Author Topic: I am at WITS END (Read 7033 times)

Smokey Eddy · « **on:** July 31, 2008, 08:42:53 pm »

my jetta has always had issues with starting for the past number of years but as of late it's been getting excessive. It runs supurbly and efficiently but it takes for EVER to start. I KNOW it is getting fuel because diesel comes out the exhaust during cranking and there isn't any air getting in that i can see ( i have a clear fuel line to the pump).
The glow plugs are new and even when hot it still doesn't start for ages. I KNOW they turn on because i can see them glow when i had the injectors out.
i regreased the starter and got huge copper leads for my batt and starter and ground and it turns over like nuts now when i crank it.
i got new injector nozzles because i thought the stock ones may be blocked 300k since they were new. i replaced seals on the IP that commonly leak. I don't THINK it can be compression because it runs so well once running(but that seems like a likely cause and if so what can i do about that?). I made a prior post about this and it was suggested that i should have my injectors pop tested which im planning on doing when i have the time that i dont require a running car everyday. Also, i was told that my pump is in need of a rebuild? what does that entitle? new internal parts ?... so doesn't that mean a new IP which would exceed the worth of my entire car...? If not, can ANYONE tell me where i can get my pump fixed up right. (maybe a big rig place? do they do that for just some joe who walks through the doors? is it expensive?) I'm a stickler for cash because im a student and i don't want to forfiet my schooling for this piece of junk but i really like being able to get to the university campus and im trying to avoid huge debt)

If it would mean anything i'll try and get a video of the starting escapade and put it on youtube or something because it doesn't sound uniform and then just starts it kinda goes like this ...
ok nothing is happening.... for 50% of the cranking
then oh? what's that? sounds like cylinders fireing? oh no never mind.. oh wait? yes! oh no ... oh there it is again for about 15 seconds
then wow it sounds like it's basically running right now but just really poorly and it goes faster and faster and faster until it just starts and runs normally and sounds fine and puts out a TON of unburnt diesel from the exhaust that im guessing collected there from all the cranking

the new things i've done to it are...

overflow resevoir and hoses
rubber cam cover gasket and studs
fuel filter
injector nozzles
pump seals (i was rediculously careful to make sure nothing moved inside the pump when i did this. and was clean)
hoses
those fuel lines that carry excess fuel between the injectors
removed the water seperator
turned the fuel screw up a tiny bit
(the fuel screw may be out too far and my idle be up really high to compensate. could that cause this?)
new glow plugs and bus bars
head gasket (could i need to torque my head down more since having the head off? they may need to go another 90 degrees each. could THAT fix it???)

thanks so so so so so much for reading all of this
i know this was long winded but i don't want to see my jetta die because of my rediculous ignorance
Cheers,
Ed.

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2008, 09:20:40 pm »

Perhaps you did it and didn't mention it... but I don't see "checked the timing" on the list.. it sounds massively retarded (pump rotated too far away from the head) over the Internet ;-)

If you haven't had it checked that would be my best guess: ensure the pump, crank, and cam are in lockstep and the pump is set to the correct setting. You need a few specific tools to do it... so you may need to take it to a shop:

http://vincewaldon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=28

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2008, 09:36:10 pm »

crap.

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2008, 10:30:53 pm »

Don't panic.. use the improvised tools to get your timing belt on perfectly and then see where you're at... if need be you can make slow adjustments to the pump rotation until it's running well... aka "hillbilly tuning".

What did you use to set the timing when you did the headgasket ?

commuter boy · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2008, 11:07:53 pm »

If you want to bring it in to Burnaby this weekend I can take a look at it, maybe swap a good set of injectors from mine in, and check your timing, I've got all the tools.

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2008, 03:16:58 am »

I just used all the timing marks when i did the head
and i turned the pump the "hillbillie" way to get it to idle properly

wow thanks commuter boy, i have guests at my house this weekend. Can i pm you about something another time?

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2008, 03:17:59 am »

i triple checked the timing too and they're all "on the marks" but ... with the IP what does that mean right

i need to make a hodge podge holder for a dial to see where the displacement of the pluger is at at TDC

jtanguay · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2008, 04:44:36 am »

you will be amazed at how much better it starts once the timing is bang on :wink:

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #8 on:** August 01, 2008, 06:27:22 am »

Quote from: "Smokey Eddy"

i triple checked the timing too and they're all "on the marks" but ... with the IP what does that mean right i need to make a hodge podge holder for a dial to see where the displacement of the pluger is at at TDC

The "marks", if they exist, are rough rough rough guidelines... the locking tools are needed to get it bang on... I think you're going to notice a difference when someone helps you dial it all in.

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #9 on:** August 01, 2008, 11:37:31 am »

Quote

I think you're going to notice a difference when someone helps you dial it all in.

I don't have the money to pay for that though

what tools do you mean? I can get the timing with the crank and the cam perfect and like you said the marks on the pump housing are rough guidelines but i do have acess to a dial to set the pump right but not the VW tool to mount it to the pump. Does anyone have a link to a build on how to make one or set it up right?

Quote

you will be amazed at how much better it starts once the timing is bang

man, you would cry if you knew how long my car took to start hot and cold. in excess of 1 minute of cranking :cry: (which i know is brutal but i have no other choice. i hill start it when ever possible)

myke_w · « **Reply #10 on:** August 01, 2008, 01:04:31 pm »

I can hook you up with the dial indicator (and adaptor) if you are interested.

pm me..

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #11 on:** August 01, 2008, 01:43:05 pm »

Myke's stuff is top notch quality and imho great value.... if it's a choice between a dial gauge adapter or food then about half-way down in this thread there's a post from tawney:

http://www.vwdieselparts.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=771&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45

about building an adapter from brass fittings you'll find at Rona or Home Depot... dunno how well it works, but it looks fine.

myke_w · « **Reply #12 on:** August 01, 2008, 01:55:24 pm »

Thanks for the kind words Vince, I try really hard to carry only good stuff

I could also rent you a dial guage w / adapter.. - just let me know

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #13 on:** August 01, 2008, 03:14:06 pm »

Oh myke, i really appreciate that but about the food over good quality thing. im what you call a "starving student" if you've heard the term before :cry:

Brass fittings and hodge podging is the way for me it seems. but if i really f*k up i'll let you know myke for sure!

jimfoo · « **Reply #14 on:** August 01, 2008, 03:23:37 pm »

If you're making one, I'd get a bolt with the correct thread as a starting point and drill it out, and drill a hole for a set screw in the side. A brass pipe won't be the right diameter or thread.