1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Oil pump failures in 'H' engines where the key that drives the pump gear off the crank failed. The earliest 'H' engines had a flat on the crank that drove the pump, next version had a key that engaged a 'notch' on the crank, and the later version has three keys that engage three notches. Interesting that the single key drive had a choice of three notches on the crank, and the latest version uses all three. I think you may have a pump failure, the scenario for the debris in the oil pump relief valve seems to me would result in pressure loss coming down from higher revs. My light [ '87 900T 140K ] came on under moderate acceleration, warm engine. Pulled and replaced the pressure relief with no change. Pulled oil pump and found that the drive key in the pump gear was gone, allowing crank to turn without turning pump gear and the notch it rode in worn strangely. No significant wear in balance of oil pump. Unsure of what damage might have occured, elected to install new oil pump and keep fingers crossed. I had been running Mobil 1 for 40K and hoped it might have contributed to minimal damage - I think I shut it down almost immediately when the light came on. I was surprised that the new pump had three drive keys - I figured that now I have 2+ keys driving the pump where it originally only had one. 15K later everything seems to be fine. My friend the Saab tech who did the work had me fire it up and drive it the first time so if it did go bad it would be under my hand. I did pick up a 50K engine that will be installed with a fresh trans in the near future, as I am still concerned that there may have been damage. I want to feel free to go on long trips and drive it hard without thinking about it. I got a great deal on the engine and I have some trans issues anyway, so it seems like a good plan. Best of luck, I hope its a scrap of crud in the relief valve. Post what turns out for our enlightenment.
posted by 216.239.16...
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