New rebuild, no oil pressure

Post by **dekker** » 26 Jun 2008, 18:40

Hi, finally got round to refitting my rebuilt CT motor today.
Primed oil pump with oil via oil pressure switch as suggested by toomanytoys, connected new battery, took plugs out and cranked it over for bloody ages (10 mins) but oil pressure light stays on!
Giving up and going to the pub now before I smash something.....but going to check/change these things tomorrow. Any other suggestions more than welcome.
1) Oil pressure release valve
2) Different oil filter (read another thread on here this had caused probs)
3) New oil pressure switch
4) Accept I've screwed something up in the rebuild, pull it out and strip again.

Used some cheap 20/50W oil as was going to change it after 15-20 mins of running, seemed bloody thick, is it possible this air locked so oil pump never primed?

Cheers, D

Post by **purpletony** » 26 Jun 2008, 19:17

had same problem with 2.1
i ran it up for 10 mins
kicked a few things around the drive

went back a bit later and it was there when i fired it up again
according to a mechanic i know
he said it takes time to get through the bearings
its been sound ever since
but that was the RISK i decided to take and it worked for mine

best of luck

tony

Post by **ashman** » 27 Jun 2008, 08:13

Dekker

Cranked it over for ten minutes or ran it for ten minutes?

Post by **dekker** » 27 Jun 2008, 08:17

Cranked it over for 10 minutes. Kept going in bursts of about 2 minutes ubtil my new battery was running down.

Post by **ashman** » 27 Jun 2008, 08:28

Best thing, I reckon, is to presume that the pressure switch is dodgy. Stick in a cheap remote mechanical gauge and check it that way, before changing the switch - incase the light/electrical end is the problem and giving a false reading. Don't strip it back down until you are really sure you have to.

Post by **dekker** » 28 Jun 2008, 19:56

Right, attached pressure gauge, nothing, nada, zip!!! Cranked motor over ages again without a flicker.
Can the oil pump stay air locked through all this?
Really starting to think I cocked something up.
Any advice welcomed!

Cheers, D.

Website · Post by **syncrosimon** » 28 Jun 2008, 20:09

Take the oil pressure switch out, and crank it over, that should help to release the air from the system. If it squirts out, then all is good. If the sump is full of oil, slacken the oil pump plate until oil weeps out, just to rid any air.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 28 Jun 2008, 22:52

Did you fill the oil filter before fitting??

Problem now is any oil that was on the bearings may well have been wiped away....

Only other thing I can suggest is to fill from the oil pressure switch and turn the motor backwards to fill the pump and pickup pipe...

Did the oil pump have the correct holes in it.. apparently there were a few (dont know what brand) that missed out on having the oil way drilled out a few years ago.. so there was no way it could pump anything.

Post by **dekker** » 29 Jun 2008, 11:52

Loosened oil pump cover, allowed some oil to drain through, tightened it back up again and we now have oil pressure!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for all the advice guys, I was starting to dread going near the van.

Next problem is that I now have no spark.
This threw me a bit as I definately had a good healthy spark at the plugs when I first put the engine back in, before buggering about trying to get oil pressure.
Double, double checked for loose connections, no spark from HT lead from the coil when earthed.
The van has the usual electronic ignition. Reading through my Haynes manual it says to earth the coil if cranking the engine without starting. Unfortunately I've been doing a lot of that and haven't earthed things as instructed. Presume I've fried something now, question is what? Ignition control unit, coil?

Thanks, D

Post by **toomanytoys** » 29 Jun 2008, 12:00

The idle stabiliser has been thrown away and the 2 connections joined?

Power feed to the coil? (black wire IIRC)

Checked for spark from coil to dizzy?

Amplifier pack, can you swap it for a known spare? IIRC same as a lot of golfs/audi etc etc...

Post by **dekker** » 29 Jun 2008, 12:22

Thanks for quick respone TMT.
Just been checking continuity, black wire to +ve on the coil had a break in it, fixed that, still no spark. Went through previous checks again and got a lovely big spark when bypassed idle stabelisation unit.
Don't ya just love multiple faults.
At least I'm learning to be methodical and not swear and resort to alcohol quite as soon.

Gonna have some dinner, fasten the engine back in (dropped rear support bar off to get at the oil pump cover) and see it will actually run.

Cheers, in a better mood now, D

Post by **dekker** » 29 Jun 2008, 13:57

IT RUNS!
Can't believe how pleased I am it actually starts and runs, neighbours looking puzzeled as I'm doing a victory dance in the rain. No nasty noises either so far.
Just going to wait for the rain to stop and then do running in fettling and tweaking. Be a fair bit of that as gone from 1600 to 1776 with twin 34 ICTs.
Thanks to everybody for all the help and advice, would have been lost without this site.

Cheers, D

Website · Post by **syncrosimon** » 29 Jun 2008, 17:09

Good man, ahh the satisfaction, and those first nervous drives, I still have a habit of riding the clutch, developed over years of home rebuilds about to seize, and trying to catch the engine before destruction.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 29 Jun 2008, 20:19

bloody ignition stabilisers... throw them in the bin.....

Post by **ashman** » 30 Jun 2008, 07:07

Excellent news