all right, my cars been knockin for years, ( since i got it 60,000 miles ago ) but only when it was cold and then it would go away and i was talking to someone and they said low oil pressure among other things could cause knocking at start up. well, my oil lights been flickering more than usual for the last few months and its seems like the the knocks been getting louder the last few months, hmmmmm. im thinking im gonna replace the oil pump and see if that remedys the problem. anyone have a similar problem??? i know its a shot in the dark but i dont want to replace the engine right now. thoughts???

 

try the oil sending unit at the bottom of the enigne near the power steering pump above the oil pan

 

You are aware how much time is involved in replacing the oil pump, right? And you were saying you didn't have enough time to do an engine swap?

Are you sure it isn't just timing chain rattle?

 

yeah if your contimplating on doing a oil pump you should just swap in a new motor. Probley like a 15 hour job... dont qoute me on that but its quite a process. Pull motor out, take off outer timing chain cover, take off main timing chain take out oil pump re-time ect ect. And im sure theres alot more to it.

I would think its the tensioner before anything causeing chain clatter

 

10.8, according to alldata. No need to pull the engine, but it would make the timing covers a bit easier.

 

Yeah i figured you could do it with the engine still in the bay. but personally i would pull it out. granted im a skinny guy and all but imo it is a pia. Just my opinion though.

 

wouldnt that set off a code??? labor to replace??? i thibk its relativly easy from what ive heard. are you talking about the oil pressure switch???

 

iirc yes the oil sending unit would throw a code. but yet again dont qoute me on that.

The labor we are talking about is the oil pump.

But the oil sending unit is very easy to replace. Just like any other sensor

 

Yes, the OPSU.


No, it wouldn't set off a code.

It's very easy to replace, just need a wrench.

 

so the switch and sending unit are 1 in the same, right??? i did 1 of those like 2 years ago, didnt think i had to replace it again so soon. what happens when it goes bad??? its starts leaking if im not mistaken.

 

Yes, same thing, different terminology.

Well technically it's just a switch, since there isn't an oil pressure gauge.

Not necessarily leakage, it could also trigger the oil light randomly, or react at a different pressure than it should.

 

you know, that makes a lot of sense because the light flashes a little after i start the car, and thats when it knocks the most. even after it warms up, it can go 4-5 hours sitting and knock again but not as loud or as long.

 

Well the OPSU wouldn't affect any sort of engine operation.

Again, sure it isn't the tensioner?

 

no, its clearly knocking in back of block at start up. it sounded like the timing chain for the longest time cause the noise was coming from the side near the cover, or so i thought until i heard it coming from the back. how far does the chain go back, i mean ive seen it in the fsm but could it sound like a rod tap????

 

I don't agree with the OPSU replacement because it seems to be acurately telling you about a low pressure condition.

It would probably pay to screw in an oil pressure gauge in place of the OPSU and see what it's really doing.

I haven't looked this up in the FSM but I'll suggest it anyway. Most cars that I know of use a spring-loaded ball bearing, in the area of the oil filter, to regulate oil pressure. If said spring were broken it would certainly cause a drop in oil pressure and would also be a cheap and easy fix.

If the VQ regulates pressure another way then never mind.