rwogs

My daughter was driving her car the other night and experienced a clunk/bang and the engine lost power. I discovered that the vacuum pump housing on the right front of the diesel engine (at 3 o'clock) is cracked right by the bolt head (located at about 2 o'clock on the pump) that protrudes and creates a "shoulder" there (I could observe some oil leaking out of it but nothing excessive as she stopped very shortly after it occurred).

I'll remove it this weekend and try and determine what happened. I can see from pictures and diagrams that it has a roller that must ride on a lobe or some other surface to power it. I'm hoping that it is simple metal fatigue and not something worse. It ran until she pulled over and stopped it. I was not able to find this type of problem described on this forum. Anyone have experience with this and would I be better off rebuilding one or trying to buy a "new" one?

dswalker

I've replaced the diaphragm and valves in a vacuum pump, it's not difficult.

When you install the diaphragm turn the engine to the place where the diaphragm is stretched to it's maximum. If you don't the new one may not last long.

rwogs

Got the new vacuum pump on and then dropped the pan to check and found the timing chain broken...daughter was not happy as she liked the unique style of the car. I'll have to inspect it to see if there was any damage to the valves of pistons....sigh..Thanks for your input.

euroswg

Do you need an engine for your car?