Help! Hard Brake Pedal When Oil Light On, Engine Cutting Out

[Debbieannbee]

Hi there - am new to this, but wondered if anyone could help.  I have a 2009 Chrysler Sebring.

 

We've always had slight issues with the turbo dropping off if you put your foot down, which may or may not be relevant, but on restarting the car it always comes back.  Basically we've lived with this as no one has been able to figure out why it happens and no engine management light has come on. 

 

Last week, however, my oil light came on.  It was only around 6 weeks since the oil had been topped up so this was unusual.  I stopped to buy oil and on moving off I braked to allow a pedestrian to cross and the brake pedal was "hard" and the car kept moving.  I pulled over, switched off the engine, then the brake pedal felt fine.

 

I drove the car home slowly (only around a mile), but just around the corner from the house it cut out completely.  It restarted fine and I drove it down the hill (500 yards).  When I came to stopping the brake pedal was hard again.  I checked the oil and added more (there was still oil registering, so filled it around three quarters).

 

My other half took the car to the garage last Monday (which cut out around ten times going back up the hill and then drove ok).  However, the brake pedal is now going hard and the oil light is coming on intermittently.  It only stays on for seconds and when it goes off the brake is normal.  The car is still cutting out too.

 

Mechanics are stumped so any help at all would be appreciated.

[iratecabbie]

Good news Debbie and Dee, I know exactly whats gone wrong with your car as my own one did exactly the same in november.
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   What has  happened is that your "oil pump balance shaft"  has  worn out.   This is a common and well known problem on the Volkswagen  common rail diesel engine and the good news is that  there is a readily available upgrade available for it.
​   The bad news is that you may have killed your turbo and  if your really really unlucky,  your big ends too. 

​Do a search on youtube   for the following  vid,   "VW and Audi TDI oil pump failure and balnce shaft faq"  this vid  explains  a lot on how to fix this issue.

To get to the oil  pump balance shaft,    you need to do the following  steps.

 ​ 1.   drain the oil,   then remove the sump pan.    this should leave the bottom of your engine exposed.   
​  the oil pump balance shaft  is bolted directly to the bottom of your engine   and should be covering three of your four big ends.

​ 2.   Unbolt the  oil pump balance shaft  assembly, (you will need torx heads to do this)           once the    assembly is unbolted  you can then examine your big ends and check them thoroughly for damage.  
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3.  exchange the damaged part with a  specialist in  "Volkswagen oil pump balance shaft repairs"  a quick search on  the net should put you on the right track to some, failing that pm me and I will  give you details of one I know.      
  
​4.  When  your new one has arrived, its  a simple job to just bolt it back on the the bottom of your engine,   The chap I used for my replacement will offer to sell you a simple tool to set the timing of the oil pump---DO buy it.      Once its fitted   and your happy with it, remount the sump- and re oil the car.

​5.   As your engine has  had low oil pressure its very important that you pre-lubricate  your turbo before starting it.   once this is done,  and the engines oiled,  start  it and let it run for a few minutes.  If the turbo is ok  it will not make any noise,   if  however after a minute or so its  still noisy,  its odds on the turbo is dead and will need to be fixed.
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6.  if your car is fixed and your happy,  Have a beer  and toast my health!

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