Just got a 1986 diesel Golf ----Need Help!!!

[mtnbob]

Just got a 1986 golf diesel with 107,000 miles, Body and interior in great shape, but it doesn't run. Been sitting for two years. I have to get it running and get it out of where its at, before it gets towed to the wreckers in a week(code enforcement). Obviously i'll need to put a charger on the battery. I'm planning on buying a fuel filter or two also. Should I drain the tank? Best way to clean out the fuel system? Under the hood I noticed the intake air hose was disintegrated. How do you find a service manual? the one's around here cover everything but the diesel engine model Golf. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated will post pics of my new baby as soon as I get it running and clean it up.
Thanks
Mtnbob

[BlackTieTD]

hi mtnbob, and welcome.

not much time to type so here goes.
you need a bentley manual. forget haynes, etc they are junk. amazon.com has the best deal on bentleys.
you can drain the tank if you want. i'd bypass all that non-sense for the purpose of moving the car i'd get some fuel line, a brand new fuel filter, and a small gas can full with diesel.
gas can > fuel line > filter > fuel line > injection pump
there is no in-take or in-line fuel pump (factory) in these cars.
i'd get it running using that setup (use clear line so you can monitor air bubbles) and if it was running i'd tie down that can under the hood really well and drive it carefully to where it needs to go (call me crazy?? i dunno seems fine to me and gets the job done)
replace the air hose if it looks shot. replace anything that looks sketchy.
yes charge the battery, may also help to have a boost while you crank it over.
make sure the glow plugs are getting power and are functional (search this forum to find out how to do that). if you have no glows it will be tough to start. uhh i think thats it. good luck, cheers.

[BlackTieTD]

ps - right after you get it going, get up to speed somewhere safe, then hammer the brakes to see if you'll pop an old crusty brake line. better it happens then than in an emergency situation.

[BruceM31]

heck, i'd try giving it a good boost or even get a new battery and try starting it.  you never know she might just go.  if that doesn't work i agree with black tie's method. that should work if everything else is kosher.

[BlackTieTD]

i'd just be worried about gumming up the pump. i've never had that happen personally so i don't know if it would be a big deal or not. 2 yr old fuel, at least. when you do the fuel filter top it up with diesel before you install it -- will make it faster to prime, less battery wasted.

[mtnbob]

thank you all for the suggestions!!!!!!!

[clbanman]

ps - right after you get it going, get up to speed somewhere safe, then hammer the brakes to see if you'll pop an old crusty brake line. better it happens then than in an emergency situation.

You can hammer on the brakes just fine without moving the car.  The brake lines don't know if you're moving, and if one blows, its even safer.

[BlackTieTD]

good point. after any car is sitting i like to hammer on the brakes until i can feel that all the rust has cleaned off the rotors. so by doing it moving it takes care of both.

[mtnbob]

Ok I have a charger lined up and just bought a timing belt kit. I liked the suggestion about using a gas container and fuel line to directly fuel the car. where do I get the fuel pump? Does the car not come with one stock? Sorry for the ignorance, but I have been a long time subaru owner and the diesel is all new to me.

[BlackTieTD]

the injection pump is mechanical. it is driven off of the timing belt and is bolted to the engine. when you pop the hood its right on top looking at you... behind/above the alternator. one line is the feed line (if there is one clear and one solid, it will be the clear one) and the other is the return.

if you're unsure what the pump is... there will be some hard metal lines going to the 4 injectors and they will all lead back to the pump.

have fun  :mrgreen:

[jtanguay]

a lift pump isn't a bad idea though.. especially for older pumps

i'm going to be installing one when the weather gets better.

[mtnbob]

I got the 1986 Golf Diesel running this weekend!!!!!! I took the suggestions regarding a small gas can and some tubing, and used some starting fluid. I took awhile but I finally got it started, with help from a good battery charger too. I then drained the fuel tank and put in some fresh fuel. A few questions though:  I seemed to go through a lot of fuel. These cars are supposed to get great mileage, but i went though a gallon pretty quickly, just starting it and warming it up a few times. I know the first time it had to refill the filter and lines but the second gallon went very quick too. Could the injectors be bad? Or could it be something else?
Thanks again
mtnbob

Btw the fuel pump seems to be pulling the fuel in very well, maybe too well lol

[burn_your_money]

good to hear you got it going. Starting fluid is not a good idea though, try to avoid using it at all costs.

Here are a couple reasons why you might have bad mileage
- bad pump
- bad injectors
- incorrect timing (injection and cam)
- fuel leaks
- incorrect operating temperature
- poor compression

There are many more possibilities as well

[BruceM31]

if the fuel return line isn't hooked into your fuel can that you used it will seem like your using more cause you not seeing what goes back in.  

just another contributing factor to using your mileage

[BlackTieTD]

what bruce said.

but burn makes some good points as well. once you have it on the road, monitor consumption and see how bad it actually is.