Calling All Mechanics

[A1CSpence]

1999 Pontiac Grand Prix GT, L36 3800 Series II

Here's a little recent history on the car leading up to this:

1. Intake gasket went bad, replaced gasket, heater water bypass inlet pipe.
2. Car started after a lot of cranking, and cleaning the plugs. The CAT was glowing red after running for 15 minutes.
3. Gutted Cat, installed cat.
4. Started car. Car ran rough. I gave it a little gas after letting it run for five minutes. Car stalled. Tried to start car again, wouldn't start. Heard a strange noise upon attempt to start, and then a high pitched whine.
5. Removed starter. Discovered starter was broken and removed large bell housing piece from inside the flywheel area.
6. Installed a new starter. Installed new plugs. Tried to start the car. Turned over once, then a grinding noise. Second starter broken. Bell housing broken clean off. Starter teeth good. Flywheel appears good.

Here's a picture of one of the broken starters.

Click Me

What now? Thanks

 

[BadNewsBears]

Im sorry to say, if I understnad you right, you may have dropped something in the engine while working on it, and the starter torque sheared itself.

Gotta be carefull man,

 

[Brutuskend]

Definitely doesn't sound good.

It could also be that your exhaust is TOTALLY plugged.

 

[ISAslot]

Can you turn the engine over manually?

 

[BadNewsBears]

One other thing I thought of, not 100% with modern engines, but if it has a timing chain, it could have cracked and you know what .....

 

[A1CSpence]

The exhaust is clear. I didn't drop anything into the engine. I can't turn the engine over manually, it's an automatic car. Is there a way to do that? Any other ideas?

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: A1CSpence
The exhaust is clear. I didn't drop anything into the engine. I can't turn the engine over manually, it's an automatic car. Is there a way to do that? Any other ideas?

neutral plus wrench

 

[volrath]

Because it's an american car.

 

[A1CSpence]

The car is on jackstands. I don't think I can manipulate a wrench to turn the flywheel if the car is on the ground.

 

[thedarkwolf]

wrench on crank pully. If you can't turn it over by hand something is jammed big time.

 

[Brutuskend]

Maybe there are more chunks in the bell housing that are jamming the flywheel. ( Though what CAUSED the bell housing to break in the first place is your major problem and should be your first order of business !)

As far as it not running well, sounds like you may have a vacuum. leak that's causing it to run too lean.

 

[Vette73]

If you got a good amount of water in the engine then you could have hydro locked the motor in a cyl or 2 and caused it to kick back on the starter.

Have you taken the plugs out to see if any of them are wet? And also is the coolant level still good or has it dropped?

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
If you got a good amount of water in the engine then you could have hydro locked the motor in a cyl or 2 and caused it to kick back on the starter.

Have you taken the plugs out to see if any of them are wet? And also is the coolant level still good or has it dropped?

I thought about that to, but he said he cleaned the plugs as part of his efforts to get it started.