Dead TDI Jetta

gerpeters

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 29, 2007
Location
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2002 Jetta TDI and 2003 Jetta TDI
My 2003 Jetta died on me today. For the last 4 days the start up was hard but was still running and good acceleration/power.

This morning I started up and it started hard again. I did not even make it of the parking lot (which was good...no towing bill) and it died.

Now the engine will crank but no go.

I bought the Jetta a month and half ago and has been working fine up until 4 days ago.

I have another 2002 Jetta TDI which I have owned for over 4 years and never have had any problems like these.

Any ideas for me where to start? I know a TDI guru and will have it towed if it is not something simple.

Gerhard
 

rackaracka

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2001
Location
Monroe, NJ
Start by looking for air bubbles in the fuel line as well as leaks / wet diesel under the injection pump. Sounds like the injection pump is losing its prime and finally gave up and you lost fuel. You might get it running by looseng #3 injector line with a 17MM open end wrench and crank til you get fuel. Then snug it up and see if it runs. Did you have the car looked over well after you bought it?
 

gerpeters

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 29, 2007
Location
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2002 Jetta TDI and 2003 Jetta TDI
Start by looking for air bubbles in the fuel line as well as leaks / wet diesel under the injection pump. Sounds like the injection pump is losing its prime and finally gave up and you lost fuel. You might get it running by looseng #3 injector line with a 17MM open end wrench and crank til you get fuel. Then snug it up and see if it runs. Did you have the car looked over well after you bought it?
Yes I got lots of bubbles in the fuel line going to the injector pump. sometimes it looks like no fuel at all.

Yes I had the car looked over well and the dealer is understanding of this and will most likely help with the expense if any
 

rackaracka

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2001
Location
Monroe, NJ
I'd suspect a problem with the fuel filter, thermo-t fitting, or the injection pump seals could be introducing the air. You need a mity-vac hand pump or something suitable to pull a serious vaccum on the fuel lines and see if the air is being introduce from the filter or from the Injection Pump. When you car sits overnight, the pump loses it's prime as fuel leaks back to the tank or onto the ground and you get air in the pump. When there is any air in the injection pump it simply compresses that instead of putting pressurized fuel into your cylinders...

Good luck and fear the dealer.

Make you you get the timing belt and other related issues addressed before you trust this car and put any serious miles on it. Perhaps you've got a trustworthy/qualified dealer, but many timing belt jobs are botched by the dealer.
 

gerpeters

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 29, 2007
Location
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2002 Jetta TDI and 2003 Jetta TDI
Ok I will have it towed to the TDI guru I know here in Toronto. He is very good and reasonable in prices to fix. He is a specialists in VW and Audi's. He was recommended to me on this forum about 4 years ago when I bought my 2002 Jetta.

I will have the timing belt done too.

So far the dealer has offered to cover some cost but I will have to wait and see. According to the Car Fax report I'm the second owner and it was alway serviced at a VW dealer but I don't know if I can fully trust the report.
 

gerpeters

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 29, 2007
Location
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2002 Jetta TDI and 2003 Jetta TDI
I should have reported back here a long time ago. It turned out that my cluster was not showing empty on fuel when it really was empty. So the end result... with no fuel the engine does not run. Go figure...
The cluster has been fixed.
 
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