94 Jetta TD - Hard Start after sitting

[splitbuseric]

Hi all new member here,

Our 94 Jetta 1.9 Turbo Diesel IDI has been acting up lately. It takes about 30 seconds of cranking to get  it to start unless it has been running within the last minute or so. I have changed the glow plugs, fuel filter and check valve on top but I cannot get it to start properly. This car always started great even in the cold canadian winter. It has been getting worse for the last two months. I see very, very few bubbles in the supply fuel line, but a steadys stream of tiny(foamy) bubbles coming out of the injection pump. Immediately after the car is shut off if you run around front you can hear air sucking, appears to be from the injection pump area. I have changed all the clamps and replaced some sections of rubber fuel line. There is no obvious leak anywhere in the fuel system that I can find.

I 'think' (not a diesel mechanic here) that I am sucking air or the fuel is no staying up in the system after the car is shut off. When shut off you can see the fuel and air bubbles rush back down the lines.....

Any ideas i need to get this car reliable again.....please tell me the injection pump is not F&*^ed!

The car otherwise runs well once started, doesn't burn oil and has plenty of power, so I think the compression is okay....

Also what is the solenoid on the front(bumper) of the injection pump? Its not the fuel cutoff solenoid, that is on the drivers end of the pump.. It was not getting any power so I have wired it in with the fuel cutoff solenoid.... Was this wrong? It hasn't made any difference either way...

[blkboostedtruck]

well to me it sounds like your injection pump is loosing it's prime like the front seal is worn out there could be numerious places that it is sucking air to do this .but im sure some other members here might have a better idea what it is for you and have better advice . thats what i know from past experience with my stuff! well good luck! thanks Duane

[Vincent Waldon]

Couple of questions for clarification:

- are you sure your new glow plugs are getting power ??  Test with a test light or multimeter ?
- where is the foam coming out of the injection pump ?

In terms of the extra solenoid on the 1.9 pump there's some good pictures on this thread that explain what it does and if it needs power (answer = no as far as I recall !)

http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=579

[splitbuseric]

- are you sure your new glow plugs are getting power ?? Test with a test light or multimeter ?
- where is the foam coming out of the injection pump ?

In terms of the extra solenoid on the 1.9 pump there's some good pictures on this thread that explain what it does and if it needs power (answer = no as far as I recall !)

I have power at all 4 plugs(test light) and the returning fuel in the clear line is over 50% bubbles(foamy)...like the pump is sucking air?

Interesting about the solenoid....the wire going to mine actually grounded out according to the test light...shorted I assumed..