Knackered oil pump
Discussion
Well following on from my tale of woe with the electrics, another problem has arisen...
Went to start the car up on Sunday and the oil pressure was a little low, so I stop the engine, check the oil level etc.
Take it to my local specialist and it turns out the woodruff key on the oil pump has given up the ghost, leaving the engine starved of oil (running at 15psi with a manual gauge). TVR Power reckon its quite a common flaw in the v early Cerbs like mine and that its an engine out job...
Anyone had this happen to them before?
Went to start the car up on Sunday and the oil pressure was a little low, so I stop the engine, check the oil level etc.
Take it to my local specialist and it turns out the woodruff key on the oil pump has given up the ghost, leaving the engine starved of oil (running at 15psi with a manual gauge). TVR Power reckon its quite a common flaw in the v early Cerbs like mine and that its an engine out job...
Anyone had this happen to them before?
The woodruff key on the P/S pump side is on its way out on mine. So I'm getting another to put in. But reading this, I'm thinking I should look at the other keys on the shaft too, whilst the engine is out.
Jesus, just when I think the build is coming to an end, another thing pops up that might need replacing
Its like polishing a bit of brake pipe in the engine bay. Once you've started, you can't stop till it all gets done
Jesus, just when I think the build is coming to an end, another thing pops up that might need replacing

Its like polishing a bit of brake pipe in the engine bay. Once you've started, you can't stop till it all gets done

sonnylad said:
Mine lost all pressure and light was also on, but power steering was still working fine, my oil pressure spring was new about 1500 miles ago so cant see that as the problem.
That doesn't make sense - the oil pump, water pump and PAS pump are all in-line, in that order, from the take-off gears that drive them. If the drive is lost to the oil pump, none of the others will be driven. Do you have an electronic PAS pump then?I'm not entirley sure how the water and oil pumps take drive from the aux shaft, but certianly the pas pump has its own woodruff key onto the shaft (so I would imagine the others would too). You're correct in that if is possible for the shaft itself to loose drive from the crank, but it is possible that others could loose drive independantly too.
As I said, they are in-line, so if you lose drive to the first in series, which is the oil pump, then the others can't possible turn. From memory, the auxiliary gear wheel driven off the crank pully powers the oil pump shaft, using a woodruff key. I'm not sure about how the water pump is connect, but I know the PAS pump flange locates onto the output shaft from the water pump, and another woodruff key is used.
The pumps are all in line, but its the water pump 1st from the timing chain cover, then oil pump 2nd, and finally the PAS pump next to where the dip stick gulley terminates. And each pump has its own woodruff key.
I would have thought there would be no pressure at all if the woodruff key failed. Suggesting it is indeed something else. But as always, I stand to be corrected.
I would have thought there would be no pressure at all if the woodruff key failed. Suggesting it is indeed something else. But as always, I stand to be corrected.
Edited by caduceus on Wednesday 8th April 20:37
Hi all,
An update... turns out that the Oil Pressure Relief spring had snapped - which would explain the erratic readings (between 20psi and 0psi on the gauge). Cost to repair - £2
My wallet can take a deep sigh of relief at not having to take the engine out etc. Looks like I'll be ordering a couple for spares, in the same way that I keep a couple of spare 125A fuses in the car (just in case of electrical weirdness)
An update... turns out that the Oil Pressure Relief spring had snapped - which would explain the erratic readings (between 20psi and 0psi on the gauge). Cost to repair - £2
My wallet can take a deep sigh of relief at not having to take the engine out etc. Looks like I'll be ordering a couple for spares, in the same way that I keep a couple of spare 125A fuses in the car (just in case of electrical weirdness)
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