I just got back from the garage that installed my new J-spec engine and it is seized. I tried turning the E-shaft pulley with a ratchet wrench but it won't budge. Could this mean that the engine is really seized or that they might not have installed it properly? They mainly specialize in Honda engine swapsand I don't think they have much experience with rotaries. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

It could be carbon locked. In that case, DO NOT TRY TO FORCE IT TO TURN! you could damage it greatly. Instead take the starter off and turn it the oposite direction it normally turns with the spark plugs out. You can use a pry bar or something of that sort. Maybe slap some ATF in there for a while to try to get some of the carbon out (some people hate using ATF, some people swear by it.)

Good luck man, if its busted make sure you are prompt to get a refund/warentee

 

do what roy said. take some atf and call me in the morning.

 

Bearings could be gone. Hope not... Is it a swap or a complete rebuild? Did it turn when it was out of the car? Did you check for shaft play before installing it? If it is not a new rebuild you should take it apart and do one or just return it where you purchased it. I know I'm gonna get hammered for asking this but here it goes... Is the tranny in gear? LOL Hey you never know!!!!

 

It's not a rebuild, it's just a used J-Spec. I didn't try turning it before (dumb I know). I figured that if the engine was no good, I would find out once it's installed and check if there was any compression. The fact that it could be seized never occurred to me. I don't think it was in gear, then again I didn't check. Why do I have to remove the starter? Thanks for these suggestions.

 

You need to remove the starter to get at the flywheel ring gear, but it's just as easy to turn it backwards using the front pully.

 

OK, soI don't have to remove the starter, before putting some ATF in, would spraying a bunch of Liquid Wrench in the spark plug holes be a bad idea?

 

Yeah, get a strap wrench or a pully wrench on the front pully and try to inch it backwards.



You can try it, but i dont think it quite has the break down properties needed. I would try to turn it backwards first with the spark plugs out (just to make it slightly easier) and let us know whats up.