A2 1.4 tdi 75 amf 2002, leaking diesel

[shaper]

Hi folks

I have had a issues with poor starting for the past few weeks, the care would on occasion need a few turns of the ignition to turn the engine over, and this problem started when the weather got warmer.

Anyway reading through all the posts, my problem seemed more related to a possible crankshaft sensor issue but because my friends RossTech vcd was not finding any faults, we couldn’t be 100 percent sure.

well yesterday the car started fine all day, but for the first time she cut out and refused to start, I parked her up and when I went to check her this morning I noticed a light puddle under the passenger side middle of the the car. seems it's leaking diesel

would this leak before it got as bad as it is now caused the poor starting weeks ago
or is it unrelated, plus can anyone identify the part I need to get fixed

Kind regards Shaper

 

[Catnip64]

It's leaking from the fuel filter drain screw. It might just be loose, you could try tightening it, but be very careful as it's only supposed to be finger tight and is very easy to break.
Member Depronman can supply a replacement complete with seals etc.

 

[shaper]

Thank you Catnip64


I have been doing some more reading on the forum whilst waiting for a reply, seems you are right the drain screw is very brittle.
What tool would I need to use to try & hand tighten the screw?, although I'm not confident this will cure the leak, and I will still need to order a new replacement from Depronman


Thanks Shaper

 

[Pinkythelabrat]

Thank you Catnip64


I have been doing some more reading on the forum whilst waiting for a reply, seems you are right the drain screw is very brittle.
What tool would I need to use to try & hand tighten the screw?, although I'm not confident this will cure the leak, and I will still need to order a new replacement from Depronman


Thanks Shaper

Hi bud. The clue is in the name ‘hand tighten’. There should be a screw head which you grip and gently twist tight.

I can’t think why it would suddenly start leaking unless something loosened or broke it but I believe it’s a threaded plastic screw with a hole through it so you can de-water your filter. You undo the screw a few turns every so often, the hole lines up with the interior, some water drips out, you Re tighten.

If it’s leaking is it visibly damaged? Head missing maybe? Paul’s bolts are ideal and hand made - I’ve got one and don’t even have that kind of filter housing.


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[Pinkythelabrat]

Also, the photos a bit blurry. Is it definitely leaking from the hole? Could a fuel hose at the top have perished?


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[shaper]

Thanks Pinkythelabrat

Yes I do realise the screw needs to only be slightly hand tightened, but what tool would I need to do this, i.e. a socket head or a Allen key

I have also had a good look at were the drip is coming from, and it's directly from the middle of the nut
I ve also sent a pm to Depronman inquiring if I can purchase a replacement nut off him, currently waiting on a reply

Would the issue I'm having now with the leak, be related to the poor starting I've encountered over the past few weeks?

Thanks Shaper

 

[Catnip64]

It could be related, after all if fuel can leak out then air can get in and this will find its way to the engine requiring more cranking before it fires.
I believe you simply tighten by hand using a socket, I'm not sure what size though, details of the fuel system can be found here.

Depronman is at the club social event in York today so may not be able to respond until later.

 

[shaper]

Thanks Catnip64

I've just had a look at my gravelled drive & have found a small patch of diesel spillage, so I can only assume the nut has been leaking for
a longer period of time than I realised, I also quite often park the car outside the garage which is on a slight incline nose facing upwards
so assuming the diesel leak would not travel upwards out of the nut because there are no signs of leakage.

Where the car is parked now it's once again parked on a incline with the front of the car facing down hill hence the more apparent leakage

Looks like i`m gonna have some how turn the car around, until I get the problem sorted

Thanks Shaper

 

[Colin 540]

Changed my fuel filter recently and found
The previous owner of my car had plugged the hole with a self tapping screw and rubber washer.
I purchased a replacement from deproman.

 

[shaper]

Thanks Colin 540

I can understand owners improvising due to having to pay so much for a full unit just to replaice a broken nut,
but I know the drain hole is important part of this, so hopefully I can get one off deproman

Shaper

 

[Pinkythelabrat]

Hi bud

I wasn’t aiming for cheeky. It’s only 2nm for tightening that bolt - fingers on the hex nut should manage that. If you add any tools it increases the risk of overtightening - even a socket with a larger diameter.

There’s a rubber ring under the head and there isn’t any pressure in the filter I don’t think so it should only need continuous contact to seal.

PTFE is diesel resistant so if you can park on a steep slope you could maybe pull out the screw and put a few windings of PTFE tape around the seal and get a temporary fix without losing too much.

Good luck.




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[shaper]

Thanks for that Pinkythelabrat

My confusion, I didn't realise it would be so easy to undo, I assumed I would need a tool, but to be extra careful not to over tighten it.
Just ordered a replacement from deproman, so this will be going straight on when I receive it.

Shaper

 

[depronman]

it is likely that air has been entering the fuel system through the leaking screw, if the car was parked front up hill then the air would travel through the pipes and de prime the injectors, hence the need to crack a few turns before the engine would fire. Can't be 100% sure, but it is certainly more than possible

I suspect the screw is broken and the larger diameter part is pushed in the housing but no longer tight, the plastic screw really is a piece of crap design that Audi should certainly not be proud of.
Cheers,

 

[shaper]

Thanks depronman, i`m hoping this solves the issue with the poor starting and the leak, fingers crossed

Shaper