Arrg! Fuel issues again!

Howdy chaps and chapettes,

When I first got the cab I changed the rusty fuel filler, and have since been rust-fishing in the tank, attached a really big magnet to the bottom of the tank, and blown the fuel lines through with a compressor, and replaced the in-line filter.

So last night I was heading back from climbing in langdale (i was giving it some to be honest) when all of a sudden the engine cuts out :x  After a minute or two it started up again and drove gingerly back home no problems.

When I check under the bonnet, what do I see, but an in-line filter completely full of rust  

So, to hell with it, time to change/dredge the tank  :roll: - I could be fishing for bits of rust for a long time… I'm not entirely sure I'm up to this though so does anyone know roughly how much it costs to be done at a garage? Also can anyone think of anything else I need to clean out too? I seem to remember there is a filter in the fuel pump too?

Much appreciative of any help here, need to crack on.

Cheers,

Dylan

I'm not sure why everyone thinks its just rust and can be cured with a magnet.

Why does the filler rust? Because its gets caked in muck, salt and water thrown up by the wheel. When it finally rots, guess what ends up in the tank? Muck and water that no magnet will ever pick up. Rant over.

It is quite involved having to removing the exhaust, messing with the brakes, shocks etc before you can even get to the tank. My Cabrio came with a garage bill from 5 or 6 years ago for @?400-?500 for doing the job.

i need a replacement filler neck for mine (got a new tank) and then i just need to fit them. shouldnt take me and Karl too long (he can do the dirty work!! means i'l just take the wheel off and pass him the new parts lol)

Early-1800 yeah I hear what you're saying, this was just something I thought I'd try before the big job started…I had the fuel sender out though and checked in the tank and it really looked pretty good. I guess you can't tell if there's water in the tank though right as it we be under the petrol at the bottom of the tank? Anyway I know what I have to do…

So what about the other filters apart from the in-line one? There's one in the fuel pump right?

MissMk1- A 'Karl', eh. Sounds great. Where can I get one?

Yea to be honest I'd try the easy quick route if I'd looked in and not seen much inside the tank.

Assuming its a carb setup you might get away with a couple of big inline filters changed very regular and see if it slowly cleans the muck out for you. There may be a strainer on the end of the fuel pick-up also which may be getting blocked.

The problem with the injection versions is that the precision enginnered pump is in front of the filter    Another result of the original GTI being a bit of a lash-up on the design front.

Oh and if you do drop the tank, make sure the axle studs are shiney clean or they have an habit of snapping and then the job get a whole lot more painful.