I was driving my 2005 santa fe in town 25 mph. when it suddenly died. When i tried to start it the engine would not turn over, just the sound of the starter trying to engage. Towed it home pulled the plugs and tried to turn the crank pulley with a three ft. bar, !!! FROZE !!! Here is the mystery, The car has 130,000 miles, I have always kept up on all maintenance, the car did not over heat , make any knocks bangs or screeches, no warnings what so ever. The timing belt is in tact. The oil still looks and smells fresh. Please help.

 

1. was the timing belt ever changed?
2. how do you know the timing belt is "in tact"?

 

The timing belt was changed about 12,000 miles ago. I pulled the top half of the Timing belt cover and took a peek inside. yesterday I put some penetrant oil in the cylinders hoping to break it loose this morning, Nope. Would the oil pump go out and seize the engine w/ no warning.

 

sounds like the starter bendix isn's engaging in the engine flex plate ring gear to spin the engine over to start it up. You probably need to either change the starter or change the bendix on the starter....

 

Tough break.
Have no idea what it could be other than expensive
Was looking at this last night ..
Your story reminded me of it. Starting around the 3 minute mark