Fuel pump testing

I've just bought a MK1 Golf GTI, non runner. It needs a new fuel tank but I'm not getting fuel to the engine. The car has been parked up since 2008. The previous owner had running issues with it, which is why it was parked up and had somebody fit a new pump in 2010. This didn't cure the running problems so it remained parked up.
I have 12v at the pump when you turn on the ignition. The pump doesn't whirr but it does feel like it clicks so I've removed it from the car and put 12v on it. It's doing something but I certainly doesn't sound like it's spinning! It sounds more like it's vibrating, like a diaphragm pump like you use in a fish tank!
Can anybody advise on the best way to test the pump? Should it sound like it's spinning?
Thanks.
Matt.

try it hooked up to the tank but outlet pointed into a bucket, if it wont spray fuel its goosed. make sure tank is clean and the internal swirl pot is good, if its been sat that long with any fuel in it'll probably have turned to jelly by now, wont have done the pump any good either!

View topic: Fuel Tank cleaning *HowTo* clear that blockage - The Mk1 Golf Owners Club

Thanks for the reply. I have drained the tank ready for removal as it is banjaxed! I believe the initial problem was caused by the filler neck being corroded, this has been replaced along with the filler hose but the tank looks like it wasn't. I'll get a new tank in place and take it from there.
Looking at the pictures in the link, there is a little filter in the pump, I don't believe my pump has that!

If you are buying a new fuel tank make sure you get a Gti one with the right swirl pot built in and not a diesel fuel tank with a different design swirl pot or you will get fuel starvation on cornering with less than 1/4 tank of fuel in.

Thanks for that, although the tanks I've looked at are for GTI, cabriolet and diesel models with a different one being listed for carb models. This is on the VW heritage site. Is there a GTI specific tank available?

the genuine VW gti and diesel tanks are the same with a plastic swirl pot inside which has a rubber seal to the base to keep the fuel in.

the pattern tanks are inferior design with just a metal cup spot welded to the bottom, and they just dont work for petrol cars. diesel cars its not so bad so they manage ok I believe.

these were originally sold as both gti and diesel, but sicne many have found they dont actually work in a gti i guess they were revised to only fit diesels take a good hard look at your tank to decide if its really not savable, as a decent and original gti tank is hard to find!  the rubber seal has probably gone on the swirl pot now though, especially if its been sat in stale fuel. but well worth a look!

Thanks John, I don't think my tank is salvageable as it's got a load of pin prick holes rusted through from the inside, I imagine from having water in it from a leaking filler neck.
So the tanks advertised on vw heritage and classic-vw.co.uk will cause problems? These are both listed as being for diesel and GTI. There were some on eBay, although he's sold out now that we're listed only for the GTI. Item no 111658254207.

Thanks. Matt.

unfortunately the pattern tanks are mostly garbage, there may be decent copies out there but I dont know of any there is a way round it though but it involves spending a little more moneys. use a carb tank and a post-84 cabrio, scirocco or g40 shape lifter pump plus plastic/aftermarket swirl pot under the car before the main pump.  main trouble with that route is you are tight for space so some thought is required!

the post-84 cab/rocco solution was to move the accumulator in front of the tank, so the swirl pot can sit where it used to be

Ok mate, thanks for that. I'll have to keep my eyes out for a used tank. Do you know what others have used/done? I can't be the first to struggle finding a tank.