Hey guys I have a 98 tdi. Its been starting harder and harder. Until one day I shut it off and now it just sputters and puffs white smoke like theres no end in site. You can tell its not running on all cylinders. I had air in my clear line. So I found the cuprit which was dry rotted fuel lines. So not skimping I replaced them From the tank to the filter.Finally got the air bubbles out of the clear line But now it still just sputters. There is foam coming out it you crack a few of the injectors. I was wondering it this seal I hear about on the injection pump under the timing cover could be bad and causing it to suck air. Or if my pump is just done for. It does have 262 on the clock. Any Ideas?
Did you remove all the air out of the fuel lines and pump??? I usually use a vacuum pump hooked up to the fuel retrun. It sounds like you have air in the injection pump.....
Make sure you get all the air out and then try starting it!!!
You can use a brake vacuum pump...just becareful because the diesel like to eat away the seals!!!!
our 98 tdi was doing the same thing untill i modified the timing via vag-com...ours was so far off it was a wonder it even started.