Author Topic: No pump prime (Read 4544 times)

ezekiel · « **on:** September 06, 2008, 09:18:01 pm »

okay, walk me through things to check, cause this is getting on my nerves.

things I know:

-timing is all proper, pump, cam, the whole 9 yards.

-pump will not prime, injector lines are cracked

-stop solenoid is functioning properly

-I pulled the clear hose (the water seperator to pump hose) and shoved it into a quart of ATF and it would not pull any fluid in

-the engine is from Germany, and as such, probably sat forever, was very dry when I cracked the lines after I got it, so I wouldn't be surprised if something was seized inside.

thanks much, I think I've hit every dead end known to man on this engine swap :x :x

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2008, 09:21:45 pm »

Best bet is to apply suction at the OUT banjo fitting until a steady stream of fuel with no air bubbles comes out... this draws fuel thru the entire system, filling the filter and pump with fresh fuel and also convincing you that there are no blockages anywhere.

ezekiel · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2008, 09:28:19 pm »

I will give that a shot tomorrow

thank you sir

burn_your_money · « **Reply #3 on:** September 06, 2008, 10:43:33 pm »

Also remove the IN fitting and pour as much fluid as you can into the pump. This will lubricate the vanes and create better suction. Bosch builds the vane pumps tough so they shouldn't be damaged from being run dry.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #4 on:** September 06, 2008, 10:44:14 pm »

If you have compressed air you can also lightly compress the gas tank via the return line to help force the fuel to the pump.

shotwell · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2008, 04:17:58 pm »

Quote from: "burn_your_money"

Also remove the IN fitting and pour as much fluid as you can into the pump. This will lubricate the vanes and create better suction. Bosch builds the vane pumps tough so they shouldn't be damaged from being run dry.

Thanks SO much for posting this. I was having trouble getting my dad's '03 TDI running again after running out of fuel. We both thought the injector pump was gone.

I couldn't believe how much diesel we actually got in there! We pulled the fuel through the filter with a mighty vac and poured it right in...worked perfectly. Cracked the injector lines at the injectors, turned it over a few times, tightened everything back up, then started it.

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #6 on:** September 07, 2008, 04:58:18 pm »

Mighty Vacs are a dry injection pump's best friend.

Pretty handy for dry calipers and slave cylinders as well... :wink:

ezekiel · « **Reply #7 on:** September 07, 2008, 08:12:35 pm »

update:

got some clear vinyl hose and sucked a bunch of ATF into the pump, then I tried to turn it over and nothing. So I sucked on the out line some more and finally got fuel coming up from the tank, no air.

however, still won't start.

2 new facts:

-pump is leaking out the timing hole in the end of the pump, I think I may have not tightened the bolt enough, or the seal there is toast.

-after I stop cranking, fuel flows back towards the tank from the pump. My fuel line was diesel colored, now it's ATF pink colored.

I know the out line is okay cause I was able to easily suck fuel into the pump.

I'm going to check the seal/bolt tomorrow after work, anyone else have any ideas on things to try?

thanks so far, I had no idea it'd take so much cranking and sucking to get fuel into the pump, took half the quart of ATF, and then some fuel to boot. The injectors were getting a fuel/ATF mix at them, so I tightened the lines back up before I made a mess.

jtanguay · « **Reply #8 on:** September 07, 2008, 08:34:45 pm »

the fuel lines will crack on the insides, and is virtually undetectable (which lead to slow leaks)... i suggest you check the fuel filter. the fuel filter pre-heater is also a good suspect for leaking air... it will most likely leak when it is cooler out if its bad. and not so much when its warm.

best mod is to simply use the older style filter without that hole & bridge the lines together. mine went bad on me earlier this year... bad glow plugs don't help any either... and i also had 3 bad ones! i finally roasted my old starter while trying to get the stupid thing going too :lol: (it was making noises for a few years!)

ezekiel · « **Reply #9 on:** September 07, 2008, 09:32:32 pm »

well, haven't checked glow plugs, but it's also warm here (70s) and the truck has been in my garage.

it's a mk1, only fuel filter I know is the fuel/water seperator, which I guess is a filter too, and that is new a year ago. No pre-heater that I've ever seen on the car.

the hole I was talking about was the timing hole, there's a bolt in it normally, in the pump head, in the center of the injector lines.

ezekiel · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2008, 07:12:23 pm »

thanks guys, it started about 10 minutes ago.

It was the seal on the vent screw like I thought. Just replaced it, I had a seal kit laying around.

now I can put coolant in it and finish putting it all together (I only ran it for 5 seconds)

very excited!!!