Hello, I want to make my crankshaft to spin freely with the engine still in. Im attempting to replace the rod bearings with the engine still in it and I cant make the crankshaft move a bit. Do i need to take off the tensioner?
If you could send some help this way. I've got a nice break in weather in KC.
Thanks you.

05 Chevy Malibu
2.2 liter
4 cyl
auto trans

4 door

 

if you can't turn it with a breaker bar and socket on the crank bolt you have bigger problems than a bad con rod bearing.

 

Hopefully- the car is also in neutral.

 

makes no difference with an automatic trans.

 

Removing the spark plugs will make it a lot easier to turn the engine over by hand, but even with them in, it should still be able to move "a bit". Make sure your starter gear isn't jammed into the flexplate, which would prevent you from turning it. Was the engine running up to this point? Or perhaps you spun or toasted a bearing, which would have "welded" the rod(s) to the crank.