Author Topic: Difficult starting and won't run! (Read 5752 times)

VW Scully · « **on:** July 29, 2007, 06:54:23 pm »

Hey everyone;
I noticed my Rabbit getting a bit hard to start a few days ago. It normally just fires right up but lately, it's had to crank a few times before it 'catches'.
So I got to thinking that maybe there was some clogging in the fuel filter or water in it, so I drained a bit off the bottom tonight and now she won't start. :oops: Well, she'll fire up, but be all sputtery and chuggy and run for a few seconds and then stall; like she's starved for fuel or there's air in thel ines. It got too dark to continue working, but tomorrow I'm going to try replacing the fuel filter (and filling it with fresh fuel first!) and see what happens.
However, I am wondering why I'd have a clogged filter cuz I only changed it 1.5 months ago and have run various blends of Biodiesel for over 2 years. :?

Any other ideas what might be going on!?! Any help is appreciated; she's my daily driver but now I'll have to take my 78 Bus to work tomorrow! :oops:

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #1 on:** July 29, 2007, 08:08:22 pm »

Yup, sounds like fuel starvation... and if your filter is really new then that's probably not it, sadly enough.

When you have enough light, check the clear part of the fuel tubing for air bubbles or very little fuel. If so... the search begins for the leak... basically the procedure is to work your way back thru the fuel system, tightening hoses, looking at clamps etc.

May also make sense to pull the fuel pickup/sender (if I remember in Rabbits in in the trunk ahead of the spare tire) and look at the screen... if it gets clogged it can restrict the system and cause air to come in places air normally doesn't appear.

The definitive test is to rig a hose straight from a jerry can into the pump... but I'd leave that as a last resort assuming you see air.

Vince

subsonic · « **Reply #2 on:** July 29, 2007, 08:10:53 pm »

two years of bio will have cleaned out the tank and lines.
Air leak into fuel line or fuel filter?
Bad glow plug or two?
Tank full of algee?

jtanguay · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2007, 11:34:14 am »

get a can of bio and run the pump straight off it. if she runs/sounds good, then it's obviously the water separator, or the in tank screen etc.

how does the pump look? was it ever rebuilt? maybe the seals are taking their toll

i bet there is vacuum on your fuel system. which isn't good... either that or the pump is starting to suck in air

BlackTieTD · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2007, 02:32:35 pm »

Quote from: "jtanguay"

get a can of bio and run the pump straight off it. if she runs/sounds good, then it's obviously the water separator, or the in tank screen etc.

yep skully just run it off a gas can to see if it still does it. if it runs the same then you can rule out filter and all the way back.

VW Scully · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:13:23 pm »

Hey guys;
Thanks for all your repsonses!

I took the fuel filter off today and discovered that it was barely on; it either came loose cuz I didn't tighten it enough when I changed it or I accidentally loosened it when I opened the water drain the other day. :oops: So we put a bunch of biodiesel into it and put it back on tightly and the car started up and ran perfectly.

However, I tend to agree with the glow plug assessment; I think perhaps that was the reason it was hesitating to start a bit last week so I'm going to order a new set right now! :shock:

I'm not sure about the sediment screen in the tank; I was wondering about that but I do like to keep my tank at least 1/2 full or more all the time. Wouldn't that help avoid gunk and crap getting into the fuel system? Otherwise, I am thinking it will be a right PITA to address anything clogging back there.

Well, I'll change those glow plugs ASAP and hope my problem is solved (well, THIS problem at least; haha) :oops:
Thanks everyone!

burn_your_money · « **Reply #6 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:29:38 pm »

How much are you paying for glow plugs?

jtanguay · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2007, 04:45:40 am »

peter (vw4motion) has a huge stock of i think beru gp's. good quality! forgot how much he wants for a set though.

saurkraut · « **Reply #8 on:** July 31, 2007, 05:39:22 am »

"I'm not sure about the sediment screen in the tank; I was wondering about that but I do like to keep my tank at least 1/2 full or more all the time. Wouldn't that help avoid gunk and crap getting into the fuel system? Otherwise, I am thinking it will be a right PITA to address anything clogging back there."

Its not too bad really. The hardest part is taking out the back set. Once the seat is out, lift the carpet, remove the cover in the floor, then remove the level sensor from the top of the tank. Your there.

You can run the tank low, and then drain it from that tapered hose on the right side of the tank, if you don't want to immerse your hands in diesel fuel.

VW Scully · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2007, 07:31:36 pm »

Quote from: "burn_your_money"

How much are you paying for glow plugs?

I'll let you know tomorrow when I go get them :lol:

burn_your_money · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2007, 08:08:06 pm »

if it's more then $60 they can be had for cheaper...

VW Scully · « **Reply #11 on:** August 01, 2007, 07:45:21 pm »

$20 each! Ouch! :shock: Oh well, at least I only needed 2 cuz I had some already.
Now I need a rear wheel bearing; it never ends! :roll: haha

burn_your_money · « **Reply #12 on:** August 01, 2007, 08:22:15 pm »

the luxurys of not having a warrantie