You don't need to prime the pump on a waterboxer. If you did, you'd
have to deal with it every time you changed the oil. You don't.

There's something else going on, probably a pulled connection or
broken wire from working in the area.

Jim

On Sat, Mar 6, 2010 at 7:57 PM, Greg Potts <greg@pottsfamily.ca> wrote:
> Hi Tobin,
>
> My Dad said basically the same thing about the pump not being primed. I
> wonder if there's a way to prime it?
> </Greg>
>
> Tobin Copley wrote:
>>
>> Not at all sure about the design of that pump (I have a diesel), but is
>> it possible the pump has lost it's prime?
>>
>> Pull the pressure sender and crank the motor. If oil gushes out the
>> hole, you have pressure; if not you don't, and may have a priming problem.
>>
>> Hope this helps,
>>
>> T.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 2010-03-06, at 4:42 PM, Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Volks,
>>>
>>> I spent what I thought would be a productive day out in the driveway and
>>> was able to solve the leaking oil pump cover.
>>>
>>> As it turned out, the pump cover gasket had come apart and there was a
>>> section missing from one side of it, which was probably the cause of the
>>> leak. But I also noticed a sizeable smear of galled metal embedded in
>>> the pump cover that had come from one of the pump gears. Not a good sign.
>>>
>>> Now, as it happens I do have a pair of surplus 1.9L longblocks here
>>> awaiting teardown and disposal. So I pulled the oil pump out of each of
>>> them and compared it to the one from my van... One cover plate was only
>>> slightly better, the other was near perfect. So I opted to install the
>>> near perfect one, along with the pump itself.
>>>
>>> I fished a fresh cover plate gasket out of my spares pile and set to
>>> getting it all back together. As usual, getting the exhaust back in
>>> place was pretty frustrating, but eventually I was able to get it all
>>> back together, top off the fluids and turn the key.
>>>
>>> It's ticking like it has a sad lifter. No worries, that will pump up and
>>> go away soon enough. It's also steaming a lot as the spilled coolant
>>> burns off the exhaust pipes. But then I notice the flashing oil light on
>>> the dash, and I shut down the engine.
>>>
>>> Turn the key to ON, and the light flashes. Start the engine, and it
>>> still flashes; it doesn't go away with more RPMs.
>>>
>>> I double-check the pressure sender wiring, and it's intact. Kind of a
>>> longshot, as I never touched it today and it was fine yesterday. I
>>> suspect something might be wrong with this oil pump; though I can't
>>> imagine what. I didn't have oil pressure problems with the donor motor
>>> before it was pulled, and the gears and plate looked to be in better
>>> condition than what I had. But this is new territory for me, and there
>>> might be more to this than I expected.
>>>
>>> I checked the archives and don't see anything directly relating to this.
>>>
>>> I have an VDO oil pressure gauge set-up attached to my baywindow van; I
>>> am thinking that tomorrow I will remove the sender and intall it on the
>>> vanagon and see what's really happening back there.
>>>
>>> If anyone here has any helpful advice I'd REALLY appreciate it.
>>>
>>>
>>> Happy Trails,
>>>
>>> Greg Potts
>>> Toronto, Ontario Canada
>>> 1973/74/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
>>> 1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop
>>> www.busesofthecorn.com
>>> www.pottsfamily.ca
>>
>
>
> --
> Happy Trails,
>
> Greg Potts
> Toronto, Ontario Canada
> 1973/74/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
> 1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop
> www.busesofthecorn.com
> www.pottsfamily.ca
>