VW golf tdi 2000 automatic (gls). Fuel pump

mattgf1123

Active member
Joined
Jul 14, 2006
car problems with occasionally not starting &/or fuel line issues. Local mechanic said it is air in the lines and it happens periodically and then usually the high gear or turbo (I guess) goes out and then ensuing high revs — have to stay below 60 mph or car would redline. This mechanic was able to alleviate these issues, but it eventually happens again. Then the re primes the fuel line and a month or so later the cycle repeats.

I went to the suggested tdi mechanics doc. I’m in Los Angeles and it’s very slim on mechanics. Most listed are not even around. I found new mcechanic though and he said I need a new fuel pump parts and labor about 2k. The only other option is to bring it to my old mechanic who has relocated out of the area but that does do rebuilds of the fuel pump. Wonder if this will address the turbo going out however. Please and any feedback would be great? Love this car but it’s costed me lots of time and money last couple years.

By the way, I found one cheaper pump online but it has a big cog on one and and it says it fits my car but doesn’t look like it and it’s an alh?
 

KLXD

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 22, 2009
Location
Lompoc, CA
TDI
'98, '2 Jettas
Sounds like you have two or three different and unrelated problems.

Fuel pump leak can be fixed with a new pump or the old one fixed with new seals. Usually leaks are only a problem after the car sits overnight, not while running.

Redlining sounds like the transmission going bad.

Maybe limp mode is happening also. This is loss of power, typically when going up hills on the highway. Cycling the key will usually cure it until it happens again.

How many miles on the car?

Be careful of cheap internet parts. Link them here for folks to check out.
 
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drucifer

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Location
fredericksburg virginia
TDI
2004 jetta sw tdi pd
First link 1420 new or 1390 rebuilt

Second link 375 used and 30 day warranty.

Prices seem in line. The big cog is how the pump is driven by the timing belt. They didn't bother to remove it. Look at your car to see how it goes together.

Warning I don't have a VE so look at what you have.
 

Tdijarhead

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Location
Lawrenceville PA
TDI
2003 TDI Jetta Daughters Car, 2001 TDI Beetle, Wife’s car, 2005 Golf TDI Mine, all 5 spds
The expensive pump is for a manual transmission car, you say you have an auto? There is a difference the auto is a 11mm pump (part number ends in J )the manual is a 10mm pump (part number ends in K). An 11 mm pump works on a manual but you will have issues putting a 10mm on an auto.

Unless your pump is visibly leaking or making noise I don’t think a new pump will fix your fuel prime problem. It sounds like you have an air leak in your fuel lines somewhere, the most likely spot is around the fuel filter.

The high revs sound like a transmission that’s on it way out. At 60mph the tach needle should be right around 2000rpm if it’s considerably higher you car is not going into 4th or high gear.

Do you have any engine codes?
 

KLXD

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 22, 2009
Location
Lompoc, CA
TDI
'98, '2 Jettas
I was thinking the same thing on the transmission but...

A better explanation of the high revs would be helpful.

When does it happen?

Maybe only on hills like going up the 405 where you loose power then have to floor it and the transmission downshifts? This would seem to indicate it's going into limp. Cycling the key off-on would immediately restore power.

Or are you just driving along and the revs increase? No downshifting happens?
 

csstevej

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 12, 2004
Location
north nj
TDI
2001 golf tdi 4 door auto now a manual, mine, 2000 golf 2 door M/T son's,daughters 98 NB non-TDI 2.0, 2003 TDI NB for next daughter, head repaired and on road,gluten for punishment got another tdi 2001NB,another yellow tdi NB
Anyone check the fluid level on the auto trans?
 

mattgf1123

Active member
Joined
Jul 14, 2006
Thanks for all the help. you guys rock. Sounds like fuel pumps seems to be functional equivalents. Seems like the controversy is over whether 1) swap out fuel pump, 2) rebuild it fixing seals(which was done, but not by a TDI expert), 3) check the lines and other fuel related flow issues (this again was done by the same mechanice -- he swapped out all the hoses).

I'm starting to think trying a new fuel pump could be worth it. I saw a mechanic on youtube talking about how it's a lot of work and extremely taxing what the fuel pump does. The mechanic that did all this work is no TDI expert, but he did say the same thing that the fuel pump seems like it has just lost it's initial power and needs to be swapped out.

Transmission: High gear, turbo, limp mode, etc.. The same mechanic I mentioned did this work too. He is highly regarded for this sort of work. I would assume the fluid levels are fine. There are really only 2 issues as I see it -- a (1)slight stutter before it kicks into first gear, (2)high revs seems to be caused by it not going into Turbo the mechanic said. Going up or down hills doesn't seem to have anything to do with this high-gear issue. As long as I don't go above 60, the revs are 3500 and probably fine. He's fixed this before but is now saying he needs a switch for it (speed sensor output switch).

With all this going on I forgot to mention one thing. The check engine has been on the whole time regardless of whether it's difficult to start or conks out(again, this is infrequent but it has lost all compression a couple of times).

Thanks!
 
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Tdijarhead

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Location
Lawrenceville PA
TDI
2003 TDI Jetta Daughters Car, 2001 TDI Beetle, Wife’s car, 2005 Golf TDI Mine, all 5 spds
3500rpm at 60mph means you’re driving in 3rd gear and the transmission is not shifting into high. That would explain a lot. Before I put big dollars into an injection pump I would make sure the transmission is good.

My 2000 Golf’s engine was running great but the transmission crapped out. A good running engine is useless mated to a junk transmission, and the 01M transmission your car was blessed with at the factory is less than ideal, bordering on junk.
 

KLXD

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 22, 2009
Location
Lompoc, CA
TDI
'98, '2 Jettas
If your quote is correct I find it troubling as to the knowledge/qualifications of the mechanic.

What the ell does "not going into Turbo" mean???

Now if he said not going into fourth gear that might make sense as Tdijarhead suggested.
 

mattgf1123

Active member
Joined
Jul 14, 2006
Yeah I’m sure he’s right about 4th gear and not turbo. I thought this might be the case but someone mentioned that turbo was the last thing that was engaged at higher speeds. Ok thanks for transmission assistance. So it won’t go into 4th? That means the transmission is done?
 

KLXD

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 22, 2009
Location
Lompoc, CA
TDI
'98, '2 Jettas
Idunno about the trans. My auto still works and it's the only auto I've had in 30 years or so.

For your info, the turbo is always working to some extent when you're stepping on the accelerator.
 

mrfiat

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2008
Location
Los Ranchos, NM
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI (Reflex Silver) , 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon (Black)
I suggest pulling a injection pump from the local pick a part place if you can find one. 11 mm off an auto car would be ideal. I paid $60 for my extra one at the local junkyard. I also put the clear fuel lines from a 5-speed car on my auto car. This way you can see if you are getting air bubbles in the fuel lines which causes hard starting.
 

mattgf1123

Active member
Joined
Jul 14, 2006
Ok. Getting a pump now. Thanks. 700 bucks to put in mechanic said but worth a try. Wish I knew how to put it in myself but I’d probably mess it up. Thanks

Re turbo. Thanks for clearing that up. Ok so forth gear is out. Mechanic that’s works on it says the codes being thrown indicate the car just needs speed sensor input and output switches. Hopefully he’s right. Those at least arent expensive.
 

KLXD

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 22, 2009
Location
Lompoc, CA
TDI
'98, '2 Jettas
Good time to have the timing belt done if yours isn't pretty new. If you do it make sure to get a kit from a reputable vendor that includes the several one time use bolts.
 

mattgf1123

Active member
Joined
Jul 14, 2006
thanks everybody for the help... nice community here. didn't hear back from the mechanic that was going to rebuild, so... throwing caution to the wind and bought a used fuel pump that looks clean and they said they'd refund me if it doesn't work out.
 

mattgf1123

Active member
Joined
Jul 14, 2006
thanks everybody for the help... nice community here. didn't hear back from the mechanic that was going to rebuild, so... throwing caution to the wind and bought a used fuel pump that looks clean and they said they'd refund me if it doesn't work out.
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
They're not especially hard to change, but you need to do the whole timing thing to get it right. Tools, VCDS, etc. There is a PDF around here somwhere just for this.
 

mattgf1123

Active member
Joined
Jul 14, 2006
Do you have this fuel pump pdf somewhere? Just was charged a lot to have a different fuel pump installed by our local mechanic (not a tdi specialist at all) as the fuel wasn't flowing again. Now, he is thinking the fuel pump is fine, but that maybe the power to it is bad? He says the fuel is coming in to the engine now, but it still conks out. Any help appreciated -- thanks.
 

csstevej

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 12, 2004
Location
north nj
TDI
2001 golf tdi 4 door auto now a manual, mine, 2000 golf 2 door M/T son's,daughters 98 NB non-TDI 2.0, 2003 TDI NB for next daughter, head repaired and on road,gluten for punishment got another tdi 2001NB,another yellow tdi NB
Well this is the pdf for the timing belt change…… you just need to set everything to top dead center with the appropriate tools, and make sure everything lines up. Loosen the tensioner, loosen the cam sprocket , remove the bolts, fuel line and electrical connectors.
Remove IP then reverse procedure for install…install IP , align IP with pin then follow rest of TB procedure on aligning and tensioning And tightening up the cam sprocket. Bleed the fuel and should be ok. Thats the quick version, but not that difficult.
A Bentley maintenance manual , Vcds and tools would help too.

https://forums.tdiclub.com/index.php?resources/a4-timing-belt-procedure.1/

Ok this is not quite a pdf but someone doing a IP install

 
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csstevej

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 12, 2004
Location
north nj
TDI
2001 golf tdi 4 door auto now a manual, mine, 2000 golf 2 door M/T son's,daughters 98 NB non-TDI 2.0, 2003 TDI NB for next daughter, head repaired and on road,gluten for punishment got another tdi 2001NB,another yellow tdi NB
If he didn’t follow the right way to set the timing it won’t fire.
If the fuel system isn’t purged correctly it won’t fire.
Hang a bottle of fuel like an IV and then pull a vacuum on the return line from the IP then try starting once you get a good fuel flow.
 
Joined
Apr 27, 2003
Location
Stafford Virginia 22556
TDI
96 glx variant tdi
Two years later and you're still fooling around with this same problem ? When you don't post your location, the guru who might be living in your town and could identify the problem in a New York minute can't help.
 
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