Out of fuel & glow plugs

[Kazuki]

so i ran the jetta out of fuel by mistake gauge wasn't right  i filled her back up 6 gallons but she still wont start ive cracked the lines for the injectors but still no luck i know the switch it working on the pump so thats good ive also filled the filter but i still get nothing ive also looked at the fuse block for the glow plugs and it looks like the PO just connected the 2 wires together at one port i take it this is not good for the system?

[bajacalal]

Are you actually getting fuel out of the lines?

You crack the lines to release the air. Loosen the lines at the injectors, and crank while holding the throttle all the way to the floor. Crank for like 10 second bursts, then let it sit for a minute or so... until fuel comes out the lines. It might not start with the lines loosened but once you have fuel coming out you should be able to tighten them back up.

The glow plugs should have a fuse, and it would be prudent to put that back and check the condition of the glow plugs, but if it worked fine before you ran it out of fuel it's probably not the glow plugs.

[Kazuki]

yeah ive cracked the lines cranked  then tightened and repeated still not firing. is the fuel system pressured  on these cars?

[bajacalal]

Did you see fuel coming out of the lines? Don't close them until little drops of fuel start coming out.

I don't know what you mean by "pressurized." The injectors operate at very high pressure, like 2000 psi, so they have to have full pressure with no air to open properly. With air, there isn't enough pressure to fire the injectors.

The other side of the system, before the injection pump, is not pressurized. The fuel is drawn up from the tank, through the fuel filter, and into the pump by an internal fuel pump within the injection pump. Does that make sense?

I suppose it could have "lost prime" and isn't drawing fuel. You might try to force feed it some fuel, by putting pouring fuel to the inlet nipple of the injection pump, through a funnel and hose, maybe elevate the funnel some so gravity helps it fill, then crank.

edit: We're talking about an older VW, not a TDI, right?

[TylerDurden]

I'd attach a hand-operated "Mighty-vac" (or the cheap copy) to the IP outlet (tank return line) and pull fuel through the IP, then try cranking until fuel appears at the injectors.

[bajacalal]

Those things are nice, if you have them. I have one, I use it for brakes, works great.

Has anyone tried using a boat primer bulb for filling the pump on one of our cars? It seems like it would work, no?

[8v-of-fury]

Works just fine, ive used a primer ball as a permanent piece on a car a few years ago..

The pump is definitely just needing to be primed. As was said you need to see fuel at the lines beofreyou tighten them back up.

[Kazuki]

Works just fine, ive used a primer ball as a permanent piece on a car a few years ago..

The pump is definitely just needing to be primed. As was said you need to see fuel at the lines beofreyou tighten them back up.

Yes I think your right I just pulled all of the glow plugs and found one that was broken / dead

[Kazuki]

update i poured  fuel in the main line and tried priming the system  im not getting anything injectors 1&3 are not getting fuel 2&4 are getting plenty of fuel   

[8v-of-fury]

if two have fuel you should be good, tighten them back up.. and get a another vehicle to jump start so you have real fast crank speed

[burn_your_money]

Tighten 2 and 4 and keep cranking with your foot to the floor. Better yet, have someone pull you around but tighten all 4 if you are doing this

[ORCoaster]

I just had mine all apart over the weekend.  If I see fuel on one or two loose injector nuts I close them all tight.  I then hit the glows and hold the foot at half throttle and hit the starter. Hold the key until it revs pretty good.  I let it go a bit and be sure all the air is out of the lines.  Once it is good and strong running I back the foot out of it. 

New rings this weekend.  Hoping to burn less oil and blowby.  So far looks promising.  Still got 34 mpg in town with nearly gone top ring on #3 and a broken oil ring on #1.  I had a real nasty blow by problem and constant blue smoke out the back. 


Too bad I don't need to drive long haul anymore.  I wonder if I would be cracking the 50 mpg barrier now.   

[RabbitJockey]

I just had mine all apart over the weekend.  If I see fuel on one or two loose injector nuts I close them all tight.  I then hit the glows and hold the foot at half throttle and hit the starter. Hold the key until it revs pretty good.  I let it go a bit and be sure all the air is out of the lines.  Once it is good and strong running I back the foot out of it. 

New rings this weekend.  Hoping to burn less oil and blowby.  So far looks promising.  Still got 34 mpg in town with nearly gone top ring on #3 and a broken oil ring on #1.  I had a real nasty blow by problem and constant blue smoke out the back. 


Too bad I don't need to drive long haul anymore.  I wonder if I would be cracking the 50 mpg barrier now.   

yep pressing down the pedal has always seemed to help on mine, and also filling the injection pump through the out hole.

[Kazuki]

I just had mine all apart over the weekend.  If I see fuel on one or two loose injector nuts I close them all tight.  I then hit the glows and hold the foot at half throttle and hit the starter. Hold the key until it revs pretty good.  I let it go a bit and be sure all the air is out of the lines.  Once it is good and strong running I back the foot out of it. 

New rings this weekend.  Hoping to burn less oil and blowby.  So far looks promising.  Still got 34 mpg in town with nearly gone top ring on #3 and a broken oil ring on #1.  I had a real nasty blow by problem and constant blue smoke out the back. 


Too bad I don't need to drive long haul anymore.  I wonder if I would be cracking the 50 mpg barrier now.   

yep pressing down the pedal has always seemed to help on mine, and also filling the injection pump through the out hole.

.       


I've tired that ^ filling the injection pump through the out hole
also heres a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OmAdqvae4Y

[TylerDurden]

Saw the vid.

I'd bottle-feed: from (and back-to) a clean container, to separate the filter and long lines from the variables. Ensure there is flow through the IP.

I'd also verify the basics:
No air in lines
Cold-start lever pulled
12V at GPs

Then, I'd check compression and timing.