500 miles and engine has 'seized'. Backed out of parking space, drove forward about 50 feet and engine cut off, not to be re-started. Vehicle was loaded on a roll-back and taken to Chrysler dealer where it sits, 5 days later! Business trip was interrupted. Car is 4 hours from home at this point. Need help!! Service dept. @ dealership says it's engine problem and admits they've seen another like this.

The major causes of engine failures can be lumped into four basic categories:

• Overheating (excessive heat)
• Lubrication (or the lack thereof)
• Detonation (spark Knock)
• Misassembly (opps!)

You can probably ignore misassembly as a factor in a high mileage engine failure. But in a newly built Engine or a low mileage failure, it should certainly be considered as a possibility. Some common mistakes to look for:

Incorrect engine bearing clearances. Galling or seizure would tell you bearing clearances were too tight, while fatigue failure would point to excessive clearances.

Incorrect torque on critical fasteners like head bolts. rod and main bearing cap bolts, etc. Head bolts should always be lightly lubricated with 30W engine coil prior to installation, and then torque in the proper sequence to the vehicle manufacturer specifications. Too much torque can crush the head gasket while too little torque or uneven torque can lead to leaks. Too much torque on rod and main bearing cap bolts may crush or deform bearings, or cause the bolts to fail.

Misalignment. If the center main bearings show much greater wear than the end bearings, the crankshaft may be bent or the main bores may be misaligned. The underlying condition must be corrected by straightening or replacing the crank and/or align boring the block. The same applies to camshafts and cam bearings (pushrod & OHC).

Failure to clean parts properly during engine assembly (not scrubbing out the cylinder bores with soap and water to remove debris and honing residue after they have been bored or honed, for example). Any junk that is left in the engine can scour bearings and wear surfaces.

Failure to lubricate parts properly during engine assembly. Camshaft lobes require a high pressure engine assembly lube that will stay put until the engine is started and oil reaches the cam. Bearings and cylinders also need to be coated with oil or assembly lube to prevent a dry start.

Hope this will help you understand why your engine failed with only 500 miles, Good luck and hope you enjoy your new Town and Country soon.