928 engine seized while driving
 

Car 1989 928 S4 Auto: Engine Seized while driving.
Last week I was driving when the engine quit it was running (non limp mode) and I was going down a hill and did not even notice the engine had stopped (radio was on) until the I noticed the gauges where not reading correctly, the voltage was low like 10 or 11, I was concerned with steering and braking so I tested these out and it was not very hard to do either not much harder than normal if at all. I coasted in drive for a bit (then I think I put it in neutral), I coasted for a long time rather smoothly in drive. I did not try to start the car until I was in park again. When I did try to start the car it while in park the starter just clunked and the current draw was a lot. My mechanic has not yet done looked at it besides trying the starter and telling me the motor may be seized.
Other issues prior to this event.
1) I had the oil changed at Jiffy Lube on Thursday (the day before it seized) as I was planning on going to Maine for the weekend and would be putting on many miles. Well I think they had a hard time putting the skid plate (?) back on as it took them like 15 minutes longer than the other cars to finish the job.
2) The 928 has been going into limp mode when it starts up. I had assumed it was the exhaust sensor just being to cold or the catalytic converter sensor.
3) It has also been going into limp mode after it is warmed up if I accelerate hard. I assumed it needed a tune up.
4) Once in awhile the voltage meter when running would go to 12 volts or less like the alternator stopped working.

My question is could it be anything electrical not allowing the engine to turn over?

My Spidey senses are tingling on point number one (Jiffy Lube).

Is that really the right question. I would think "is there'oil in it?" unless I have missed something. Funny thing about some Jiffy Lubes...the guy working on your car thinks every small V8 takes 5 qts. Its called Small Block Chevy syndrome. Either way ****ty thing to have happen.

Hi. I don't mean to scare you but this sounds like thrust bearing failure. The driveline has put too much pressure on the surface of the thrust bearing causing the crankshaft to machine it. There is a high chance your block is permanently damaged and will need replacing.

Or the dreaded, fatal disease that affects the automatic 928s.

Did you relieve the flexplate tension? Do you know what I mean?

What Mongo said!

pull the dipstick and use a lamp wire to get an oil sample,
( note using the dipstick can scrape metal off the wall of the dipstick tube)
drip it onto some black cardboard look at the oil in the sun, if its full of metal then you have a thrust bearing failure.
This would not be something to blame on Jiffy lube.
Rather whoever the owner is should have had this checked, and or fixing the limp home problems as well instead of driving the car.
Sorry for your loss if it is TBF, Stan

Anyone have a used motor for this gentleman with good compression to get him back on the road?

Check the dipstick... make sure Jiffy Lube put oil back in.

Never a good thing...sorry to hear about this...in an '89 too! I hate that!

The first thing I'd do is check the oil level this is extremely easy and could tell you a lot about potential issues. also when you pull the dipstick wipe it on a clean white paper towel and look for any glittery looking fleck in it.
I see that it is an auto. Did you have the flex plate pro-load checked at any time in the past? If so how long ago? and how much crank end play was ther at that time? This sounds (unfortunately) erilly like TBF Thrust Bearing Failure. You can do a search on TBF on this forum and find a lot of info on what to look for with TBF.

I'm sure there are many other possibilities and let hope it turns out to be something benign.

TBF... that sucks. Best thing is to look for a complete engine with a warranty, aka www.928international.com.

Yes, sorry to be negative upfront.

There is oil in it, at least on the dip stick.

I have look at this forum and have seen the TBF post and pictures. I fear this also!