Club 80-90 Forums

Having some issues getting my engine started, the bloke that came out to have a look at it reckoned that the solenoid in the fuel pump had broken/seized up.

We managed to start the engine briefly but it won't keep going and smoked lots.

Anyone had this issue before or got any suggestions. Any idea how easy or hard this is?

Cheers

The solenoid is a quick fix, it just unscrews for replacement. They usually break either open or closed, so if it started then stopped with lotsa smoke this may not be your problem.

If you unplug the wire from the top of the solenoid (it`s the brass thing with the single spade terminal visible on the pump body) and then get some 17A wire to make a jump-lead from the battery positive terminal to the solenoid, you`ll hear it click open when you connect the wire, and click shut again when you unplug the wire. If it clicks open when energised, try starting the engine then, if it starts and runs OK then the solenoid is OK, so suspect a dodgy wire somewhere between the ignition switch and the pump.

thanks for that, i'll have a poke around tomorrow in the light

There's power getting through to the solenoid ok, but it isn't doing anything (not clicking on or off). I'll try replacing it - where can I get a new one from? What is the part called?

Fuel pump solenoid, will be available from Bosch agents or VW (GSF don`t seem to have them)

GSF don't really do any diesel fuel components aside from injectors.