How to remove torque converter bolts when the engine won't rotate
When an engine is completely seized and cannot be turned, you are unable to rotate the crankshaft to access the top torque converter bolts. This prevents you from detaching the converter from the flexplate and successfully removing the engine.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Pulling the engine straight forward with the torque converter attached and splitting them on the ground
- 2Pulling the engine and transmission out together
- 3Tearing down the engine inside the bay by removing the oil pan and pistons to free the crank
- 4Cutting the wires to use a deep socket
- 5Leaving the partially functioning sensor in place
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I can't rotate the engine to reach the top 2 torque converter bolts.”source ↗
“So I posted here for some time ago about my seized upstream oxygen sensor. I tried heat, penetrating oil, sensor socket I still couldn't get it out. And the corners are just rounding.”source ↗
“The sensor only throws code at winter time but Is silent during the rest of the year. I'm thinking about cutting the wires and using a deep socket but even that doesn't guarantee anything. Should I just let it be?”source ↗