Fuel not getting through 1.9 petrol

[elfgirl]

Hi Guys,

I've tried to search the wiki and the forum but haven't found anything yet. If I've missed it I'd welcome being pointed in the right direction.

We had a problem with the van a while ago- mostly due to a dead battery but even when that was replaced she still wouldn't start. The recovery service guy who got us going said the fuel pump was on its way out - but with an extra boost managed to get us going again. The little filter on the inlet hose was filing ok but he said it was struggling to pump it through- hence the boost.

Yesterday when I went to start her she fired up fine but then cut out almost immediately. That happened a couple of time- it felt like she needed revving up a bit but it didn't make any difference. After a couple of attempt, she just stopped firing. We have had hideous storms here (like everywhere) and through the damp might not help. Left her to dry out overnight but this mining it was the same. Turning but not starting.

We've just changed the fuel pump but the fuel is not going anywhere. The carb is dry and the filter is not filing at all. There is still fuel in the line - the filter under the body is full.

Apologies for some very untechnical terms. Any help or advice or when to leak next would be very much much appreciated.

Sarah

[elfgirl]

Hi, just some further info. My husband has just taken the new pump off to check what's happening. He says its bone dry and it feels like the push rod is not engaging. Is it fuel that pushes it up or is it something in the engine block that pushes it up?
Thanks again

[T25Convert]

Hi,

Had the same problem when I changed my fuel pump. Check the following:

1) The pushrod that sits beneath the pump is the right length - should be exactly 100 mm long. Any less and you'll still not get fuel. If you need a new one avoid GSF as their pushrods are too short.

2) You have the in and out the right way round on the pump (easily done!)

3) Your new pump may need a little help priming from dry. The one i have has a removable top so simply unscrewed and filled with fuel. If its got a solid top may need to find a more inventive way to get fuel into it...

4) Finally, you may find that unbolting the pump and prssing the plunger all the way in a few times helps get things going - if you leave the outlet hose off then you'll know if its working!

Good luck, and keep some form of fire extiguisher to hand whilst messing with the fuel system!

Cheers,

Alex

[elfgirl]

Any help or advice or when to leak next would be very much much appreciated.

Oops look, not leak - tho a leak might at least mean fuel is going somewhere!

[T25Convert]

Hi, just some further info. My husband has just taken the new pump off to check what's happening. He says its bone dry and it feels like the push rod is not engaging. Is it fuel that pushes it up or is it something in the engine block that pushes it up?
Thanks again

There is a 'push rod' - look at the engine block where the pump bolts on, should be a little rod sticking up. This goes up and down as the engine goes round, pushing the opertaing arm on the base of th pump up and down, which in turn suck fule in the inlet and pushes it out the outlet.

Grab hold of the rod and pull it out the block and meausre it - should be 100 mm exactly.

looks like this - http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_spares_Pus ... tartPage=1

Cheers,

Alex

[elfgirl]

Hi Alex, thanks for you help.

We've worked our way through your list- thanks

The push rod is exactly 100mm and dies seem to have moved a little on the last attempt to turn her over

There is an arrow indicating the inlet so I think we've got that right.

The pump is sealed, we put a small amount of petrol in (through the bottom).

Pressed the plunger but nothing getting through

Still no joy and very bemused

[T25Convert]

(through the bottom).

Do you mean through the bottom, or through the bottom pipe?

I assume that you have this (or its close relation):

http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_spares_Fue ... tartPage=1

If you are putting petrol into the bottom of the pump (i.e. the base with the lever in) nothing will happen, as this end of the pump isn't linked to the fuel system in any way.

The fuel pump operates in a simalr way to this one:

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=fuel+p ... =143&ty=93

Basically a rod opertes the lever in the pump, which operates a diaphragm. Rod goes down, diaphragm goes down, sucks in fuel through the inlet. Rod goes up, pushes diaphragm up and squeezes petrol ot the oulet pipe. Valves make sure it sucks from the in and pushes out the outlet.

Pump is rubbish at sucking air, so it will take an age to prime it.

So you either need to keep pressing the lever yourself, bolt it to the engine and turn it over for an age (your battery may go flat before it primes) or try and get fuel into the pump body through the inlet and outlet.

Good luck!

Alex

[elfgirl]

Alex, you are a star!!!

Thanks a million. Managed to get fuel into it properly with a funnel/ gaffer tape ( confession we did try the bottom on the pump first)
We had just about worked out that was wrong and tried again before reading your last post.

Sorted now, obviously did just need priming - like I say, you are an absolute star. Massive thanks from my husband Jase too, who did all the work.

Sarah xx

[T25Convert]

Excellent.

Final thing to do then now its working is to take the pump off one last time and pop some grease into the base around the lever - not a great deal of oil gets up here, the pump arm goes up and down a lot, and the whole lot will wear out quickly (I know, I didn't grease mine and had to by another one shortly after!)

Cheers,

Alex

[elfgirl]

Cheers. It's very well greased up. Fingers crossed that'll be it for a while