caravan stalled restarted then died
 

2000 dodge caravan sport 3.3l engine, 175,000 miles.

Driving down the road today and the van stalled after making a turn. Pulled off to the side of the road and restarted it. After the restart it acted like it didn't want to accelerate then a big jerk like it jumped a gear?and engine totally died. Checked the battery and that is fine. When you turn the key all you get is a click, there is lights, pwr windows work etc. The coolant level was low in the radiator when we checked itand the oil was not quite a quart low. It is time for an oil changeits been3500 miles. A mechanically inclined friend tried to get the engine to hand crank and no dice. Any ideas on what could have caused this or what it could possibly be, my friend had no ideas. Thanks for any help.

RE: caravan stalled restarted then died
 

2 thoughts
1st and very likely with 175000
timing chain jumped a tooth or more stalled and broke the chain/gears
and locked the engine with a piston hitting a valve in the cylinder head

(can the crankshaft pully bolt be turned either way loosen or tighten rotatating the engine?)

or one of the heads dropped a valve and locked the engine

RE: caravan stalled restarted then died
 

Thanks for answering mazdab. No the crankshaft pulley bolt can't be turned either way. It will not move at all. Will that make a difference if it is the timing chain or not? Thanks again.

RE: caravan stalled restarted then died
 

if the crank will not turn then something internal has been damaged
if the chain broke then there's a good chance the piston(s) are locked up against a valve in the heads
this could be very bad news as the pistons hitting valve will bend them
and may damage the piston to being unusableas well

you'll need to have it checked for sure
here's a link for you to read up on the engine if you want to repair it yourself
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d801a3d0c.jsp