I’ve tried to find and follow instructions, but I’m missing something, I guess.
SO… my beetle was running ok until the alternator died. Then it sat for a year (for unrelated logistical issues), and I’m trying to repair. I replaced the alternator. BUT…
First, I was warned to check the fuel in case it’s yucky after sitting around in all weather. Tried to pull out the in-tank fuel pump to look, but the darn lock ring was TIGHT and I didn’t want to break anything. So I unplugged the lines in & out of the pump and I jammed the hose of a little manual hand pump into them to suck a bit of fuel to see.
That worked, and people who know diesel better said the fuel looks OK. I changed the main fuel filter though because I don’t know how old it is, and filled the filter with a diesel boost/fuel mix. My fuel level is just under 1/2 a tank by the way.
it cranks but won’t start. Fuel isn’t getting to the engine? It was only THEN that I learned that the fuel lines are a closed pressure system. Oops. So when I sucked some fuel from the blue line that goes into the pump, I thought that was coming from the tank, but it’s the line back from the engine. OH.
So then I figured I’d really better look in the tank. I managed to get the ring unscrewed after all, and I pulled out the in-tank fuel pump. It’s a tiny bit dirty, but I can’t tell if it’s ok or not. With a good light shining into the tank, it looks clear in there. Only a few little specks of dirt. The fuel is not cloudy or gummy.
So perhaps my problem is indeed the air gaps in the fuel lines, which I KNOW I caused earlier with my little hand pump.
How do I properly make sure the air is burped out and the lines and injector pump are primed?
SO… my beetle was running ok until the alternator died. Then it sat for a year (for unrelated logistical issues), and I’m trying to repair. I replaced the alternator. BUT…
First, I was warned to check the fuel in case it’s yucky after sitting around in all weather. Tried to pull out the in-tank fuel pump to look, but the darn lock ring was TIGHT and I didn’t want to break anything. So I unplugged the lines in & out of the pump and I jammed the hose of a little manual hand pump into them to suck a bit of fuel to see.
That worked, and people who know diesel better said the fuel looks OK. I changed the main fuel filter though because I don’t know how old it is, and filled the filter with a diesel boost/fuel mix. My fuel level is just under 1/2 a tank by the way.
it cranks but won’t start. Fuel isn’t getting to the engine? It was only THEN that I learned that the fuel lines are a closed pressure system. Oops. So when I sucked some fuel from the blue line that goes into the pump, I thought that was coming from the tank, but it’s the line back from the engine. OH.
So then I figured I’d really better look in the tank. I managed to get the ring unscrewed after all, and I pulled out the in-tank fuel pump. It’s a tiny bit dirty, but I can’t tell if it’s ok or not. With a good light shining into the tank, it looks clear in there. Only a few little specks of dirt. The fuel is not cloudy or gummy.
So perhaps my problem is indeed the air gaps in the fuel lines, which I KNOW I caused earlier with my little hand pump.
How do I properly make sure the air is burped out and the lines and injector pump are primed?