2 pumps? or lots of air and no pump...

Hi all,

new to the forum, well newly registered.  have been using your knowledge for a couple of weeks now

Hope someone can help.

My Girlfriend has bought an E reg 1.8 GTI Cabrio and since getting it through the MOT we have noticed some running problems.  so have done the usual, new Plugs, Dizzy, Rotor, Leads, Oil and filter, air filter and new fuel pump and filter.  seems to be ok, but when it seems to suffer fuel starvation during runs.  had a garage check it out and they suggested fuel pump so she bought it and I fitted it.  the old one was making a noise and we assumed it to be cream-crackered.  new one fitted, makes the same noise, however when led under the car with it ticking over I noticed lots of air going from the acumulator into the new pump (clear hose between acumulator and pump so can see the air).  not just a little bit but quite a bit and it does it frequently.  we thought it was just where the car was jacked and low on fuel so brimmed the tank and the same happens.

had a read through the haynes manual and a few searches on your forum and came to the conclusion that the fuel lift pump may be blocked or not functioning.  removed rear seat, removed access panel, started car and put my finger on the top of the sender, no noise no vibration nothing.  so removed sender unit to see if the filter was blocked or if there was a lot of junk in the bottom of the tank but when i removed the sender expecting to see pump on the bottom there wasn't one…  just a rubber hose with nothing on, a metal pipe with gauze / filter and a plug which I assume should connect to the (probably) missing lift pump.

before I go out and invest in a lift pump, can anyone offer me some advice as to whether the car should definitely have a lift pump and if I have hit the nail on the head?

fingers crossed, thanks in advance.

car is E reg 1.8 GTI cabri (Karmann) with K Jet 8v engine.

Tommer, Bristol

There should be, another way of confirming is to look at the wiring - there should be wiring for 4 connectors near the fuel tank access hole - 2 for the fuel gauge sender and 2 for the lift pump.

Cool thanks will check

its a 3 pin plug on a mk1 cabby lift pump, 1 pump live, 1 sender and a common earth. deffo should have a lift pump though that age, you can get them from later mk1 cabrio, scirocco and mk3 Polo (G40 shape)

Thanks mate, Have ordered one from Ebay so hope that when it arrives and I've fitted it I won't have to get my hands dirty on it for a while…  famous last words eh?

cheers

ha now you had to go and say it didnt you

Yep, you wait a whole world of trouble awaits me now!

on the plus side lift pump in and all running well