scary oil pump issue. loose drive gear!

[Junkyardspecial]

I've never touched the bottom end of this car and woke up this morning to a fairly big oil leak. I tore down the timing cover and noticed that a flange nut fell out. I inspect further and the oil pump gear is loose! What could have caused this? I'm torquing back down to 30ftlbs with a bit of loctite red. Hoping this solves the oil leak.

 

[crimsondragon]

Be more specific. The drive gear is loose? Or the timing belt gear that drives the drive gear is loose? Also you're supposed to torque that nut down to 36-43 ft*lbs. I shoot for the middle and aim at 40lbs.

 

[Junkyardspecial]

Be more specific. The drive gear is loose? Or the timing belt gear that drives the drive gear is loose? Also you're supposed to torque that nut down to 36-43 ft*lbs. I shoot for the middle and aim at 40lbs.

The timing belt gear. Ill tq it down to 40 instead, thanks.

 

[crimsondragon]

Before you tighten it any further, check the oil seal that rides on the inside of the gear and verify its still good. Make sure the gear sits correctly as one side is machined flat.

 

[LordDigi]

This has happened to me before. The gear ended up being scuffed on the sealing surface because of the wobble, the oil seal was questionable because of it. I replaced both the gear and seal, all was well after that.

 

[crimsondragon]

After further pondering, I just have to ask: did you use red loctite beforehand? Even with a torque of 30 ft*lbs and red loctite, I can't imagine it coming loose. Check the threads of the nut and oil pump shaft to see if any hardened loctite remains. Clean it off before reinstalling the nut. Also, if you need to get a new seal here's the part number: MD365697. One of the vendors will have one in stock.

 

[Junkyardspecial]

After further pondering, I just have to ask: did you use red loctite beforehand? Even with a torque of 30 ft*lbs and red loctite, I can't imagine it coming loose. Check the threads of the nut and oil pump shaft to see if any hardened loctite remains. Clean it off before reinstalling the nut. Also, if you need to get a new seal here's the part number: MD365697. One of the vendors will have one in stock.

Thanks for the help. No one previous to me ever even opened the bottom cover except to change a timing belt so i dont know how it fell off. I used red loctite and tightened down to proper TQ. It stopped leaking and hasnt come loose yet!