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Engine failure 1999 Leg wag Anniv ed.


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The engine in my 99 Legacy wagon anniversary edition, the only year this engine was made, evidently, nearly seized on the highway. No trouble or oil lights. Any similar experiences?

 

Thanks in advance,

DO

I'm sorry to hear of your problem. But how does an engine nearly seize? Either it seizes or it doesn't, not much middle ground there. Anyway, which engine is in your car, and exactly what happened to it? How many miles on the clock, etc.?

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The '99 EJ22 is a one-year-only engine...sorta of a hybrid between the EJ22 and the EJ25 SOHC.

 

We've done several, and with only one odd exception, the block was overheated to the point that it had to be replaced. The cylinders were scored and that nice iridescent blue that steel becomes when it's severely overheated. :banghead:

 

What seems to be the pattern is that the car will be running absolutely perfectly, then with no warning whatsoever, will suddenly overheat to the extreme. We've even seen pistons melted around the rings!

 

The "near" seizing may be due to the rings/pistons scraping the cylinders...IF it overheated.

If not, are you sure it's seizing? We have one now that the cogged idler came loose and caused some damage.

In any case, get it checked thoroughly! And soon! It's a rare engine, and parts are expensive. On the other hand, you can swap it for a '96 EJ22.

 

Emily

http://www.ccrengines.com

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NO Warning what so ever? that's a bit frightening. I just bought one a week ago. A sudden oil leak? losing coolant? something has to create that kind of disaster.

Just how common is this event? I have not yet seen any other posts about this catastophe...

Later,

Peter

 

 

 

The '99 EJ22 is a one-year-only engine...sorta of a hybrid between the EJ22 and the EJ25 SOHC.

 

We've done several, and with only one odd exception, the block was overheated to the point that it had to be replaced. The cylinders were scored and that nice iridescent blue that steel becomes when it's severely overheated. :banghead:

 

What seems to be the pattern is that the car will be running absolutely perfectly, then with no warning whatsoever, will suddenly overheat to the extreme. We've even seen pistons melted around the rings!

 

The "near" seizing may be due to the rings/pistons scraping the cylinders...IF it overheated.

If not, are you sure it's seizing? We have one now that the cogged idler came loose and caused some damage.

In any case, get it checked thoroughly! And soon! It's a rare engine, and parts are expensive. On the other hand, you can swap it for a '96 EJ22.

 

Emily

http://www.ccrengines.com

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According to the owners, they had no warning until it was too late. No leaks, no previous "almost" history. Of course, we have no way of proving that.

 

Unfortunately, by the time we get them, they are so FUBARed we can't tell with any certainty what the original problem was. Conjecture: the oil pump screws loosened up causing lack of oil circulation, therefore making the engine run hot. No light or gauge is going to tell you that you have lost oil circulation, only pressure.

 

On the brighter side, we have only done a few: there are thousands out there. So, the rate of failure may actually be very small. But, when they do fail, they fail BIG!

 

As always, the best advice to be absolutely fanatic about maintenance and pro-active about preventing problems.

 

Emily

http://www.ccrengines.com

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