Can you please describe "catastrophic?" The condition of my VP seems OK, but I don't know if it's ever been rebuilt or replaced. Perhaps that should be added to my todo list. Thanks.

[QUOTE=Kevin Johnson;1794207]Hi,

I found a later pump in a trip to the wrecking yard and decided to use it to replace my older pump with unknown but probably very high mileage.

I swapped an "early" pump on to a "later" 240D engine, you also have too swap the air cleaner and the vacuum line to the brake booster.

Another member "Craig" also had his VP fail due too way too much end play in the timing device. (with catastrophic results). I had my engine out and on the stand but pulling that timing device to get to the brass bushing would be a PIA with the engine in the car, The T chain doesn't want to let it go.:mad:

I don't really know what caused my failure but I suppose the bearings failed and the pump continued to work with the parts simply rubbing on each other until one wore in half.

Then that part fell into the cam chain and broke the cam chain and the pistons collided with the stationary open valves pushing them up breaking the cam and cam towers.

Then fixing just the broken stuff was going to be a couple of grand and doing the whole motor was only another three or so so I did that too.

If it happened today with what I know about the bottom end of a benz motor I would not do the bottom end, just a valve job and repair the damage and lite it off!

Tom W

I don't know if the end play actually caused the pump failure, but there was too much end play and the bushing was well worn. My indy replaced it in the car, a giant PITA from what I saw. To get the timing chain out of the way you have to move the cain guide, which requires removing a VERY tight pin that is pressed into the block. My indy spent the better part of two days working on mine.

I had to remove the timing device on an engine I had just rebuilt because if forgot to replace the main oil gallery end plug :o, plug was in back of the T/D:eek: The "pin" was easy, getting the T/D out with the chain around it, another matter, I stuck a bunch of screw drivers and other "pointy' tools in there to hold the chain away, not fun:(

How many miles were on the engine when you found out that the Timer bushing was worn out?

How many miles were on the engine when you found that the Timer bushing was worn out?

Since the Vacuum pump is not so hard to remove I figure maybe ounce a year or so I would take a look at it.

As I recall it was about 380 - 390K. I do remember it was before I turned over 400K. It sounded just like a bad vacuum pump, but the sound didn't go away when the pump was replaced. The sprocket behind the IP/vacuum pump was banging around too much, it's only supposed to have about 1 mm of axially movement.

So it was just worn out, at almost 400k miles it had a lot of time on it.

I ask him the mileage he had on the vehicle when he discovered it was worn out. It is going on my list of things to check as I put more miles on my vehicle. Right not I am approaching 200,000 miles. After about 250,000 miles it looks like it is time to see what type of play is in the timer bushing.

I can also see a possible situation developing here. At around 300,000 the timing chain is stretched. The person changes the chain not thinking to check the Fuel Injection Pump Timer Bushing clearance. Some time down the road the Timer Bushing becomes worn and the Timer takes out Vacuum Pump and pieces of Vacuum Pump take out the new timing chain and possibly damaging other parts of the engine.

I took a look at the Manual to see what they used; they showed a whole bunch of screwdrives wedged under the timing chain just like you did.

Oh yah, in Haynes, they also show that "bushing" that wares out in back of the timing device.