Bad oil pump?

[romangel]

I have a 1989 Nissan Sentra, automatic. The engine cut off while driving and it won't start again. The spark plugs are getting spark and there is fuel pressure. All fuses and relays are good. I'm suspecting it is the oil pump. I took the valve cover off and I saw a piece of plastic sitting by the timing chain. I removed the oil pan and there are pieces of plastic and metal sitting at the bottom. Everything else looks fine. Will a damaged oil pump prevent the car from starting? I cranked over the engine and didn't see any oil coming out. How hard is to replace this oil pump, or the oil pump drive shaft spindle? Can I do it with the engine in place? I know the pump is behing the chain cover. I forgot to mention that timing is good.

Thank you for your input!

[Nathan]

Sounds like timing chain guides, they COULD have taken out rod and main bearings, and the oil pump. You really should drop the main caps and the rod caps to see how the bearings are, and check the oil pump. I dont know if you can do this in the car or not with a Sentra though

[romangel]

I will do that. Thanks for the advise.

[Nathan]

Remind me, dont the older sentra's use a KA24E? If so then it definitely had plastic chain guides prone to failure at high mileage. Hopefully you'll get lucky and it didn't kill the engine!

[romangel]

Yes, that's the engine that I have, the KA24E.

[NISTECH]

nah GA16e ,I would say guides to, you may have jumped a tooth or 2 on the chain which could ultimatly take out a valve. not having an oil pump wont stop it from running till the bearings seize up. If the car turns over but doesnt start its not your oil pump it is likely to do with your crank angle sensor[ in the dist]

[NISTECH]

the sentra has never had a 2.4 l engine in it.

[romangel]

Can I replace the chain guides with the engine in the car? How hard it is?

[Nathan]

I'm 95% certain that you can, but if your engine is mounted longitudinally its going to be a bit more of a pain, although it shouldn't be impossible. Also, your going to want to make sure you get all the plastic bits out of the engine, and since you'll have to drop the pan for that, then you might as well go one step further and check the bearings. Better safe than sorry! Also, your going to have to pull both front covers to do it, pull the cams etc. Make sure you get the timing right when your putting it all back together etc. Its a pain, but not horrible imo.

[romangel]

You guys were right. My engine is a 1.6 and the problem was a broken timing chain guide. I checked the main caps and rod caps and everything looked fine. I replaced the timing chain, sprokets, and guides and the car started up right away and is running fine. The process was a time consuming but not that hard. I did it with the engine in place.

Thanks to everybody.

[Nathan]

Good to hear!