sat for a week, now hard start

[kiff]

84 NA 1.6 diesel rabbit.

Before, car always started within a second or two of cranking, rough idling, but always started.  Blew a brake line, I let the car sit for a week, now, she doesn't want to start when it's cold.  I'll get smoke out the tail pipe but not firing.  I've had to bump start it.  Once It's warmed up it runs fine.

I would figure glow plugs, but I should have had a issue before no?

[RabbitJockey]

could be glow plugs or a loose fuel line thats letting air out of the injection pump.

[kiff]

Issue is not the plugs, just was checking it out, there are air bubbles coming through the fuel line from the filter to the pump.  No clue why this would be.  Never had a issue before.  Ideas?

[blkboostedtruck]

weak battery from not driving every day will do it also!
my rabbit sat for a month 1week it would start and the next it would not!
even though it turned over it just wasnt fast enough!
thats my 2cents it could be a # of things?
Duane

[jtanguay]

where do you live?  dry climates are probably best for leaving a car sit...  :wink:

[blkboostedtruck]

ahh yes please go back to your profile and add your location!
Duane

[kiff]

Car has a brand spankin new bat she cranks just fine.  I found a few posts about the water separator, thought AH! that's it, dove under the car, no separator on my rabbit.  Checked my clamps and banjo bolts, all seem tight.

Should my car have a water separator?  Nothing looked odd under there?  like anything was cut out.

[jtanguay]

Car has a brand spankin new bat she cranks just fine.  I found a few posts about the water separator, thought AH! that's it, dove under the car, no separator on my rabbit.  Checked my clamps and banjo bolts, all seem tight.

Should my car have a water separator?  Nothing looked odd under there?  like anything was cut out.

i think the water separator was exclusively on mk2's.. with the temp differences come shrinking and expanding, and moisture is also not good.  my fuel lines developed small fractures at the clamping portions.  system started sucking air and then was nearly impossible to start.  i had to replace most of them, but afterwards she started beautifully (also with a rebuilt starter, and 3 new glow plugs  :lol:)

[burn_your_money]

No your car will not have a water seperator except for the one that is built into the fuel filter.

There is a screen in the tank which may be clogged and is causing air to be drawn into the system.

Try taking the hose off the fuel filter and putting it in a container of CLEAN diesel fuel. See if it will fire up then, that way we can eliminate the fuel delivery system.

Check to make sure that the stop solenoid is functioning properly first though.

Also, if you have help handy try push starting it before getting too deep into it.

[blkboostedtruck]

or i always install a boat primer bulb so  i can hand pump fuel to the pump!
i install it between the filter and the injection pump! and having that there can give you clues if you have problems somewhere else! like if it colapses means your filter needs to be replaced or there is blockage in the line somewhere? or if you ever run out of fuel you can pump fuel up to the pump  real fast and efficent! and thier cheap!
thanks Duane

[RabbitJockey]

har har look at me i knew the problem on the first post.  i am the man let me tell you.

do you keep the hand pump in the passenger cabin?

[kiff]

I am thinking it's the screen in the tank.  I had the back jacked up for the week, so the sludge would have had time to slide to the front of the tank (pick up)  How do I get in there to clean it?

[kiff]

Ok spent some time working on the rabbit tonight.  Took the feed and return line from the pump, put it in some clean diesel, and I would not fire.  Bubbles coming out of the return line   I looked all around the pump and don't see any leaks or puddles.

I put it back together, pushed it out of the drive way, coasted down the hill, popped the clutch and it started up.  

What is my next step?  

Also, I did the pimp my glow plug mod awhile ago, and read something about checking continuity on the plugs?  how do I go about doing this to test them?  I am getting 12v at each plug, but I don't have a 50amp meter, just continuity and OHM meter.

I am baffled how it could start perfect before sitting for a week, now she doesn't want to start.  First start after sitting took a few cranks, but started.  Drove around for the day, next morning went to start it and nothing.  I am still hoping it's a clogged filter or fuel line.   How do I go about checking the in tank filter?  I checked around by the spare and didn't see a hatch.

[Vincent Waldon]

I think perhaps at this point the "sat for a week" could well be unrelated.... if something is going to break it has to start sometime !

In order to check the continuity of the glow plugs you need to be able to check their resistance one plug at a time when disconnected from the supply.  It sounds like you make have individual wires to each plug so you're in good shape... just isolate each plug from the main supply and check for continuity to ground.

If you're getting bubbles when you have have the lines in a small tank of diesel (assuming the pump is fully primed) the air can really only be coming from the pump itself... very often the input seal... which will also make the car hard starting if it lets fuel siphon back to the tank when it sits for a while.

All said, if it will reliably start when pushed but not on its own steam I'd focus on the electrical system... glow plugs and the starter system... diesels need good cranking speed which push starting may be delivering but not your starter.

[kiff]

So, got towed out of the driveway, coasted down the hill, sputter sputter sputter... vrooooom! quick U turn, back the the house, pop the hood.  NO BUBBLES, turn it off, try and start it, motor has only been running for a minute or so.  and she starts first turn. GAH!  this is really making me think glow plugs.