Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: jonny2112 on 09 February 2013, 15:09:51

Title: Unbelievable!!
Post by: jonny2112 on 09 February 2013, 15:09:51
Driving home from work last night and thought I could hear a strange noise coming from the car. Got home, and sure enough, it didn't sound great.

Went out this morning for a quick look, and found one of the water pump pulley bolts was loose. Took it out and thought I'd remove the others and make sure they were ok too, only to find the others had sheared half way along their length!
After a lot of head scratching I decided I would try to coax the bolts out through the back of the plate using grips or pliers, but I couldn't get enough access or purchase to do it. Aargh!
So I stood out in the pishin rain and stripped the front end off in the hope of getting a bit more room. Thought I'd give local dealer a ring before closing on the off chance that they might have some bolts, but alas no. He was able to tell me that Vx had them in packs of ten (why?) at 75p each, and that they were M6 x either 13 or 15 mm, so I might just check local DIY stores to see if they would have some.
Just hoping that tomorrow I'll be able to get the remnants of the bolts out ok. Didn't plan to change the water pump just yet (72k), but if I need to remove it, then I may as well. And I suppose I should really change the belt while I'm there, though I need the car whilst waiting for the parts to arrive once ordered, so that'll be another strip down.
The joys of motoring  :D
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: tunnie on 09 February 2013, 15:18:35
bloody hell, good spot though and nice job tracking it down  :y
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 09 February 2013, 19:53:00
Sounds like they've been overtightened. What a PITA!
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: jonny2112 on 09 February 2013, 20:03:16
Sounds like they've been overtightened. What a PITA!

Yeah maybe Kevin. Or at least two of them!
Just hoping I can get them out without having to remove the pump  :-\
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: Webby the Bear on 09 February 2013, 20:06:00
bad times... but at least the pump isn't timing belt driven  :y
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: symes on 09 February 2013, 20:12:55
Driving home from work last night and thought I could hear a strange noise coming from the car. Got home, and sure enough, it didn't sound great.

Went out this morning for a quick look, and found one of the water pump pulley bolts was loose. Took it out and thought I'd remove the others and make sure they were ok too, only to find the others had sheared half way along their length!
After a lot of head scratching I decided I would try to coax the bolts out through the back of the plate using grips or pliers, but I couldn't get enough access or purchase to do it. Aargh!
So I stood out in the pishin rain and stripped the front end off in the hope of getting a bit more room. Thought I'd give local dealer a ring before closing on the off chance that they might have some bolts, but alas no. He was able to tell me that Vx had them in packs of ten (why?) at 75p each, and that they were M6 x either 13 or 15 mm, so I might just check local DIY stores to see if they would have some.
Just hoping that tomorrow I'll be able to get the remnants of the bolts out ok. Didn't plan to change the water pump just yet (72k), but if I need to remove it, then I may as well. And I suppose I should really change the belt while I'm there, though I need the car whilst waiting for the parts to arrive once ordered, so that'll be another strip down.
The joys of motoring  :D
any M6x1.0 thread bolt by 15mm long would do for pump pulley mate :y
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: jonny2112 on 09 February 2013, 22:24:39
Thanks symes. Hoping they'll be easy got. Could always contact one of our local breakers, but can't  wait for postage, UNLESS I can't get some, in which case I'll have no choice  :D
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 09 February 2013, 22:27:06
Can always get some longer bolts and cut them down.
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: dbug on 10 February 2013, 01:20:02
Its a common size bolt mate - any good hardware shop or engineering company should have them on the shelf - as Kevin says if you cant get right length get longer and cut down :y
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: albitz on 10 February 2013, 02:29:56
I could send you some Jonny,but as you say,it will take a few days to get them there. :y
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: jonny2112 on 10 February 2013, 16:34:49
Yeah, thanks Albs. If I get stuck tomorrow I'll give you a shout  :y
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: Keith ABS on 10 February 2013, 17:27:38
  Looked at screwfix? long opening hours
Keith B
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: feeutfo on 10 February 2013, 17:49:15
Any bolts will do.

And it's an easy mistake to make. Check the torque wrench setting EVERY time its picked up for use.
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: dbug on 10 February 2013, 17:58:22
Any bolts will do.

And it's an easy mistake to make. Check the torque wrench setting EVERY time its picked up for use.

 :o preferably the right size though  ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: jonny2112 on 10 February 2013, 18:23:11
Any bolts will do.

And it's an easy mistake to make. Check the torque wrench setting EVERY time its picked up for use.

You don't have the correct figure to hand by chance?
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: RobG on 10 February 2013, 18:46:19
Reply #4
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=110080.0  ::)
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: jonny2112 on 10 February 2013, 18:48:53
Cheers Rob.
I thought that was the case, but worried that I had got it wrong.
Still can't understand why one was loose though  :-\
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: RobG on 10 February 2013, 19:04:01
Cheers Rob.
I thought that was the case, but worried that I had got it wrong.
Still can't understand why one was loose though   :-\
Threadlock not used?
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: dbug on 10 February 2013, 19:26:40
Quote
Coolant pump pulley bolts:
Stage 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Nm
Stage 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angle-tighten a further 30°
Stage 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angle-tighten a further 30°



HTH :y


Personally never torqued mine - just done up sensibly tight with a socket and short handled ratchett.  Never had any come loose or even fall out.
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: jonny2112 on 10 February 2013, 19:32:43
No, no thread lock, on any of them. And I've a notion I didn't actually torque them ......
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 10 February 2013, 21:45:10

The joys of motoring Omega - ing  :D

 ;)
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: feeutfo on 10 February 2013, 22:04:04
Reply #4
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=110080.0  ::)
Hang on, I just twigged. Same issue, same op, link from last year.

What's up Jonny?  ???
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: jonny2112 on 11 February 2013, 00:47:21
I really don't know  :-X
It's a bit odd to say the least.
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: dbug on 11 February 2013, 01:01:12
Over enthusiastic use of spanners maybe ::)
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: jonny2112 on 11 February 2013, 10:28:01
Right, plan A isn't working. The water pump is going to have to come off.
Can it be reused once the 'seal' is broken, or better to replace?
It's only recently had full coolant change too! Aargh  >:(
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 February 2013, 11:48:11
No problem with re-using the pump. The sealing O ring might benefit from replacement.

If you can catch the coolant there's no reason not to re-use that either.
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: jonny2112 on 11 February 2013, 13:13:21
Cheers Kevin  :y
Title: Re: Unbelievable!!
Post by: jonny2112 on 13 February 2013, 20:42:05
Well had to fit new pump, and refilled with fresh coolant. Sorted  :y
Just need to keep an eye on things, and ensure the pulley bolts form part of my weekly ish checks  :-X

On a different note - was cleaning around in the bay, partly to dry everything off to check for leaks, and found some writing on the alternator. It was marked '3.2 V6' in white marker or something, so has obviously been replaced at some point!