03_blue_jetta
Member
Summary and then an update after several weeks of no progress:
Original symptoms: no previous problems, driving along freeway in Sept' 2021 at around 80 km/h (50 mph) and suddenly engine went to 0 rpm. Coasting, I put in the clutch and re-started and ran for only a few seconds then died again. Towed car to my mom's house and put it in her garage.
I paid a mobile mechanic to come to mom's house he did several things wrong: sprayed starter into air intake, and had me crank the hell out of the engine for literally 30 seconds non-stop. This was later discovered to have burned out my starter motor. He also disconnected fuel lines into / out of fuel filter, thus introducing air into the fuel lines.
After getting rid of the mobile mechanic, and with help from this forum the problem was traced to be the high pressure diesel pump had skipped 4 teeth so fuel timing was off.
Got fuel pump timing aligned properly. Tried to start the car, but absolutely no cranking happening due to burned out starter.
Installed a replacement starter (a used one) from a wrecker.
Still no cranking - looks like my battery was very old and no good.
Now we're caught up to today (June 29 2022). A new battery was installed and I was sure the engine would fire up, but nope. Turns over but doesn't fire up. I did think that maybe my belt was old and the pump skipped teeth already while cranking today but after checking the timing again all seems well in that department. My best guess is air has been introduced into the fuel system. I can see air in the fuel line coming into the fuel filter. So what does a guy need to do to purge the air? Or does anyone have other ideas why it's won't start?
Original symptoms: no previous problems, driving along freeway in Sept' 2021 at around 80 km/h (50 mph) and suddenly engine went to 0 rpm. Coasting, I put in the clutch and re-started and ran for only a few seconds then died again. Towed car to my mom's house and put it in her garage.
I paid a mobile mechanic to come to mom's house he did several things wrong: sprayed starter into air intake, and had me crank the hell out of the engine for literally 30 seconds non-stop. This was later discovered to have burned out my starter motor. He also disconnected fuel lines into / out of fuel filter, thus introducing air into the fuel lines.
After getting rid of the mobile mechanic, and with help from this forum the problem was traced to be the high pressure diesel pump had skipped 4 teeth so fuel timing was off.
Got fuel pump timing aligned properly. Tried to start the car, but absolutely no cranking happening due to burned out starter.
Installed a replacement starter (a used one) from a wrecker.
Still no cranking - looks like my battery was very old and no good.
Now we're caught up to today (June 29 2022). A new battery was installed and I was sure the engine would fire up, but nope. Turns over but doesn't fire up. I did think that maybe my belt was old and the pump skipped teeth already while cranking today but after checking the timing again all seems well in that department. My best guess is air has been introduced into the fuel system. I can see air in the fuel line coming into the fuel filter. So what does a guy need to do to purge the air? Or does anyone have other ideas why it's won't start?