T4 2.4 D - tap tap tap = vacuum pump

**fingersinterlacd** · 23-05-2009, 07:56 PM

Thought it was a buggered lifter.

Had it diagnosed, turned out the diaphragm in the vacuum pump had deteriorated with age causing the piston thingo not to follow the cam lobe properly.

Vacuum pump replaced, no tapping noise - it sounds wonderful!

How much should one expect to pay for a new vacuum pump and fitting?

And why does a naturally aspirated diesel have a vacuum pump for power brakes, why not use manifold vacuum?

I paid $877

**vwguru** · 24-05-2009, 09:37 AM

diesels dont have manifold vacuum.

**fingersinterlacd** · 25-05-2009, 10:44 AM

Oh yeah, no throttle body on a diesel. Oops. This is the first diesel I've owned

**Deeceer** · 25-05-2009, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by fingersinterlacd

Thought it was a buggered lifter.

Had it diagnosed, turned out the diaphragm in the vacuum pump had deteriorated with age causing the piston thingo not to follow the cam lobe properly.

Vacuum pump replaced, no tapping noise - it sounds wonderful!

Could you describe the circumstances under which you had the tapping noise?

My 2.4D non-turbo has a tapping noise that if it was a petrol engine I'd swear was a valve lifter. Comes and goes - tack! tack! tack! - under power or idling but I don't think I've heard it while under engine braking except on first driving away and the engine is fresh start cold. Sometimes it's not there at all, sometimes it's the loudest thing you can hear.

(It's my first diesel too - frankly, I've no idea except I love the fuel economy...)

**fingersinterlacd** · 25-05-2009, 11:16 PM

That is exactly how I described the tapping noise in mine too.

Sometimes it was really loud sometimes it seemed like it wasn't here at all, and it sounded like it went away at when the engine was revving but now I've had the pump replaced I know it was making a lot of noise all the time.

The engine sounds brand new now, and so it should at 134,000k!

Such a beautiful van to drive after having driven a ford econovan for a year. What was I thinking?

Anyone got any idea on how much the vacuum pump is worth? Did I pay a reasonable price.

I'm really happy with the customer service I and I'll be taking my van back there to have the top left ball joint replaced in about 3 months when I can afford it.

**Deeceer** · 26-05-2009, 06:26 PM

I find the 'tack' noise is worst under power. I had a good listen while driving around today and found it goes away completely under engine braking, such as when you're off the power going down hill, letting the engine compression slow you down.

Where exactly under the bonnet is the vacuum pump? Is it a separate item bolted on outside or is it contained within another assembly?

I'd be interested to know what the cost is too in case that's what I'm looking at needing to replace. My 2.4D is normally aspirated too and has 230,000km on the clock.

**fingersinterlacd** · 26-05-2009, 09:07 PM

I don't know where exactly it is located.

The mechanic showed me the new pump before fitting it and from seeing that I couldn't really tell you. It operates off a lobe on the cam, so maybe it's volted to the head.

I'll have a look sometime during the day, if I can spy it I'll take a photo and post it.

I paid $877 including fitting (~$700 for the pump and $177 to fit it)

**vwguru** · 26-05-2009, 10:06 PM

hey guys,

it might be a bit hard to see but it is on the right front of the block, just to the right( and below a bit) of the coolant temp sensor housing, follow the brake booster hose from the booster to the pump. $700 for the pump ouch (hope that included a new gasket at least) the fitting price isnt bad if the hourly rate is about $100 an hour.

**Deeceer** · 02-06-2009, 04:52 PM

I did a bit of digging around on google and found a handy hint for diagnosing whether the noise is vacuum pump or not - when it's tacking away nice and loud at idle, pump the brake pedal half a dozen times. If it disappears then slowly comes back, it's most likely the vacuum pump.