found the alternator frozen. super frozen. worked it out so the alternator spun. removed spark plugs and then the engine turned free. assembled, started, worked. whew.

clancy

Thanks for posting the resolution.