Knock/Clutch Problem?

[MikeD]

Hey gang, I'm afraid that my 7mgte engine may have a rod knock. Here's my story.

The problem started after I took the pics while in a parking lot. The clutch started knocking or clanking when I depressed I the clutch and I thought "Oh great!". Left it in 2nd gear, hoping that I can limp home which was only a few miles away. It continued to clank lightly but kept the engine around 1500 rpm trying to minimize damage to the tranny or whatever. After 1/8th mile at the 1st traffic light I noticed no oil pressure! Immediately shut the engine down. I coasted to the subdivision and parked the car. Had the car put on the flatbed and delivered to my house.

The oil level checked good (and no signs of metal debri), antifreeze level checked good, no overheating. I did not do any boosting today, all driving was sedetary due to taking pics. I will check oil pressure with mechanical gauge later next month (crank engine over, no starting) and remove the oil filter for any signs of metal debri. If there's no pressure then that could be due to broken oil pump shaft or even broken "welded" 7mgte oil pump pickup (done by Reg himself). I hope it's just the bad oil pump sensor and the knocking or clanking is the clutch.

So can any of you tell me what the symtoms are when depressing the clutch with a bad rod knock? Can you feel the rod knock through the clutch? Does a bad rod knock make the clutch feel like it's going out?

No, I cannot hear normally since I'm deaf. Hence the reason for not knowing or being aware of the potential problem early on.

[jsn_ayers]

Yes you can feel it on the pedal because it vibs the flywheel. If the mains are shot they may feel slower than a rod knock. It only takes seconds with on oil presure to spin one.
it may be the pickup tube sucking air.

[Daves2JZGTE]

did the sound change with clutch in and clutch out. Did the sound change with rpm? was your O/P @ 0 or just low on the gage? It has to be a honorific rod knock to feel it in the clutch petal.

And no rod knock will not make your clutch feel like its going out

[MikeD]

Yes, the noise change when pressing in clutch and vibration, too. Did not notice change of sound since I kept it at low rpm the whole time. The oil pressure was 0. Car was running smooth until one time putting the car into first gear from neutral the clutch acted like something came apart when I pressed in the clutch. Heavy vibrations stop with the clutch out but still had light clanking. It's weird. This is the first for me. I hope it's just the clutch but doubt it.

What steps would you guys do to determine whether it's a clutch or rod knock before taking anything apart? Is there a way to check the oil pressure sensor? If there's a rod knock, would I cause more damage cranking the engine over (plugs removed and fuse for FI removed) to check oil pressure with mechanical gauge?

[SilverMk2]

Have someone press the clutch down and look at the crank pulley and see if it moves in or out.

[MikeD]

Have someone press the clutch down and look at the crank pulley and see if it moves in or out.

I did that earlier today. No movement.

[WadeT]

Zero oil pressure? my guess would be a busted pickup tube like you aluded to, Mike. Also, the bolts that hold the pickup tube to the pump could have come lose. Perhaps it's the pickup tube clanking around in there? See if you can pull the pan before yanking the motor.

[Daves2JZGTE]

if you wont you can pull the timing belt and throw a drill on the nut for the oil pump gear and spin it. If you get no oil pressure on the gage just pull the sender and see if it pumps oil out when you spin it.

R you on a W58 or R154?

[MikeD]

There was no reading on the stock mk2 oil gauge. Doubt that i could pull the pan without taking out the engine. I remember how I had to rotate and fumble getting the oil pan on due to that welded oil pump pickup. And that was with the engine on a stand.

Good idea about using a drill! The tranny is w58.

I got too many things to do. So it'll be a while before I'll get to my car.

[n.o. drifter]

watch out with the dril, i broke two oilpump shaft bolts doing that and had to tap the out. first time with a drill, second with hand power