no power after new oil pump?

Question

Hi All,I've been gone for a while, but, as always, when I need your help I comeback...My 73 standard beetle is running poorly.  it used to be running much better,then I *fixed* it.The problem before i had to *fix* it was that the oil light was coming onafter the engine warmed up, but if I revved the engine, the oil light wouldgo out again.  The engine was not hot and there was plenty of oil and thebelts are all new.  Other than that, the engine ran fine, had a lot ofpower, etc.So I changed the oil pump out.Now, it idles ok, but I can hardly get it to move. I let the clutch out andit dies.  When I rev the engine, it backfires and doesn't sound like I'mgetting more power.  It took me 25 minutes to move it out of my driveway sothe realtor could take a picture of my house (selling the house).It shakes a lot.  I almost think maybe I got the flywheel on crooked orsomething?  It has new oil.  It has old gas.  It has electronic ignition andan old weber progressive carb.I checked the timing - it has a 009 distributer and I set it to 10 degreesbtdc at idle with a regular timing light.  It has a degree wheel, so I'mpretty certain of the degree.  It is set the same as it was before Iswitched out the oil pump.Any ideas?  What should I check and do?Thanks again and as always for your help.Jen

Speedy Jim · Accepted Answer

Not being smart, but why did you take the flywheel off tochange the oil pump??  Better, why don't you tell us*exactly* what you did.Was the engine apart?  Could the cam be off a tooth? Speedy Jim

jjs · Answer

Double-check the plug wire locations if you removed them. Everybody screwsthat up at least once in their ACVW experience.

Tim Rogers · Answer

...............Did you remove the engine from the car to get better access to the oil pump? I've never tried to do it while it was still in the car. Either way, something got disturbed that's not directly related to the oil pump. First, put the timing light back on and try to verify that it's set at

10 deg BTDC instead of ATDC. Throttling up while using the strobe light should verify this. If the carburetor and fuel line was disturbed, maybe there's now dirt blocking the passages, is the accelerator pump still squirting when you advance the throttle? Is there a chance that the manifold & carburetor assembly is now causing a vacuum leak? You mentioned the flywheel but there's no reason to see backfiring because of that. I've never experienced it myself but others have said that an exhaust leak can cause backfiring but that wouldn't prevent you from being able to throttle up unless the decreased back pressure has caused a too lean situation with that weber..........I'm just grasping at straws here I guess. The recommended procedure for setting the advance on a 009 is to set it at about 30 deg. advance while the engine is turning at 3000 rpms. Another thing that should be double checked is the spark plug wires to be sure that they weren't mixed up.

BTW.............Low oil pressure at idle is almost always an indication that the engine is worn out and isn't likely to be fixed with a new oil pump.

Aquarijen · Answer

OOPS!  I didn't mean the flywheel.  I meant the degree wheel. LOL, no, Ididn't take the engine out to replace the oil pump.Thanks,Jen

Speedy Jim · Answer

Aha!   In that case, do look for obvious things like plug wires (as mentioned).Jim

Aquarijen · Answer

Nope, I removed the degree wheel and the sheet metal and used an oil pump puller.

Will do.

I can't imagine how I would have disturbed that, but I'm not sure, so I'll check...

I'll double check that, but I didn't remove them, so unless my son or boyfriend is playing a nasty trick, I'd say they are probably ok.

Oo. I hope not. the PO had the engine rebuilt not long before I bought it. The oil pump in it was original and out of tolerance when I checked it after it was out. The gears could be moved to make a clackety noise - not precise like the new one. We'll see. I don't have the money for a rebuild right now. :/

Thanks for your help. I'll check these things out tonight.

-Jennifer

Larry St. Regis · Answer

news:    Or a vacuum leak somewhere?? Do you hear 'hissing' while the motor'srunning?Larry

Tim Rogers · Answer

...................Good luck.

Nor-Cal Dave · Answer

. Ahh, The old I just rebuilt it line. If I had a penny for everytime I heardthat one..... I'd have 5 dollars ;-D. i seen lots of "Rebuilt Engines" thathave only had top end overhauls (New rings And, valve jobs). It takes morethan that to rebuild a engine.Dave.

Jan Andersson · Answer

Hey, I once rebuilt a diesel Dodge Pickup engine with nothing but gasoline doused rags and two cans of spray paint - aluminum and flat black. The black worked especially well on "rebuilding" water hoses. Like new!

:D

Jan

no power after new oil pump?

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