Puma Vacuum Pump oil leak - black oil?

[spudboy]

My Puma is out of warranty in a few weeks, so am just going over it to see what might be worth LR looking at before then.

From reading PUMA posts, the Vacuum pump seems to be a popular failure.

What should I be looking out for? Is it black oil leaking from the front of the unit (i.e. between the body and the pulley). I am presuming it is engine oil that leaks - is that right? Anyone got photos of what to look for from their failure?

Any other suggestions for things to check before I am on my lonesome?

I had a replacement diff about a year ago, and a new CD player and that's it.

Tks
David

[Bournie]

Hi Spudboy,

I've not long had an 07 Puma. After driving Bathurst -> Sydney I noticed some black oil (small smear.) on the LH wing, on investigation under the bonnet I noticed oil on the underside of the LHS of the bonnet.

The trip is a few hundred k's in hilly country. Noticed no change in the way the engine was running - nor change in temperature.

The oil under the bonnet was black, and started just above where the pump is and then looked sprayed backwards as if the air through the front grill is blowing it backwards.

A friend works for Greame Coopers in Sydney, he had a quick look - not overly difficult to get a new part - though genuine is expensive.

Went to Trivetts in Parramatta as mine was still under warranty, part was replaced hassel free in a few hours.

Regards,

Brendan

[JohnR]

If your vacum pump leaks you'll be able to see it! As Bournie said, it oozes out from under ther bonnet on the passenger side and when you open the bonnet it is all over the passenger side of the emgine bay, hard to miss!

Sounds like another happy Puma owner with minimal issues :)

Cheers,

[spudboy]

OK - thanks for that. No pools of oil yet, just a bit of black oil.

It is booked in for next Tues for them (Solitaire) to take a look at it. They said they'd order parts after they'd looked at it, but I thought they might have one in stock as it seems a common enough failure.

[mustaphafagg]

2010 SVX Station Wagon 10000 kms on the clock,oil all over engine bay,My South African dealer did not tell Me that all the new puma's had had a problem and that they had replaced the Vacuum pump,cos' I missed the 24000 km service,My warranty is invalid.I have just bought a disco 4 HSE from the same stealer but they will not consider a "goodwill" repair on My SVX!!! :mad:

[portafilter]

If its leaking at all, replace it. Mine oozed for ages but never let go properly. I posted a few pics of how I did it. Simple job.

[Drover]

I replaced mine a coupe of months ago,not because it failed but because it will.

Full job took about 25minutes. Tied the belt tensioner back with a ratchet strap.

I got the new one from Paddocks in the UK, about $180 to the door, compared with $575from LR Australia.

Cheers

Oh and SVX's are all 2008 models, not 2010.

[Marty110]

mine was done under warranty by Solitaire - the new replacement LR ones have been modified with a double seal I believe to rectify the problem - have not had an issue since (about 30K) first one went after about 5k from new - oil spray under the bonnet dead giveaway as stated