(Not) Starting mystery.....

[zozie]

Hi all;

My mk1 seems to have developed another interesting issue
When I try starting it first, it fires right up and runs for about one or 2 second, then stops and won't start again before 30 seconds of cranking.
Then it fires right up and runs fine......Which makes think it's a fuel delivery issue, but I only a very small bubble in the fuel line (obvisouly a leak but it's been there 3 years )
It shouldn't be a glowing issue as it start up, then dies, plus the symptoms are totally different as I have good experience what it's like to start this with no plugs....
I'll change the fuel filter today, but I drained it yesterday and there was no water or dirt in it.....

Any thoughts?

[84tdrabbit]

its losing its prime.. cause theres always a little fuel in the pump.. always enough to get it to atleast fire once, or run for a couple seconds, like you described. then once the fuel is pulled back into the pump, it fires right up then..

[zozie]

Well that must be it but I'm not sure where the fuel is going or what's causing it as there are no visible leaks. The pump was rebuilt by performance diesel a year and a half ago. The only thing I did to it recently was installing a new fuel filter (Some funny looking I've never see before) but I have a hard time imagining that having to do with anything with loosing prime and the filter is full.

[theman53]

Sometimes it can leak air and not fuel. If your filter is the spin on type I would check the orings on the inner and outer. After that I would try to sure up any connections in the fuel lines.

[BAM]

its losing its prime.. cause theres always a little fuel in the pump.. always enough to get it to atleast fire once, or run for a couple seconds, like you described. then once the fuel is pulled back into the pump, it fires right up then..

you have a leak in your supply from fuel tank to pump.  Inspect all lines and connections start the front most problems are found there next is steel line front to rear.  If nothing can be found visually then find a shop that can "smoke" it for you.  We charge an hour for smoking a fuel system for leaks so don't pay for 3 it is a simple system.