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won't start. no fuel being drawn through

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Hi all, just trying my luck here. My 1.5LD now refuses to start. It has been rock solid for years and i go to start it and will not go.

Glow plugs seem fine and getting god voltage.
New battery 640A
i have loosed the injectors and no fuel squirting on crank. working back through the fuel line i loosed the filter inlet and injection pump inlet there is no fuel coming.

Is there a lift pump in the tank? My workshop manual says the tank is gravity fed however the filter in the engine bay is higher than the tank…. ?

Thanks for any tips

(and yes there is fuel in the tank :)

1980 Series 1 GTI (gone now .. what a mistake selling her!)
1979 Series 1 LD - the Mandarin Dragon … gone as well. oh dear.

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Hi,

there's no lift pump in the tank on this model - it's just the main pump at the engine end. You need to figure out why the injection pump isn't priming. Is the filter full of diesel? If so, the pump should prime itself easily and quickly even if there is air leaking in to the system.
What about the cut-off solenoid? If it has failed, there's not going to be any diesel getting through. You should be able to test it by ear to see if it clicks, I think.

Good luck!
Robin

PS: My 1.5D always starts first time too, even if I don't use it for weeks on end. A good battery is all that it needs.

VW Golf 1500D 5-door 1978 - was daily (wet)
VW Golf 1800 cabriolet 1980 - daily (dry)
Bedford CF Trailblazer 1978 - camper
Bedford CF 350 Flatbed 1976 - fun/work
Mercedes W108 280s 1970 - dusty and forgotten
Mercedes S123 200T 1983 - to be renovated
Mercedes C124 1989 - Winter Beater
BMW E21 1976/82 - dusty but not forgotten
Twingo 2004 (not my fault, somebody gave it to me!)

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Fuel cut-off or fuel stop solenoids do go bad, and if they do, you can't start your car.

Air in the fuel line.

Bad Glow plugs.  
Pull the 3rd and 4th plugs Jumper them to the battery holding with a pair of pliers if they don't get red hot in 7-15 seconds, they are bad.  No Glow No Start.

Bad starter or one that isn't spinning fast enough.

But no Fuel is usually the stop valve they get sticky, and I know I had to clean mine a time or two. Or Air being sucked in to the IP and it is Compressing air…

What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?

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thanks chaps, stuff to work on. by the sounds of it more than likely the fuel cut off solenoid. failing that, next the glow plugs to check.

much appreciated.

1980 Series 1 GTI (gone now .. what a mistake selling her!)
1979 Series 1 LD - the Mandarin Dragon … gone as well. oh dear.
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