Start..Run for 30 secs..Dies....Start..runs..dies...repeat....

[ted.hight]

As I headed home from work the other night about 20 mins in my car mysteriously went to poor idle then died.  I pulled over, restarted then she died again about a mile down the road...then again in a 1/4 mile and the about every 200 or less ft.  So today I finally looked her over and primed the pump, changed the fuel filter, primed the filter and she'd start for about 30 seconds, then just die.  So I though maybe it was outta fuel so I added 1.5 gallons in the tank and the same thing happened.  30 seconds of run then die.  I also discovered a crack in the line from the filter to the IP so I replaced that but the same problem continued. 

This is a 1981 Rabbit 1.6 N/A. 

Anyone have any help?  I am bamboozled.

Ted

[burn_your_money]

Hook a hose up from a jerry can full of clean diesel to the fuel filter and see if it still does it. Probably wouldn't hurt to put the pump return into the jerry can as well

[ted.hight]

Thank you for the replies!  I will try the jerry can this evening after work. 

Also I have seen bubbles in the fuel line before, so I replaced it, but the only fuel line the local auto parts store had was black...

Ted

[Dakotakid]

I haven't owned Mk. I's for awhile....but, isn't there little rubber fuel lines down there off the steel tank which eventually crack and need replacing?

[Rabbit on Roids]

I haven't owned Mk. I's for awhile....but, isn't there little rubber fuel lines down there off the steel tank which eventually crack and need replacing?

yea, its about 2 inches long, and goes from the tank to the hard line. its one size on one end, and way bigger on the other end.

[burn_your_money]

and around $7 from the dealer IIRC

[ted.hight]

I replaced the rubber line off the fuel tank that feeds the hard lines and it didn't help the problem.      So I guess its off to the next check point.  My brother in law suggested pressuring the lines from the filter back to see if any air/fuel is leaking that way, but I'm not convinced that will get me any results.  Thanks for the ideas so far guys!

Will keep you posted on the progress.

Ted

[burn_your_money]

  I will try the jerry can this evening after work. 

How did this turn out?

[ted.hight]

When I ran it with the jerry can it ran till the diesel ran out...  So I know the problem is at the filter or before... 

[ted.hight]

I finally figured it out today!

Some how the fitting that sits between the banjo bolt and the fuel filter housing (where the fuel line to the pump goes out) had a ding in it.  So my next question is what is that called/ anyone know where to get a new one?  I currently have the car running, I just put a nylon washer in the there as a temporary fix to seal up the air leak.

Thanks for all the help.

By the way I should have listed to my brother in law in the first place...Just putting a little air pressure in the fuel line showed me exactly where the leak was....

Ted