1.3 driver fuel pump woes

Evening all. My first post (apart from scavenging for parts in 'for sale') so hello to everyone.

I think the fuel pump has packed up on my golf. It wouldnt start so i checked for a spark at the plugs which was fine but when i removed the fuel line after the pump which goes into the carb there was no fuel coming out when the engine was turned over. Theres def petrol in the tank.

Have i got this right or am i barking up the wrong tree?

Is there anything else that could stop the fuel coming out? I changed the inline filter in case it was blocked and was a bit suprised to find no fuel in the lines. It made me think that maybe a petrol tank lift pump had broken but looking at the haynes manual there doesnt seem to be one for 1.3 drivers.

How does the fuel pump sitting on the block prime itself if there is no lift pump to get the fuel out the tank?

Cheers

PS. how do you turn the engine over using the starter motor? Ive had to resort to getting a mate to use the key in the ignition as i couldnt figure it out. Not very safe i know.

Just use your mate, best way :wink:

Can take the feed pipe of the carb to see if the pump is pumping while cranking the engine over.

Think the fuel pump is a lift pump and runs off a cam.

Might have a blocked tank by the fuel hose, hows your filler neck, rusting though?

Cheers
Tucker

'Just use your mate, best way'

Too right. Make him earn his keep. The amount of time i've spent helping him out with his Civic he owes me a favour or two.

That pipe you're talking about is the one i've removed and there's no fuel squirting out when i turn the engine over.

The filler neck is rock solid. Ive checked it all along its length and theres no rust.

When the fuel filter didnt have any fuel in it i considered that the lines might be blocked but a hefty suck followed by a mouthful of petrol soon proved that wrong. (probably another haynes manual 'Dont whatever you do' tip which i have ignored!)

Should there be fuel sitting in the filter/lines while the cars left standing or will it all drain down back to the tank?

I went ahead and got a new fuel pump but one of the bolts disintegrated when i tried to undo it. Before i get a mechanic to drill this bolt out for me is there anything else i can try that could be stopping fuel from reaching the carb?

I cant remember if this is possible to do while the pump is still attached, but if it is an original VW pump you should be able to unscrew the top of it, and then you can see if the filter inside the pump is blocked, which could be causing your problem :dontknow:

Theres one screw on the top/end of it to remove and check the filter :wink:

I think

cheers i'll give it a go.

Thought i'd update this thread in case anyone else has the same problem.

It turned out the fuel pump was ok but there was a tiny hole in the fuel line before the filter which was sucking in air. Replaced these and sucked some fuel through the filter to make sure the lines werent blocked and it started fine.

However, later that day it cut out and wouldnt restart. The RAC guy who got me home said that the plastic diaphragms inside the pumps can deteriorate if they sit dry for a long time (mine had sat for 3 weeks) and may start to fail. Anyway he pulled some fuel up to the filter, reconnected the lines and it started. Seems that the pump had enough suction once the hard work of pulling the fuel up the lines was done.

I dont know whether the pump was knackered all along and the pipe was the straw that broke the camels back, or it was just the pipe to blame which caused the pump to dry out, but either way after a new pipe and a few good long runs the problem seems to have gone away.

Hope thats of use to someone