What is the vacuum pump life expectancy? I replaced 4 years ago (about 100,000 miles) due to catastrophic failure. Found ball bearings in the engine oil when I drained. Installed new pump back then and Now I have no vacuum again.

__________________
1989 Arctic White 190D 2.5l auto w/400E Brakes and a 5spd waiting for me to install

1977 280SL Euro M110/w 4spd

2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad cab 4x4
dyno 383hp / 916ft#'s

Usually just the outlet check valves fail. First check the single large one that screws into the outlet (later pump), since easy to remove. You can check it with your mouth. It is not cheap though. My backup plan thought is an electric pump from a VW diesel. I see used ones for ~$50 on ebay. It would be good if someone made a block-off plate for our mechanical pumps if people wanted to go that route.

Is the outlet check valve available?

__________________
1989 Arctic White 190D 2.5l auto w/400E Brakes and a 5spd waiting for me to install

1977 280SL Euro M110/w 4spd

2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad cab 4x4
dyno 383hp / 916ft#'s

THIS really intrigues me. I'm game. Need more info.

__________________
1989 Arctic White 190D 2.5l auto w/400E Brakes and a 5spd waiting for me to install

1977 280SL Euro M110/w 4spd

2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad cab 4x4
dyno 383hp / 916ft#'s

Often when the check valve fails its internal parts intermittently "clog" up the vac line. See post #9 here:
failing vacuum pump? driving problems 82 300D

__________________
05 E320 CDI - 175K miles
82 300D - 200K miles (sold)

VW diesels don't have electric vacuum pumps. They have either a cam or intermediate shaft driven pump, and in both cases everything since the mid 70s is a vane style pump that just seems to last forever and ever.

1.8T Automatic cars did get an electric "helper" vacuum pump.

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Did you install a new style pump?

What was the condition of the drive ramp when the old pump broke?

Sixto
87 300D

Gravedigger
on an 87 Turbo diesel W124 my experience was somewhat similar except that we heard the pump fail as a bang and then lost heat controls and autotrans shift controls.
Wen to a shop and pulled the ballbearing parts out of the sump(they all were there. Probably 150000, miles on the pump. They didn't have to come out of the drain hole( There was a side access panel on the sump which meant an hand could go in for a good search and wipe out. The has done about 50,000 since
My Indie says "not that common" yet I had read of them failing on the net and wasn't too surprised when it happened. I'd be changing it out every 140,000 mi now, given the choice. I felt very lucky that it didn't do any damage to the timing chain or running gear as the bits dropped into the sump.

__________________
Retired Marine Engineer
2005 E320 CDI
1987 300 Turbo Diesel @ 300,000 kM going
1974 240 D 300,K Miles when given away gone
1970 200 D gone
1969 190 D gone

got VW PASSAT Electric brake vacuum pump coming . Thanks

__________________
1989 Arctic White 190D 2.5l auto w/400E Brakes and a 5spd waiting for me to install

1977 280SL Euro M110/w 4spd

2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad cab 4x4
dyno 383hp / 916ft#'s

I used an Audi/VW vacuum pump on my conversion. Pulled the guts out of the stock mechanical vacuum pump and put the case back on as a cover after plugging the vacuum port with silicone.

1/3rd the cost and eliminate a major failure point for the motor? You betcha.

__________________
617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

How did you drive it? Or did you use an electric pump?

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

I'm guessing he means one of these - 01 VW Passat V6 B5 5 Brake Vacuum Pump 8E0 927 317 | eBay


Sixto
87 300D

isn't the pump part of the chain tension?Or can one still use it if guts are gone?I like the electric idea.I have 346,000 miles on my pump

__________________
1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Sixto's pic is exactly the vacuum pump I used. I left the intermediate shaft and roller coaster track in place. Just pulled the piston, springs, pivot arm, roller, check valves, etc out of the pump case. My mechanical VP was of indeterminate age and was knocking.

Use a vacuum switch, don't let the pump run contiuously, and keep the rubber mounting for the electric pump. I solid mounted mine and it's loud! Turned the whole fender into a speaker.

__________________
617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

Early 1.5L VW diesels used an intermediate shaft diaphragm pump, not unlike the MB pumps used until the introduction of the OM606.96. VW switched to vane-type pumps about the time they introduced the 1.6L.



The 1.5L diaphragm pumps were prone to many failures, while the vane pumps are pretty much indestructible...except for the stupid plastic nipples at the top. These intermediate shaft vane pumps were used until the introduction of the ALH engines in the late '90's, which were then run off of the rear of the cam. Incidentally, these ALH pumps look a lot like the oil fed BarLuk pumps used on the 606:






Mid-'90's Saab turbos are also a source for electric vacuum pumps; Pierburg even: