oil pump question for a friend

[nonamekid]

I was talking to a friend last night and they mentioned that their festiva was acting up. They said they went to start it the other day and the oil light stayed on and the engine was making alot of upper engine noise. They said they turned it off right away and checked the oil and the oil level was full. Any ideas on what is wrong or what I can check? Can an oil pump just all of a sudden fail like that or are their other issues?

[hawkdoc60]

Actually, I believe an oil pump can indeed fail suddenly. There is also the possibility there is foreign matter in the system plugging something up. I believe FB71 would bve able to say better.

[Pu241]

Not familiar with the oil pickup on the festiva yet, never needed to drop the pan yet!
I suspect it is possible, as hawkdoc60 said, to have a blockage that keeps oil from moving from the pan to the pump or that the shaft to the pump has failed.
Otherwise I'd expect a gradual lose in oil pressure as the pump itself looses clearances, not an abrupt failure.

[j-stauf7]

Assuming that their actually is no oil pressure, i.e. pressure sensor is ok, your most likely going to find a blocked oil pick up or a faulty oil pump.

[FB71]

^^^ correct. Also, there is no shaft to drive the pump. It's driven directly off of the crank snout.

[Pu241]

^^^ correct. Also, there is no shaft to drive the pump. It's driven directly off of the crank snout.

So reduced probability of pump drive failure.
Don't have manual handy, so how is the pump coupled to the "crank snout"?

[nonamekid]

Assuming that their actually is no oil pressure, i.e. pressure sensor is ok, your most likely going to find a blocked oil pick up or a faulty oil pump.

Pressure sensor is fine, because there is alot of engine noise agreeing with the sensor. I had read in another discussion that bad main bearing can cause low oil pressure also. Is that possible in this situation?

Don't have manual handy, so how is the pump coupled to the "crank snout"?

It is an assembly that slides over the crankshaft and bolts to the block. It is behind the timing belt gear.

[mechanicaldj]

or a possible bad pressure relief valve located in the pump housing

[jglutz]

Common problems to any oil pump is that the pressure relief internal to the pump failed or the sump screen is clogged. In either case, the pan wiil have to be dropped to look further.

In the festiva....a cotter pin holds the pressure relief in place. If the pin...or spring...or seat internal to the relief failed; oil pressure will be lost.

Also....excessively worn rod or crank bearings can cause a pressure drop large enough to force the light on and not supply enough oil tot the upper end causing all of the noise.

Alot of noise....oil light on....oil in the pan...is not good. May be an easy fix but be advises...the engine is not far from self destructing.

[j-stauf7]

Main bearing failure normally comes on gradually.

[Barkley1021]

I'm not sure where the pressure sender is right off the top of my head but if its after the filter I would try replacing the oil filter before I messed around with anything else.

[jglutz]

Sending unit is between the pimp and filter....back side of the block under the intake manifold.

If the filter clogged...the head would make noise but the oil light would not be on.

If the filter failed open inside the pump should still be suffice on flow and pressure...the restictions in the circuit that creat pressure....are down stream of the filter.