solenoid engages but engine wont crank

[Dodger_me]

Hey everybody, Having some engine issues here :/

I have a 95 Limited, Been in the family since it was new.

Two days ago I was out doing some offroading on my way to a backcountry mountain creek in the Rockies (I live in calgary, canada) and had come across a water crossing, Checked the depth, was only about 2 feet deep... or so i thought... About half way through i slid into about a two foot rut and the engine stalled immediately and i put it in Neutral. And then from there couldnt pull it out with my comg along(Strap wasnt long enough) and had to sleep in my truck and the next morning some guys coming along the trail pulled me out then i got a Tow home(400 bucks later)

The engine wouldnt crank after we got it out of the hole so i assumed it was hydro locked. Now that im home, I checked the oil and its strait black(makes me think no water is in the engine or it would have leaked past the rings right? I pulled the plugs thinking there may have just been so much water that the engine couldnt crank, But now that the plugs are out my engine still wont crank. You can hear the solenoid click the bendix forward but not crank. All my fuses are good, Dunno about the relays but.

Anyone know what it could be? I tried to pull my starter on the trail to see if thats what it was but Could only get access to the Lower bolt.

Thanks everyone!

 

[budwich]

well it doesn't look good for our "hero".... simple test is to pull all plugs and turn the engine manually with the main pulley drive (via socket wrench). It should turn relatively "easy". In your case, it is likely stuck with internal damage but you may have got lucky and just blown the starter motor.