VW Dealer stumped in timing IDI pump

[Jskiller]

@ wayland
I am in Courtenay.

[Wayland]

Is the car driveable? I have a place in Qualicum where I work on my vehicles. If you could get the car there I could give you a hand w/ it, or you are welcome to borrow my timing tools if you want to try it yourself. PM me for details.

[nathan_b]

the dealer can hardly do alhs and the computer tells you the timing 

[Quantum TD]

Sounds like the cam and/or the pump are 180 degrees out.

Another possibility: does the pump have the correct OUT bolt for the fuel return? If not, you'll be short on power at higher RPMs.

[akyrie]

whats the best way to tell if your cam is 180 degrees off?   Thank you

[libbydiesel]

When the cam lobes for #1 are both pointing "up and away", the mark on the inside of the pump sprocket should be pointing at the line on the timing belt cover backing plate.

TMI:  The timing belt relates the crank, the cam and the injection pump.  The crank rotates two turns for every rotation of the cam or the injection pump.  Because of that, crank TDC occurs twice (as far as the crank is concerned, each TDC occurrence is the same) for each rotation of the cam and injection pump.  The position of the cam when the crank is at TDC determines which cylinder is on the starting the power stroke and which is starting the intake stroke.  Because of that, I never think of the cam as being 180° out but rather the pump is.  Regardless, whichever you consider the culprit (cam or pump) one of them is timed opposite the other when they are 180°.  In other words, the pump is injecting fuel into the #1 cylinder on the intake stroke when #4 is on the power stroke and vice versa.  The easiest way to tell if cam and pump are in time is to compare each when the crank is at TDC.     

[akyrie]

would the engine run with the pump 180 off? if so, what would it sound like? I looked around on this other forums, but didn't get an answer to that.    Thanks. Prob'ly silly question.

[libbydiesel]

Yes.  It will run 180° out.  With a little fueling adjustment it will actually run alright.  The symptoms are a reduction in power, hard cold starts, overly clacky sound, constant smoke and higher than normal EGTs.