Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2000 23:43:31 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject: Re: 90GL oil pressure (what's that sound?)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
First off, the intermittent light souds like you have a loose connection. I
would check that out first.
The clicking-clacking sounds like the classic 2.1L WBX hydraulic valve lifter
leakdown. It's a PITA, but usually nothing to be immediately fearful of. After
you run it a bit the lifter should pump back up and things should be fine. If
it doesn't clear up in a half hour running time or so, then you have a
problem. The lifter probably needs to be changed. It could be something else,
but this is typical WBX.
Before spending ANY money on parts, change the oil and 1) make sure you have
installed a Bosch or Mahle oil filter. Available from a number of suppliers
who subscribe to the list. 2) be sure you have 20W50 oil in your engine. That
is the proper oil spec for moderate to hot climates. If you have really cold
winters, you might want to go to a llittle ighter wt oil in colder weather.
Good luck.
John Rodgers
88GL with the clickity/clackity sound once in a while.
"jay m." wrote:
> Hey everybody.
>
> I'm having a new problem: The dreaded oil pressure light.
>
> Today while driving to the airport the light came on yet again. And it
> didn't go off. And I could hear a loud click-clacking sound coming from
> the engine. It definitely wasn't a normal sound. Couldn't smell any oil,
> didn't see any oil...nothing easily observable.
>
> Thank goodness for AAA towing...
>
> Here's the background:
>
> On wednesday while driving on I-205 through Clackamas, my oil pressure
> light went off. Since I was in a rush to get the van in shape for a
> hiking trip this weekend I took it to the mechanic. He diagnosed the
> problem as being a bad sensor and replaced it. Everything seemed fine. I
> drove a few hundred miles this weekend.
>
> Last night while driving home the oil light came on again, but only for a
> few seconds. A couple hundered yards later we hit a bump and the light
> came on, but when we hit another bump a few seconds later it turned off
> again. Less than a mile from home I noticed a strange sound coming from
> "back there." A couple blocks later it stopped. I checked the oil after
> unpacking the van and found it a little low, but nothing noteworthy.
>
> So where do I start investigating?
>
> Thanks
>
> --jay
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