2003 Jetta TDI not getting fuel

TDIDaveNH

Left Lane Coal Roller at Large
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Location
North Conway, NH
TDI
1997 Passat TDI x2 1984 Buick Century 4.3 diesel. 2012 X5d 2012 Passat 6-speed
Another tip

Ride,
It's very easy to cook a starter on the ALH. In the past when I've been at my witts' end and swapping batteries every 10 minutes to maintain cranking speed, this is what won the war: Removing ALL the glow plugs before you start cranking the engine. It's much easier on the entire starting system and makes for a rapid air purge. However, if the wind isn't just right, it can be messy.

The sound the engine makes during this process is worth the effort of pulling the plugs alone:D

You'll know immediately when the injectors start popping off.

Lastly, I would caution you to not have anyone, I mean ANYONE stand in front of the car with hood raised while you are cranking the engine!!
 

whitedog

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2004
Location
Bend, Oregon
TDI
2004 Jetta that I fill by myself
So you are saying the car is sitting on the dealer's lot and they are going to let you work on it there?
 

ridefast07

Active member
Joined
Jan 24, 2011
Location
West Virginia
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI
gravity fed the injection pump and managed to get fuel to the injectors. battery did not have enough charge to crank the pump over fast enough tho. noticed that fuel in the line was still being lost even if not being turned over. manually blew into the line going to the pump and watched as diesel steadily dripped out of the back of the seal where the pump meets the block...do I order the seal kit or is that just a just of time and money?
 

Nutsnbolts

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Nov 1, 2001
Location
Weare, NH
TDI
2000 Jetta, Silver Arrow
If it's the distributor head seal that is leaking, then the seal is about $20 at an injection shop, and there are how-to here, and even on YouTube about replacing it. You don't have to take the pump out of the car to accomplish it either, if you take your time.

-Rich
 

SheeB

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Location
Ottawa, ON
TDI
2001 Jetta GLS Manual
If it's the distributor head seal that is leaking, then the seal is about $20 at an injection shop, and there are how-to here, and even on YouTube about replacing it. You don't have to take the pump out of the car to accomplish it either, if you take your time.

-Rich

On my Mityvac it has a pressure and vacuum option. If I am trying to narrow down a potential leak on my pump (as I cannot see anything visually at this point) but I am losing prime overnight, would applying air pressure (10-15psi???) be ok to do somewhat similiar to what the OP did by blowing into the intake side of the fuel line to the pump?
 

DanG144

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Location
Chapin, South Carolina, USA
TDI
2005 A4 Jetta 5spd
I would do that.
Limiting it to 12 psi ( what a lift pump puts out) is a good idea.

But you should go easy, a sudden reversal of pressure could move the o-ring seal you are testing over and block the air flow. But it would move back and leak when put under vacuum again.

Will you be using soapy water to look for bubbles while pumping in air?

I would try fuel under slightly positve pressure, and look for fuel. try to keep it down around 2 psi or less to keep from shifting the seals.
 

SheeB

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Location
Ottawa, ON
TDI
2001 Jetta GLS Manual
I would do that.
Limiting it to 12 psi ( what a lift pump puts out) is a good idea.

But you should go easy, a sudden reversal of pressure could move the o-ring seal you are testing over and block the air flow. But it would move back and leak when put under vacuum again.

Will you be using soapy water to look for bubbles while pumping in air?

I would try fuel under slightly positve pressure, and look for fuel. try to keep it down around 2 psi or less to keep from shifting the seals.
I will try the soapy water while applying 12psi of air to the supply side of the pump and plug/clamp off the return side hose. In another thread, it seems to sound like a head seal gone bad though.
 

johnlynch47

Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2013
Location
bradenton
TDI
2002 vw golf tdi gls
Thank you gents!!

I had a similar problem, thanks to this thread I now have my 2002 vw golf running again. I used a old Lucas fuel treatment bottle with diesel in it, I disconnected the hose from the filter, cracked 2 injector lines, gently forced fuel into the line, had my wife turn the key in pulses until fuel showed at one injector, closed it, then the next. I then had her start it, it now runs like a champ!
 
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