Locked motor or do I have a shut off switch

Tiny
BRAE329
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 4.2L
  • V6
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 108,000 MILES
One day I pulled in the driveway and my car just cut off while driving. I thought it was the battery so I bought a new one. When the mechanic put the battery in and I tried to start it. It and made a light clicking noise and wouldn't turn over. He said it sounded like the motor was locked. We checked under the hood I had zero oil. But no engine lights or nth came on. I just got my head gasket replaced a month or so ago and oil change May 2. I am assuming the oil leaked out. But now I am trying to figure out if my motor is locked? Or maybe I have a shut off switch. The mechanic who looked at it just said it sounded like it could be locked.
Thursday, August 15th, 2019 AT 5:37 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,480 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros. An easy way to check the engine would be to put a wrench on the crankshaft bolt in the balancer and try to turn the engine over by hand. If it turns over that way but the starter will not turn it then it could be a bad starter. I also would verify the lack of oil. Unless there is a lot of oil sprayed under the car or large puddles I would doubt it leaked out. Best way to do this would be to simply drain the oil like you were doing an oil change. If you remove the drain plug and get very little oil out then you have a problem.
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Thursday, August 15th, 2019 AT 6:23 AM

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