1.4 Tdi Struggling to start..
- Thread starter DaveySprocket
- Start date
DaveySprocket
A2OC Donor
Well reflecting back on all this, I am suspecting that I quite possibly fixed the original fault by sorting the sender, and inadvertently introduced a different fault, by not properly sorting the bleed valve. Time may tell..
I'm away for a mini weekend break to Dumfires and Galloway, but I have ordered various bits n bobs so that I can get back to it better equiped next week.
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone for their patience, advice, and general input on this thread, it really is appreciated and I have learnt a huge amount already. Maybe more importantly, it is so refreshing that everyone is so nice to each other. I had to walk away from another forum because even though the levels of help and advice were quite amazing, the levels of racism, misogyny and xenophobia were truly shocking.
Back in the day they used to say only nice people drive Saabs, maybe only nice people drive Audi A2's
I'm away for a mini weekend break to Dumfires and Galloway, but I have ordered various bits n bobs so that I can get back to it better equiped next week.
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone for their patience, advice, and general input on this thread, it really is appreciated and I have learnt a huge amount already. Maybe more importantly, it is so refreshing that everyone is so nice to each other. I had to walk away from another forum because even though the levels of help and advice were quite amazing, the levels of racism, misogyny and xenophobia were truly shocking.
Back in the day they used to say only nice people drive Saabs, maybe only nice people drive Audi A2's
Little Dog
A2OC Donor
I think it is true, only nice people drive A2's. Pleased you are sorted but I would also be looking to eliminate that gunk in the tank. I'm reasonably confident it is not oil. Dirty oil and clean diesel combine to make dirty diesel. The oil does not separate out and is not attracted to plastic items.
I got my own A2 problems to sort; Little Dog is stubbornly refusing to start
I got my own A2 problems to sort; Little Dog is stubbornly refusing to start
DaveySprocket
A2OC Donor
Well it's been a while since I bathed in diesel, and my new drain plug arrived from Depronman today, so I had to fight off a bout of lethargy and go and play with this car again.
The Febi Bilstein Filters I got from ebay included all the O rings, so I put the two on the new drain plug and fitted it to the cap.
With Paul's aluminium plug you don't have to remove it to do up the cap, which is way better than the Audi design.
With the filter back together, I bled the system from the return pipe in the hope that the starting problems I'd been having would be all gone No such luck unfortunately, she really didn't want to start at all now.
Next step was to test the tandem pump itself, so I hooked up a tank of diesel to the feed, and connected the return to an empty tank.
I've got much better hose clamps now, so I was confident of good connections. I tried bleeding the fuel through again with my vacuum pump, but even set up like this I couldn't rid the return line of air, or suck any significant amount of fuel through the feed pipe. When cranking the engine I could see a bit of fuel move up the feed pipe with each turn of the engine, but as soon as I stopped it returned back to the tank.
Despite lot's of bleeding and cranking, still nothing at all, so it's looking like it must be the tandem pump, it seems to have died altogether.
Before I go on the hunt for a new pump, I will wait and see if any of you clever folks on here have spotted some amateur mistake that I am making here, I would hate to buy one and it not be the actualy fault
.
The Febi Bilstein Filters I got from ebay included all the O rings, so I put the two on the new drain plug and fitted it to the cap.
With Paul's aluminium plug you don't have to remove it to do up the cap, which is way better than the Audi design.
With the filter back together, I bled the system from the return pipe in the hope that the starting problems I'd been having would be all gone
No such luck unfortunately, she really didn't want to start at all now. Next step was to test the tandem pump itself, so I hooked up a tank of diesel to the feed, and connected the return to an empty tank.
I've got much better hose clamps now, so I was confident of good connections. I tried bleeding the fuel through again with my vacuum pump, but even set up like this I couldn't rid the return line of air, or suck any significant amount of fuel through the feed pipe. When cranking the engine I could see a bit of fuel move up the feed pipe with each turn of the engine, but as soon as I stopped it returned back to the tank.
Despite lot's of bleeding and cranking, still nothing at all, so it's looking like it must be the tandem pump, it seems to have died altogether.
Before I go on the hunt for a new pump, I will wait and see if any of you clever folks on here have spotted some amateur mistake that I am making here, I would hate to buy one and it not be the actualy fault
.
johnyfartbox
A2OC Donor
Some might not agree with me here and I was very reluctant to do this but I got some easy start yesterday and splitting the air intake near the MAF sensor I gave it a couple of small burst, I quickly grabbed the key and turned it, she fired up instantly and kept running with no problem.
I'm assuming that there must have been fuel in the tandem pump and feed lines.
I left it running for around 20 minutes, turned it off and left it for an hour, returning back I turned the key and she started up but did take around 7 cranks.
This afternoon I again turned the key and she started again but with only 4 cranks.
There is still a few bubbles in the clear tubing feeding the pump so there is still air entering the system but at least now I know the glow plugs are ok, the injectors are ok, and th e injector loom is ok.
Plus the cam sensor and crank sensor.
I've even taken it out for a spin for the first time in months around the small estate where I live.
I'm assuming that there must have been fuel in the tandem pump and feed lines.
I left it running for around 20 minutes, turned it off and left it for an hour, returning back I turned the key and she started up but did take around 7 cranks.
This afternoon I again turned the key and she started again but with only 4 cranks.
There is still a few bubbles in the clear tubing feeding the pump so there is still air entering the system but at least now I know the glow plugs are ok, the injectors are ok, and th e injector loom is ok.
Plus the cam sensor and crank sensor.
I've even taken it out for a spin for the first time in months around the small estate where I live.
Provided you are absolutely certain the rubber fuel feed pipe to the tandem pump is air tight (and to be honest the only way I think you can be certain is to replace it with a new supple fuel pipe) then I think your diagnosis is correct. All I would add is, I would possible try a new gasket on the old tandem pump before replacing the actual pump. When the pump gasket leaks there is usually some sign of diesel leakage underneath the tandem pump. The gaskets are relatively inexpensive and quite easy to fit.Well it's been a while since I bathed in diesel, and my new drain plug arrived from Depronman today, so I had to fight off a bout of lethargy and go and play with this car again.
The Febi Bilstein Filters I got from ebay included all the O rings, so I put the two on the new drain plug and fitted it to the cap.
View attachment 121066View attachment 121065
With Paul's aluminium plug you don't have to remove it to do up the cap, which is way better than the Audi design.
With the filter back together, I bled the system from the return pipe in the hope that the starting problems I'd been having would be all gone
Next step was to test the tandem pump itself, so I hooked up a tank of diesel to the feed, and connected the return to an empty tank.
View attachment 121067
I've got much better hose clamps now, so I was confident of good connections. I tried bleeding the fuel through again with my vacuum pump, but even set up like this I couldn't rid the return line of air, or suck any significant amount of fuel through the feed pipe. When cranking the engine I could see a bit of fuel move up the feed pipe with each turn of the engine, but as soon as I stopped it returned back to the tank.
Despite lot's of bleeding and cranking, still nothing at all, so it's looking like it must be the tandem pump, it seems to have died altogether.
Before I go on the hunt for a new pump, I will wait and see if any of you clever folks on here have spotted some amateur mistake that I am making here, I would hate to buy one and it not be the actualy fault
Well done for persevering and narrowing down the problem. You now know that the problem is air in the fuel and you have pretty much ruled out any leaks further up the fuel line.
Maybe a little positive pressure on the feed line (blow down it with you finger over the return?!) might elicit and external diesel leak???
I quite like this diagnosis trick. Sounds like your "air in" leak is quite small. Even tiny air in leaks will affect how it starts. The tandem pump is very good at bleeding out air but only when the engine is running. The easy start has got the engine running and then the tandem pump is doing the bleeding. I think logically this means your tandem pump and it's gasket are good since the gasket is engine side of the pump bleeding mechanism.
If @DaveySprocket were to try this and his started and immediately stopped again this could be a good way of pinpointing the tandem pump or more likely it's gasket.
depronman
A2OC Donor
Go VERY easy with the easy start. Engines get addicted to it because is causes such a big bang the piston and con rod is compressed and actually shrinks This lowers the compression ratio and thus you get to a point that it will not start without the Big Bang easy start
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DaveySprocket
A2OC Donor
Thanks for that, I like the idea of just trying a gasket..
DaveySprocket
A2OC Donor
I have got a brand new unused can of easy start that was in the glove box of my C1 scrapper, I've been reluctant to use it though.. Will ponder that cheers.
johnyfartbox
A2OC Donor
Fully agree Paul.
That's why I was wary about using it.
DaveySprocket
A2OC Donor
Gasket on it's way..
Elring OEM Fuel Vacuum Pump Gasket for Audi A3 A4 A6 Mk4 Mk5 VW Golf TDI | eBay
For Volkswagen Bora, Caddy, Eos, Mk4 Golf, Mk5 Golf, Golf Plus, Jetta, Lupo, New Beetle, Passat, Polo, Sharan & Touran. 1.4TDI, 1.9TDI and 2.0TDI Engines. A3 1.9TDI & 2.0TDI inc Hatchback, Sportback and Convertible 2001 on (ATD, ASZ, AXR, BKC, BMM, BLS, BXE engines).
www.ebay.co.uk
johnyfartbox
A2OC Donor
That's the seller I used, had three from him, still got two, good to go.
DaveySprocket
A2OC Donor
Has anybody got any experience with these?
Pierburg should be pretty good quality, and it has the cast cover rather than steel..
Pierburg Vacuum Pump Brake System VW SKODA SEAT 1.9 2.0 038145209 038145209A | eBay
We ship the goods from the central warehouse in the Czech Republic. If you are interested in delivery to your country and no shipping is defined, please do not hesitate to contact us. We ship parts all over the world. Please send us a message with the name of the city and zip code where the...
www.ebay.co.uk
Pierburg should be pretty good quality, and it has the cast cover rather than steel..
I've never used easy start - however, with my old student 2CV I was told by an AA guy once to put a squirt of WD40 into the carburettor to encourage firing whenever it had been left for a while in damp conditions and when the battery wasn't tip-top (or when the points / coil were damp which was reasonably often in Dundee!) and I did so now and again when starting wasn't going well but before the plugs got fouled with unburnt petrol - is the effect you describe with easy start much more violent than WD40?
PlasticMac
Member
I've always believed that Easy Start burns very not. No idea if it's true, but that's why I've avoided it.
Mac.
CrispyEdd
Member
I would get the bosch one if its available and fits okay. But otherwise don't see any problem with either, they'll last 100k surely. Watch for import costs.Has anybody got any experience with these?
Pierburg Vacuum Pump Brake System VW SKODA SEAT 1.9 2.0 038145209 038145209A | eBay
We ship the goods from the central warehouse in the Czech Republic. If you are interested in delivery to your country and no shipping is defined, please do not hesitate to contact us. We ship parts all over the world. Please send us a message with the name of the city and zip code where the...www.ebay.co.uk
Pierburg should be pretty good quality, and it has the cast cover rather than steel..
depronman
A2OC Donor
Just make sure it is the tandem pump. It says for the 1.9/2.0 which I’m fairly sure have a in tank pump to supply fuel to the engine as such I did not think that had a tandem pump but instead a vacuum pump for the brakes
I may be wrong as I’m no expert on the 1.9/2.0 vag diesel engines
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CrispyEdd
Member
DaveySprocket
A2OC Donor
It's curious that ebay and Autodoc list it as a brake vacuum pump, but it's the right part number and has the three connectors. The Bosch one is listed the same, so I guess it's just the way it is.