I washed the engine off and now poor running

[scrounger]

Last night I decided to hose off the engine and radiator of my mk2 jetta td. It was dusty from running on our parched gravel roads. I didn't use high pressure.

Today I went to start it and it was slow starting and wouldn't idle. I figured some moisture got in it somewhere. I nursed it about a half mile and decided to turn back toward home.

If it were a gas engine I would have guessed wet ignition system or something in the EFI. This critter is so simple I really can't imagine.

I last drove it two days ago 150 miles and it was normal running.

I have had problems with air in the fuel line and replaced one of two lines at the filter, it returned to starting instantly again, today it was slower to fire. Perhaps I have a second line was ready to go and I bumped it with the hose. It looked like there may be some air in the clear line again.

Maybe the engine washing is just a red herring?

You guys on this list have been great every time I have had a problem.

[RabbitJockey]

i am thinking red herring unless u some how caused the fuel solenoid wire or connection to be somewhat faulty.

[theman53]

If you got water into the intake it is possible you bent a rod.

[scrounger]

A few weeks ago I had used a piece of clear 5/16" line to replace a leaking black leaking line. It fit on my fuel filter perfectly and fit over the 1/4" hard plastic line on the fuel pump.

Had used a standard hose clamp which leaked, causing my symptoms.

There are a couple solenoids on the throttle linkage. They don't seem to do much.

[RabbitJockey]

solenoids are just for the shift light.

[scrounger]

Thanks for the follow-up answer. Nothing much works in my car except the basics. No wonder why I didn't notice them. Thanks.

[8v-of-fury]

I have done a high pressure boiling soapy water wash before. On my 1.7, 1.6 NA, 1.6 TD, 1.8 Digi, and 1.9 M-TDI.. I have never had the problems you describe. When you say "slow to start" what exactly do you mean? it takes more cranks to fire off? or the starter is physically turning the engine over slower?

There are a few things to address, did you get any water in the intake?? This is important, as if you did.. bad things have happened. Now you would have had to get quite a bit, but a few drops in to any one cylinder could be catastrophic. As you may well know water is not compressible, therefore getting some in a cylinder that already gets up to 400-500psi.. would mean havoc somewhere, and its usually the weakest link. The connecting rods.

NOW, if you are sure you didn't get any water in the intake then it is a whole other ball-game. If it were just a garden hose with or without a nozzle.. there isn't enough pressure there to knock anything loose really.. plus, you've said it yourself a simple beast, so you know there isn't much to knock loose to begin with.

Check the pumps power wire, check your fuel lines, get rid of the air bubbles. Power to the pump so it can pass fuel, and air is all that is needed.

[scrounger]

The cause of the poor running was that I had a leaking fuel hose clamp. Perhaps I bumped it or maybe it was a random thing.

I have kept the full stock air box with stock air filter in it. Not much chance of getting crud or water in the combustion chambers or crankcase.

Thanks to all that responded.