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The air pump failed on my 97 several months ago and the service light came on. The car was still under warranty and I had it changed out at a dealer in Boise (along with the relay and check valve. I had noticed earlier, looking under the car, that oil was dribbling down the electrical connection to the pump and assumed that it had gotten into the motor and shorted it out. The plastic protective pan under the front of the car was wet with oil and accumulated dirt from this leak. The mechanic's report though said there was water in the motor-pump assembly which had caused the failure. His explanation of how water had gotten in the motor was vague (moisture). I asked the service manager about the oil weeping down the electrical connection to the air pump motor from somewhere above and he was adamant that this was "normal," that all low pressure turbos did this, that it was nothing to worry about. I knew the oil system was sealed and that he was bs'ing me, but I didn't dispute the point. I tried to look up under the car to see where this oil was coming from, but couldn't. Is this something to worry about? A loose connection to the oil cooler in the radiator? And how did that air pump get water into it? The air pump is a spendy item to replace, and the car will go out of warranty next month. Since I plan on keeping the car for many many years, I don't want to have to replace it if I know what I can do to keep it from failing again. And how to stop that oil leak from somewhere up above it. Thoughts and advice, please. Dick
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