Serpentine oil pressure problems

[steve 500]

I have just completed a camshaft and top end rebuild on a 96 Griff 500 (or I will have when I have overcome this problem!). On starting the car this morning the oil pressure light stayed on, and no pressure was registering on the gauge. I immediately turned off the engine, but as yet I have not found the cause of the problem. On assembly the pump was filled with Vaseline and the oil filter pre filled, I have checked the connections to the gauge and the switch, and I have removed the plugs and turned the engine on the starter motor with no success. I have even tried the option of removing the filter (as described in the bible) and turning the motor over on the starter for 5-10 seconds but no oil has pumped through. There are a number of previous threads relating to pre-sepentine engines, but nothing I could find for the later engines. Before I go and take my frustration out on the kids, has anyone any other ideas that I could try?

[Guillotine]

sounds like the oil pressure relief valve.
make sure its not stuck.
are the drive gears turning (check to see if rotor arm is turning in dizzy)

>> Edited by Guillotine on Saturday 1st January 15:32

[v8 racing]

There a number problems you can encounter with the serp front covers,Firstly like andy says try the oil pressure releif valve first although on these covers that is pretty rare, when fitting the outer ring of the pump gears it has a chamfer on one side only this MUST go face face down or it will bind on the cover plate and let air in and not pick oil up from the sump, and these covers can be a pain to get the air out of, above the oil pressure relief valve there is a core plug, knock this out carefully as you will need to refit it, get an oil can and keep squirting oil into this gallery and turning the engine over by hand if you can, if not fill the gallery and crank a couple of rotations on the key, fill the gallery a couple of times and then put the plug back in, fire the engine straight up, dont turn over with out the plugs in that will cause more damage, these pumps need to spin over fairly quick to prime properly!! if i can help anymore email me directly good luck

[steve 500]

Thanks very much for the advice, I will have another look at it tomorrow morning and hopefully sort it. The car car has now been off the road for far too long, and I'm now suffering from withdrawal symptoms!

[IPAddis]

It is always possible that the pickup in the sump has become detached. Or alternatively, the cork sump gasket (and/or silicon sealant) has deteriorated and blocked the pickup filter.

It sounds unlikely but I had the same symptoms when the sump was removed on my car and not replaced with a new gasket.

PS. You did fill the car with oil as well as the filter?

Ian A.

[steve 500]

Thanks Ian. Hopefully the oil feed should be OK as I took the oppertunity of dropping the sump when stripping the engine and using a new gasket and sealent when refixing. Following up on Andy and Robs ideas. I checked the pressure relief valve which looked ok, and I'm just about to have another go at priming the pump via the core plug as Rob suggested. Fingers crossed!

[Dutchone]

Steve 500.
Come on - I have been reading your thread with great interest - have you fixed it yet?
This is like a thriller that somebody has ripped the last page out.

[steve 500]

Sorry Paul, work commitments have restricted my playtime ( not sure thats the right desciption ) in the garage.

I knocked the oil way core plug out but damaged it in the process, so I need to get a new one before attempting to prime the pump. I'm hoping that if I grovel my better half will pick one up for me tomorrow.

I'm a bit concerned that you think that this reads like a thriller. I'm not yet convinced that its going to have a happy ending!

[Dutchone]

My apologies Steve,
It was not my intention to make light of your Griffs problems, but a genuine interest in seeing how you get on and hopefully see you resolve the situation relatively easily.

Best wishes, Paul

[steve 500]

My apologies again Paul, my response was intended to be light hearted.

After 9 years of TVR ownership, it would take a lot more than a couple of hiccups with the Griff to take the fun away.

All the best
Steve