Starting problems

Hi, I am a new to forums, and working on my car,  so i apologise now for any future posts.
Bertie has been standing for about 5 years  I have own him for 20 years and used him daily for 10 years.
In Lockdown I have finally had the time to to fix him.

The engine turns but the engine refuses to start.

It has clean fuel,

I have replaced the in tank fuel pump  when switching on the ignition I hear a sound from the tank
Check fuel is

Getting to the filter
Getting to the injectors.

I am sure there is a ton of stuff I should check, but I don't know where to start
Any advice muchly appreciated

Siobhan x
 

Assuming its a GTI from the intank pump?

Absolute basics for any and all engines, fuel and spark.

Remove a spark plug and hold near engine block whilst cranking, there should be a healthy blue spark.

Pull an injector out and see if fuel is spurting out whilst cranking.

The 4 things a petrol engine needs are:

Fuel
Spark/ignition
Compression
Timing

You can evaluate compression from listening to the way it turns over. And timing, you can assume the valve timing is okay if its run before and the cambelt etc is okay and not been worked on.

Fuel - I use a little spray bottle of petrol directly into the air intake. I actually made a little "loom" which plugs into the 5th injector of a GTI, to make this easier - may be worth considering? I'd say you'll definitely need some form of extra fuel, if its not run for a while, but after running on the squirter should prime itself and pick up fuel okay.

Ignition - its a case of checking the low tension wiring as best as you can; and cleaning up the HT wires, checking plugs if needs be, etc.

Thank you both for your replies.

Yes the car is a 1984 GTI cabrio

Going to work through  both and hopefully find the issue.

Thanks again

Bertie1984 said

Thank you both for your replies.

Yes the car is a 1984 GTI cabrio

Going to work through  both and hopefully find the issue.

Thanks again

Correction yours is a 1984.5 Cabriolet, as in mid year there was a design change, they went from a 10 gallon tank and a full sized spare tyre (look I spelt it your way) to a 13 gallon tank with a space saver spare tyre.

To accommodate the change of tank from a bottom feeder to a top feeder they added the in-tank lift pump.

The issue with knowing it is a 84.5 is that you have to use the 84, and 85 pages of the schematics as there were wiring changes to… not truly a 85, but not a 84 either….it's was a Tweenie . Its both, yes a Hermaproditic car.  

Be careful with the fuel lines/system  as the fuel is understand pressure and will squirt everywhere.
I had a starter problem with my 85 Cabrio. Easiest way to see What is wrong is to  check for sparks then make sure fuel is reaching engine. Metering head is my problem.
Also disconnect battery if tinkering with fuel. Mine went on fire with a spark from battery and fuel leaking out of distributor